Joe Evans | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Joseph James Evans |
| Born | (1916-10-07)October 7, 1916 Bonifay, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | January 17, 2014(2014-01-17) (aged 97) Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Alto saxophone |
| Labels | Carnival Records |
Joe Evans (October 7, 1916 – January 17, 2014) was an American jazz alto saxophonist.[1][2]
Evans was born inBonifay and grew up inPensacola, Florida.[1] Evans dropped out of high school and moved toNew York City to pursue his music career. He later earned aGED and associate degree fromEssex County College in 1973. Through aFord Family Foundation scholarship, he earned a Master of Education degree fromRutgers University in 1975.[3]
Evans was active between 1939 and 1965, playing in the big bands ofJay McShann,Jimmy Forrest andGene Ramey;Don Redman andLouis Armstrong.[2] In 1944 he recorded withMary Lou Williams, as a member of a band includingColeman Hawkins,Bill Coleman andDenzil Best.[4] At the beginning of 1945, he recorded forJ. Mayo Williams's independent label, Chicago, leading a combo comprisingJesse Drakes,Duke Jordan,Gene Ramey,J. C. Heard andEtta Jones.[5]
Later that same year[6] and in 1946, he recorded withAndy Kirk's orchestra as part of a lineup that includedFats Navarro,Reuben Phillips,Jimmy Forrest,Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis,Hank Jones,Floyd Smith,Al Hall andBen Thigpen.[7] Other musicians he performed and recorded with includeCab Calloway,Billie Holiday,Bill "Bojangles" Robinson andLionel Hampton.[2]
In 1961, Evans foundedCarnival Records. After earning his master's degree, Evans retired from music and worked as a dairy inspector for the state of New Jersey.[8]
In 2008,University of Illinois Press published his autobiography,Follow Your Heart, co-authored by Christopher Brooks, a professor of anthropology atVirginia Commonwealth University.[9]
Evans died inRichmond, Virginia of renal disease in January 2014 at the age of 97.[10]
