Avery Parrish
Encyclopedia
Avery Parrish was an American jazz
pianist and songwriter.
Parrish studied at the Alabama State Teachers College
, where he played in the Bama State Collegians
, an ensemble led by Erskine Hawkins
. He remained in Hawkins's employ until 1941 and recorded with him extensively. He wrote the music to "After Hours
", and a 1940 recording of the tune with Hawkins's orchestra resulted in its becoming a jazz standard
.
Parrish left Hawkins in 1941 and moved to California
. He was involved in a bar fight in 1942 which left him paralyzed
at age 24; he was unable to play music for the rest of his life. He worked outside of music until his death in 1959 of unknown causes.
In 1979, Parrish was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist and songwriter.
Parrish studied at the Alabama State Teachers College
Alabama State University
Alabama State University, founded 1867, is a historically black university located in Montgomery, Alabama. ASU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- History :...
, where he played in the Bama State Collegians
Bama State Collegians
The Bama State Collegians is a student jazz orchestra made up of students at Alabama State University. This group, founded in the 1930s, has been directed by a number of notable musicians, including Tommy Stewart and Erskine Hawkins....
, an ensemble led by Erskine Hawkins
Erskine Hawkins
Erskine Ramsay Hawkins was an American trumpet player and big band leader from Birmingham, Alabama, dubbed "The 20th Century Gabriel". He is most remembered for composing the jazz standard "Tuxedo Junction" with saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson...
. He remained in Hawkins's employ until 1941 and recorded with him extensively. He wrote the music to "After Hours
After Hours (Avery Parrish song)
After Hours is a blues piano composition composed by Birmingham, Alabama pianist, Avery Parrish.The first recording of the song, in 1940 on the Bluebird label with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra, was an instant hit, and subsequently became a jazz standard...
", and a 1940 recording of the tune with Hawkins's orchestra resulted in its becoming a jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
.
Parrish left Hawkins in 1941 and moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was involved in a bar fight in 1942 which left him paralyzed
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
at age 24; he was unable to play music for the rest of his life. He worked outside of music until his death in 1959 of unknown causes.
In 1979, Parrish was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America...
.