Chu Berry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Leon Brown Berry |
| Born | (1908-09-13)September 13, 1908 Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | October 30, 1941(1941-10-30) (aged 33) Conneaut, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz,swing |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Tenor saxophone |
| Years active | 1930s |
| Formerly of | Cab Calloway,Fletcher Henderson |
Leon Brown "Chu"Berry (September 13, 1908 – October 30, 1941) was an Americanjazztenor saxophonist during the 1930s. He is perhaps best known for his time as a member of singerCab Calloway'sbig band.
According to music criticGary Giddins, musicians called him "Chu" either because he chewed on the mouthpiece of his saxophone or because he had aFu Manchu mustache.[1]
Berry was born inWheeling, West Virginia, to father Brown Berry and mother Maggie Glasgow Berry.[2] He graduated from Lincoln High School, in Wheeling, then attendedWest Virginia State College for three years.[3] His sister Ann played piano. Berry became interested in music at an early age, playing alto saxophone, at first with local bands. He was inspired to take up the tenor saxophone after hearingColeman Hawkins on tour.
Most of Berry's career was spent withswing bands: Sammy Stewart, 1929–1930, with whom he switched to tenor sax;Benny Carter, 1932–1933;Teddy Hill, 1933–1935;Fletcher Henderson, 1935–1937; andCab Calloway, his best-known affiliation, from 1937 to 1941.[4] He is credited with turning Calloway's band into a legitimate jazz orchestra over the four years of his membership.[5]
Throughout his brief career, Berry was in demand as asideman for recording sessions under the names of various other jazz artists, includingSpike Hughes (1933),Bessie Smith (1933),the Chocolate Dandies (1933),Mildred Bailey (1935–1938),Teddy Wilson (1935–1938),Billie Holiday (1938–1939),Wingy Manone (1938–1939), andLionel Hampton (1939).
During the period 1934–1939, while saxophone pioneer Hawkins was playing in Europe, Berry was one of several younger tenor saxophonists, such asBudd Johnson,Ben Webster, andLester Young, who vied for supremacy on their instrument. Berry's mastery of advanced harmony was an influence onDizzy Gillespie andCharlie Parker.[citation needed] Parker named his first son Leon in Chu's honor.[6]
Berry was among the musicians who took part in thejam sessions atMinton's Playhouse in New York City, which helped lead to the development ofbebop.
The song "Christopher Columbus", which Berry composed with lyrics byAndy Razaf, was the last important hit recording of the Fletcher Henderson orchestra and was recorded in 1936. It is one of the most popularriff tunes from the swing era and was later incorporated intoJimmy Mundy's arrangement of "Sing, Sing, Sing" forBenny Goodman's band.
Four sessions were organized with Berry as leader, in 1937, 1938, and 1941.
Berry died on October 30, 1941, inConneaut, Ohio, after being in a car accident.[7]
Chu Berry is the unofficial name of a series of saxophones produced by theC.G. Conn company during the 1920s, though it is more accurate to refer to them as the Conn New Wonder Series II.
The company never officially used the term "Chu Berry" to refer to any of their saxophones. In fact, Berry played a model of tenor sax generally known as the Conn Transitional[9] and is not known to have ever played a New Wonder Series II.[10][11]
Some saxophone owners use the term "Chu Berry" to refer to any Conn saxophone made between 1910 and the mid-1930s, including soprano, alto, baritone, andC melody saxophones, none of which Berry played.
