Musical artist
Joe Evans (October 7, 1916 – January 17, 2014) was an American jazz alto saxophonist.[ 1] [ 2]
Early life and education
Evans was born in Bonifay and grew up in Pensacola, Florida .[ 1] Evans dropped out of high school and moved to New York City to pursue his music career. He later earned a GED and associate degree from Essex County College in 1973. Through a Ford Family Foundation scholarship, he earned a Master of Education degree from Rutgers University in 1975.[ 3]
Career
Evans was active between 1939 and 1965, playing in the big bands of Jay McShann , Jimmy Forrest and Gene Ramey ; Don Redman and Louis Armstrong .[ 2] In 1944 he recorded with Mary Lou Williams , as a member of a band including Coleman Hawkins , Bill Coleman and Denzil Best .[ 4] At the beginning of 1945, he recorded for J. Mayo Williams 's independent label, Chicago, leading a combo comprising Jesse Drakes , Duke Jordan , Gene Ramey , J. C. Heard and Etta Jones .[ 5]
Later that same year[ 6] and in 1946, he recorded with Andy Kirk 's orchestra as part of a lineup that included Fats Navarro , Reuben Phillips , Jimmy Forrest , Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis , Hank Jones , Floyd Smith , Al Hall and Ben Thigpen .[ 7] Other musicians he performed and recorded with include Cab Calloway , Billie Holiday , Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Lionel Hampton .[ 2]
In 1961, Evans founded Carnival Records . After earning his master's degree, Evans retired from music and worked as a dairy inspector for the state of New Jersey.[ 8]
In 2008, University of Illinois Press published his autobiography, Follow Your Heart , co-authored by Christopher Brooks, a professor of anthropology at Virginia Commonwealth University .[ 9]
Personal life
Evans died in Richmond, Virginia of renal disease in January 2014 at the age of 97.[ 10]
References
^ a b "The Manhattans Story Part 1" . Soulexpress.net . Retrieved March 6, 2021 .
^ a b c "Joe Evans Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More" . AllMusic . Retrieved 2022-07-10 .
^ "Jazz saxophonist and UIP author Joe Evans, 1916-2014" . Illinois Press Blog . 2014-01-21. Retrieved 2022-07-10 .
^ "Annie Kuebler, R.I.P. | Rifftides" . www.artsjournal.com . Retrieved 2022-07-10 .
^ "Ebony, Chicago, Southern, and Harlem: The Mayo Williams Indies" . campber.people.clemson.edu . Retrieved 2022-07-10 .
^ Kirk, Andy (1995-11-01). Twenty Years on Wheels . A&C Black. ISBN 978-1-871478-20-4 .
^ "Fats Navarro Discography" . csis.pace.edu . Retrieved 2022-07-10 .
^ "Carnival Records Founder Joe Evans Dies" . news.yahoo.com . Retrieved 2022-07-10 .
^ Brooks, Joe Evans with Christopher. "UI Press | Joe Evans with Christopher Brooks | Follow Your Heart: Moving with the Giants of Jazz, Swing, and Rhythm and Blues" . www.press.uillinois.edu . Retrieved 2017-10-11 .
^ "Jazz saxophonist and UIP author Joe Evans, 1916-2014" . Press.uillinois.esu . January 21, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2021 .
External links
International National Artists