Herman Autrey (December 4, 1904 – June 14, 1980)[1] was an Americanjazz trumpeter.[2]
Autrey was born into a musical family inEvergreen, Alabama, United States.[1] He played alto horn before taking up trumpet as a teenager and performing locally in Pittsburgh and Florida.[1] After some time in Florida he worked in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City, where he played withCharlie Johnson in 1933.[1] He became well known throughFats Waller, who hired him in 1934 after signing a contract withVictor Records.[1] He played with the drummer Harry Dial, guitaristAl Casey, and reedistGene Sedric. Autrey went on to record extensively with Waller,Fletcher Henderson, andClaude Hopkins.[1]
Autrey worked as a sideman into the 1940s withStuff Smith,Sammy Price, andUna Mae Carlisle.[1] He ensembles which sometimes included pianistHerbie Nichols. Early in the 1950s Autrey was hurt in a car crash, sidelining his career for one year.[1] He played withSaints & Sinners in the 1960s, including on their 1968/69 tours of Europe.[1] In 1969, he played withBuzzy Drootin's Jazz Family, which includedBenny Morton,Herb Hall, pianist Sonny Drootin, bassistEddie Gibbs and. In the 1970s, he began to lose his playing capacity and spent more time as a vocalist.[1]
Herman Autrey died in June 1980 inNew York, at the age of 75.[3]
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