Obit: Al Casey (Dec 2005)

Subject: RE: RIP Al Casey (Dec 2005)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Dec 05 - 08:58 AM

That is a shame when a fellow muiscian dies. RIP AL

Subject: RE: RIP Al Casey (Dec 2005)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 18 Dec 05 - 08:16 AM

It seems astonishing that someone should make such a distinguished contribution and yet apparently have long periods when they can't make a living out of music.

Of course perhaps I am misreading or misinterpreting the facts of the situation. Does anybody know how it actually was....?

Subject: RE: RIP Al Casey (Dec 2005)
From: Peace
Date: 17 Dec 05 - 07:19 PM

"Biography

Renowned for his long collaboration with Fats Waller, Al Casey towers alongside the finest acoustic guitarists of the swing era, boasting a subtly powerful presence that flourished in intimate musical contexts. Born September 15, 1915 in Louisville, Kentucky, Casey was a child prodigy who first adopted the violin, briefly moving to the ukulele before zeroing in on the guitar, which he studied at New York City's DeWitt Clinton High School. He joined Waller while in his mid-teens, recommended to the legendary pianist by his uncles, who met Waller while on tour with their gospel group the Southern Singers. Waller insisted Casey remain in school and earn his diploma before he could join the group fulltime, but the guitarist was a fixture of recording sessions from the early 1930s onward, and even joined Waller on tour during extended holiday breaks. Casey remained with the group until Waller's 1943 death, appearing on more than 200 classic swing sides; the famous blues number "Buck Jumpin'" took shape after Casey appeared late to a gig, prompting Waller to single him out onstage and invite him to play a solo--the result was so electrifying that it was later captured in the studio.

Casey also recorded with trumpeter Louis Armstrong, singer Billie Holiday, vibist Lionel Hampton and pianist Teddy Wilson, even joining the latter's short-lived big band in 1939. After Waller's passing, he played with pianist Clarence Profit's trio before assembling his own trio, which headlined New York's Onyx Club for close to a year before moving to the Down Beat. Around this time Casey moved to the electric guitar, and in both 1944 and 1945 he was named the instrument's top player in Esquire magazine's annual jazz poll; he spent much of the decade to follow as a gun-for-hire, capped off by a four-year collaboration with R&B saxophonist King Curtis initiated in 1957. Casey briefly retired from music in 1961, working in a Xerox copy shop before returning to performing, recording sessions in support of singer Helen Humes and pianist Jay McShann. After another extended period of retirement, he resurfaced in 1981 with the Harlem Jazz and Blues Band, which remained his primary vehicle for the next two decades; in 1994, he also cut his first headlining date, signing to the Jazzpoint label for A Tribute to Fats. After a long battle with colon cancer, Casey died on September 11, 2005, just days short of his 90th birthday. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide"

Subject: RIP Al Casey
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 17 Dec 05 - 11:12 AM

From those classic 1930s sides with Fats Waller through recording with Humphrey Lyttleton in the 1980s, a long and distinguished career over as guitarist Al Casey died this week in his 90s.


RtS