Lou Donaldson (November 1, 1926) is a jazz alto saxophonist, born in Badin,… Read Full Bio ↴Lou Donaldson (November 1, 1926) is a jazz alto saxophonist, born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known 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.
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.
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.
Alligator Bogaloo
Lou Donaldson Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Lou Donaldson:
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…
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…
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…
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…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
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…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Jon Wiliams
I love when George Benson drops in with those signature guitar arpeggios of his....then Lonnie Smith on the Hammond Organ takes it to another level....and it comes back around full circle over to Idris keeping it rolling on drums, then Lou & Mel on the horns brings it all home.
dgayden35
I've been looking for this for 50 years, probably the first classic jazz song I've ever heard. Didn't know the name, but that sax and drum has stayed in my head for years! I just knew it said Blue Note on the record. That's the power of great music!!!
Bernard Walters
its like being baptized into the jazz funk with a lot of soul!! lou donaldson is still the groove.
mahmoud abdelaziz
Of all the greatness in this song, leo morris is insane!... some of the finest drums i've ever heard, and i've heard many!
Colin Thorn
Oh yes!
david hunter
Freshman going off to college. My brother-in-law gave me a record player he had refurbished and some albums including this. It was a revelation. Wore it out!
Colin Thorn
This is some of the best drumming you will ever hear
Rodney Wyatt
Colin Thorn Idris Muhammad (Leo Morris) on the drums!!!
Duane Yaiser
I love this tune so much and it's a perfect example for my students of the 12-bar blues in C.
stix2brushes
This "sounds like ringo" drummer, is no other than Mr. Idris Muhammad himself (known then by his original name - Leo Morris). At the time, the was the young hot-shot drummer from New-Orleans making a name for himself in New York. He is one of the innovators of this Boogaloo style of drumming and this is the first recording as a 'jazz' drummer for Blue Note. Sounds amazing...