Mance began playing professionally in his early teens and left college in 1… Read Full Bio ↴Mance began playing professionally in his early teens and left college in 1947 to join Gene Ammons' band, where he began his recording career. Mance also worked with Lester Young before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951. In the 36th Army Band, he served with another notable Jazz musician: Julian "Cannonball" Adderley.

After his discharge from the Army in 1953, Mance worked as a sideman and accompanist with musicians such as Dinah Washington, Cannonball Adderley, and Dizzy Gillespie before recording his first album as a leader and forming his own trio in 1961. To date he has recorded over thirty albums, for labels such as Verve, Jazzland, Riverside, Capitol, Atlantic, Milestone, Polydor, Inner City, JSP, Nilva, Sackville, Bee Hive, and others.

Since 1988 he has been a member of the faculty of the Jazz and Contemporary Music Program at the New School University in New York City.

In 1997, Junior Mance was inducted into The International Jazz Hall of Fame.

(2) Junior Mance is well-known for his soulful bluesy style, but he is also expert at playing bop standards. He started playing professionally when he was ten. Mance worked with Gene Ammons in Chicago during 1947-1949, played with Lester Young (1950), and was with the Ammons-Sonny Stitt group until he was drafted. He was the house pianist at Chicago's Bee Hive (1953-1954), worked as Dinah Washington's accompanist (1954-1955), was in the first Cannonball Adderley Quintet (1956-1957), and then spent two years touring with Dizzy Gillespie (1958-1960). After a few months with the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis/Johnny Griffin group, Mance formed his own trio and has mostly been a leader ever since. He has led sessions for Verve, Jazzland, Riverside, Capitol, Atlantic, Milestone, Polydor, Inner City, JSP, Nilva, Sackville, and Bee Hive, among other labels. ~ Scott Yanow

A Smooth One
Junior Mance Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'A Smooth One' by these artists:

J.C. Heard Yeah Yeahhh Ay (it's 2C) I wanna be your maga (Ay)…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Junior Mance:

Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Body And Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
But Beautiful Love is funny or it's sad, Or it's quiet or…
Careless Love Love, oh love, oh careless love You've fly through my head…
Don't Worry 'Bout It Sweets for my sweet, sugar for my honey Your first sweet…
Emily Emily, Emily, Emily Has the murmuring sound of may All silve…

Falling In Love With Love Falling in love with love is falling for make-believe Fallin…
Girl Of My Dreams Dear, it seems years since we parted, Years full of tears…
I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
I Wish I Knew I wish I knew how It would feel to be free I…
If I Had You I could show the world how to smile I could be…
If You Could See Me Now If you could see me now, you'd know how blue…
In A Sentimental Mood In A Sentimental Mood I can see the stars come…
September Song Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December But…
Spinning Wheel What goes up must come down Spinning Wheel got to go…
St. James Infirmary It was down by old Joe's barroom, on the corner…
Sweet And Lovely Sweet and lovely Sweeter than the roses in May Sweet and l…
What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted As I walk this land with broken dreams I have visions…

You Are Too Beautiful You are too beautiful, my dear, to be true And I…

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