Clark Terry

Biography

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Biography

Discography

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Born on December 14, 1920 in St. Louis, Clark Terry first instrument was a $12.50 trumpet purchased at a local pawn shop. At age 15, while attending Vashon High School, he joined a local drum and bugle corps. After graduating from high school, he played with several bands around the midwest, including Fate Marable (an early mentor of Louis Armstrong).

In 1942, he joined the Navy, and was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, and was discharged in 1945.

For the next three years, Terry played with a variety of professional bands, including those of Lionel Hampton, George Hudson, Charlie Barnet, Eddie Vinson, Charlie Ventura, and Count Basie.

Barnet recommended Terry to Duke Ellington, who hired him in 1951. Terry remained with the band through 1959, while recording several albums for the Argo and Riverside labels.

Along with Miles Davis (who identified Terry as an early influence), Terry was in 1958 one of the early pioneers in the use of flugelhorn in jazz.

Upon leaving Ellington's group, Terry continued recording and working in New York City, including stints with the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band and the Quincy Jones Orchestra. In 1962 he formed a quintet with valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, and in 1964 he appeared on the highly successful recording "Oscar Peterson Trio Plus One", in which he first recorded his "mumbles" scat singing routine.

During this time, he joined the Tonight Show Orchestra (then based in New York), with whom he would remain for twelve years, until the band relocated to Los Angeles. From 1970-1976 Terry led his own big band which recorded on the Vanguard label, and in the late 1970s he continued to record small group projects for a variety of labels.

In 1979, Terry began recording on Oscar Peterson's Pablo label, recording an excellent duet album with Peterson as well as projects under his own name.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Terry continued to record a wide variety of straight-ahead jazz albums, notably several on the Chesky label. He was inducted into the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz all of Fame in 1991.

Clark Terry continues to perform publicly and record.