Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson (born in Badin, North Carolina, on 1 November 1926; died 9 No… Read Full Bio ↴Lou Donaldson (born in Badin, North Carolina, on 1 November 1926; died 9 November 2024) was an American jazz alto saxophonistremembered for his soulful, bluesy approach to the alto saxophone (although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker). Inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2012, he was sampled many times from Pot Belly, his cover of Ode to Billie Joe, and from his cover of It's Your Thing.
Donaldson attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro in the early 1940s. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was trained at the Great Lakes bases in Chicago, where he was introduced to bop music in the lively club scene there. At the war's conclusion, he returned to Greensboro, where he worked club dates with the Rhythm Vets, a combo composed of A and T students who had served in the U.S. Navy. The band recorded the soundtrack to a musical comedy featurette, "Pitch a Boogie Woogie," in Greenville, North Carolina, in the summer of 1947. The movie had a limited run at black audience theatres in 1948 but its production company, Lord-Warner Pictures, folded and never made another film. "Pitch a Boogie Woogie" was subsequently restored by the American Film Institute in 1985 and re-premiered on the campus of East Carolina University in Greenville the following year. Donaldson and the surviving members of the Vets performed a reunion concert after the film's showing. In the documentary made on "Pitch" by UNC-TV, "Boogie in Black and White", Donaldson and his musical cohorts recall the film's making—he originally believed that he had played clarinet on the soundtrack. A short piece of concert footage from a gig in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is included in the documentary.
Donaldson's first jazz recordings were with the Charlie Singleton Orchestra in 1950 and then with bop emissaries Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk in 1952, and he participated in several small groups with other jazz luminaries such as trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Horace Silver and drummer Art Blakey.
In 1953, he also recorded sessions with the trumpet virtuoso Clifford Brown, and Philly Joe Jones.
He was a member of Art Blakey's Quintet and appeared on some of their best regarded albums, including the two albums recorded at Birdland in February 1954 Night at Birdland.
Donaldson has recorded in the bop, hard bop, and soul jazz genres. For many years his pianist was Herman Foster.
He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on October 11, 2012. Also in 2012, he was named a NEA Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 2018, he declared himself retired, having performed his final shows in 2017.
On November 2, 2021, he made a public appearance at a 95th birthday tribute show at Dizzy's Club in Manhattan, New York City. He appeared at his 96th and 97 birthday tribute shows on November 7, 2022, and October 30, 2023 but opted not to travel to New York City for his 98th birthday celebration due to a bout of pneumonia.
Donaldson attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro in the early 1940s. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was trained at the Great Lakes bases in Chicago, where he was introduced to bop music in the lively club scene there. At the war's conclusion, he returned to Greensboro, where he worked club dates with the Rhythm Vets, a combo composed of A and T students who had served in the U.S. Navy. The band recorded the soundtrack to a musical comedy featurette, "Pitch a Boogie Woogie," in Greenville, North Carolina, in the summer of 1947. The movie had a limited run at black audience theatres in 1948 but its production company, Lord-Warner Pictures, folded and never made another film. "Pitch a Boogie Woogie" was subsequently restored by the American Film Institute in 1985 and re-premiered on the campus of East Carolina University in Greenville the following year. Donaldson and the surviving members of the Vets performed a reunion concert after the film's showing. In the documentary made on "Pitch" by UNC-TV, "Boogie in Black and White", Donaldson and his musical cohorts recall the film's making—he originally believed that he had played clarinet on the soundtrack. A short piece of concert footage from a gig in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is included in the documentary.
Donaldson's first jazz recordings were with the Charlie Singleton Orchestra in 1950 and then with bop emissaries Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk in 1952, and he participated in several small groups with other jazz luminaries such as trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Horace Silver and drummer Art Blakey.
In 1953, he also recorded sessions with the trumpet virtuoso Clifford Brown, and Philly Joe Jones.
He was a member of Art Blakey's Quintet and appeared on some of their best regarded albums, including the two albums recorded at Birdland in February 1954 Night at Birdland.
Donaldson has recorded in the bop, hard bop, and soul jazz genres. For many years his pianist was Herman Foster.
He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on October 11, 2012. Also in 2012, he was named a NEA Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 2018, he declared himself retired, having performed his final shows in 2017.
On November 2, 2021, he made a public appearance at a 95th birthday tribute show at Dizzy's Club in Manhattan, New York City. He appeared at his 96th and 97 birthday tribute shows on November 7, 2022, and October 30, 2023 but opted not to travel to New York City for his 98th birthday celebration due to a bout of pneumonia.
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Lou Donaldson Lyrics
A Foggy Day I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
After You've Gone Now won't you listen honey, while I say, How could…
Be My Love Be my love, for no one else can end this…
Blue Moon Blue moon you saw me standing alone Without a dream in…
Bye Bye Blackbird No one here can love or understand me Oh, what hard…
Candy Some say that love is sweet as a rose, Some say…
Caravan Night and stars above that shine so bright The myst'ry…
Danny Boy Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen…
Don't Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Don't Worry 'bout Me Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just be …
Ebb Tide First the tide rushes in, plants a kiss on the…
Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky everything I do gonh be funky…
Exactly Like You I used to have a perfect sweetheart Not a real one,…
For The Love Of You Hmm Huh Hoo hoo hey baby I'm looking for you Drifting…
Good Morning Heartache Good morning heartache, you old gloomy sight Good morning he…
I Had The Craziest Dream In a dream the strangest and the oddest things appear And…
I'll Be There You and I must make a pact We must bring salvation…
If I Love Again I often wonder why he came to me Brought such a…
It Might as Well Be Spring I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm I'm as…
It's You Or No One How did I know that the warmth of the glow…
Just Friends Just friends, lovers no more Just friends, but not like befo…
Laura Laura is the face in the misty lights. Footsteps that you…
Love L is for the way you look at me. O is…
Love For Sale Hmm Huh Hoo hoo hey baby I'm looking for you Drifting…
Love Walked in Love walked right in and drove the shadows away Love walked…
Ode to Billy Joe It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta…
Over The Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
Pennies From Heaven Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven Don't you…
People Will Say We're in Love Why do they think up stories that link my name…
Polka Dots & Moonbeams A country dance was being held in a garden I felt…
Star Eyes Star eyes, That to me is what your eyes are, Soft as…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Street of Dream Midnight, you heavy laden, it's midnight Come on and trade i…
Sweet and Lovely Sweet and lovely Sweeter than the roses in May Sweet and lov…
Temptation You came, I was alone I should have known you were…
That's All I can only give you love that lasts forever, And the…
The Good Life Every time it rains It rains pennies from heaven Don't you…
The Man I Love I often wonder why he came to me Brought such a…
The Nearness of You Its not the pale moon that excites me That thrills and…
The Shadow of Your Smile The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
There Is No Greater Love There is no greater love Than what I feel for you No…
What I want to see your face in every kind of…
When You're Smiling the Whole World Smiles With You I saw a blind man, He was a kind man, Helping a…
who's makin love who's making love to your old lady while you're out on…
Who's Making Love? who's making love to your old lady while you're out on…
Whos Making Love who's making love to your old lady while you're out on…
You Are My Sunshine You are the sunshine of my life That's why I'll always…
You Go To My Head You go to my head And you linger like a haunting…