Cassino Simpson
Encyclopedia
Wendell "Cassino" Simpson (July 22, 1909 - March 27, 1952) was an American
jazz
pianist, best known for his associations on the Chicago
jazz scene.
Simpson may have studied piano under Zinky Cohn
. He first recorded in 1923 with Bernie Young, then recorded with the Moulin Rouge Orchestra in 1925. Following this he joined Arthur Sims's orchestra, recording with them in 1926. Sims died soon after, and Bernie Young took over as bandleader; Simpson remained in the ensemble until 1930. Concomitantly, he recorded with Jabbo Smith
's Rhythm Aces on his 1929 Brunswick Records
releases.
From 1931 to 1933 he played with Erskine Tate
, though he never recorded with him. He recorded as a leader under various names, with Jabbo Smith and Milt Hinton
as sidemen. In 1933 he cut a few sides with Half Pint Jaxon, a female impersonator.
Soon after his recordings with Jaxon, Simpson apparently became mentally disturbed, and was institutionalized in 1935 in Elgin, Illinois
. While there, he continued to play piano and vibraphone
in a hospital dance band, and played bass drum in the hospital's marching band. He recorded solo piano numbers on the grounds of the hospital in the middle of the 1940s. Simpson was never released from the hospital, where he died in 1952.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
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, best known for his associations on the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
jazz scene.
Simpson may have studied piano under Zinky Cohn
Zinky Cohn
Zinky Cohn was an American jazz pianist.Cohn played in Chicago in the late 1920s, including in Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra ; he recorded with Noone extensively between 1929 and 1934, especially for Vocalion Records...
. He first recorded in 1923 with Bernie Young, then recorded with the Moulin Rouge Orchestra in 1925. Following this he joined Arthur Sims's orchestra, recording with them in 1926. Sims died soon after, and Bernie Young took over as bandleader; Simpson remained in the ensemble until 1930. Concomitantly, he recorded with Jabbo Smith
Jabbo Smith
Jabbo Smith, born as Cladys Smith was a United States jazz musician, known for his hot virtuoso playing on the trumpet....
's Rhythm Aces on his 1929 Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
releases.
From 1931 to 1933 he played with Erskine Tate
Erskine Tate
Erskine Tate was an American jazz violinist and bandleader.Tate moved to Chicago in 1912 and was an early figure on the Chicago jazz scene, playing with his band, the Vendome Orchestra, at the Vendome Theater, which was located at 31st and State Street...
, though he never recorded with him. He recorded as a leader under various names, with Jabbo Smith and Milt Hinton
Milt Hinton
Milton John "Milt" Hinton , "the dean of jazz bass players," was an American jazz double bassist and photographer. He was nicknamed "The Judge".-Biography:...
as sidemen. In 1933 he cut a few sides with Half Pint Jaxon, a female impersonator.
Soon after his recordings with Jaxon, Simpson apparently became mentally disturbed, and was institutionalized in 1935 in Elgin, Illinois
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
. While there, he continued to play piano and vibraphone
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
in a hospital dance band, and played bass drum in the hospital's marching band. He recorded solo piano numbers on the grounds of the hospital in the middle of the 1940s. Simpson was never released from the hospital, where he died in 1952.