Herman Autrey was an American 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...

 trumpeter.

Autrey was born into a musical family, and began on alto horn before taking up trumpet as a teenager and gigging locally in Pittsburgh and Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

. After some time in Florida he worked in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

, Philadelphia, and New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

, where he played with Charlie Johnson

Charlie Johnson (bandleader)

Charlie "Fess" Johnson was an American jazz bandleader and pianist.Johnson led an ensemble called the Paradise Ten, who played at Small's Paradise from 1925–1935 and recorded five times between 1925 and 1929. Though Johnson was a capable pianist, he rarely soloed on his recordings...

 in 1933. He first became well-known through Fats Waller

Fats Waller

Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...

, who hired him in 1934 after signing a new contract with Victor Records. He played alongside drummer Harry Dial, guitarist Al Casey

Al Casey

Albert Aloysius Casey known professional as Al Casey, was an African American swing guitarist who played with Fats Waller on some of his famous recordings. Casey composed the well known tune Buck Jumpin which was recorded by Waller.Casey was born in Louisville, Kentucky to Joseph and Maggie B....

, and reedist Gene Sedric

Gene Sedric

Gene Sedric was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist. He acquired the nickname "Honey Bear" in the 1930s because of his large camelhair coat....

. Autrey went on to record extensively with Waller, as well as with Fletcher Henderson

Fletcher Henderson

James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. His was one of the most prolific black orchestras and his influence was vast...

 and Claude Hopkins

Claude Hopkins

Claude Driskett Hopkins was an American jazz stride pianist and bandleader.-Biography:Claude Hopkins was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1903. Historians differ in respect of the actual date of his birth. His parents were on the faculty of Howard University...

.

Autrey worked as a sideman into the 1940s, with Stuff Smith

Stuff Smith

Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith , better known as Stuff Smith, was a jazz violinist. He is known well for the song "If You're a Viper".-Biography:...

, Sammy Price

Sammy Price

Sammy Price was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and jump blues pianist and bandleader. He was born Samuel Blythe Price, in Honey Grove, Texas, United States. Price was most noteworthy for his work on Decca Records with his own band, known as the Texas Bluesicians, that included fellow musicians...

, Una Mae Carlisle

Una Mae Carlisle

Una Mae Carlisle was an American jazz singer, pianist, and songwriter.Fats Waller discovered Carlisle when she was still in her teens, while she worked as a local Cincinnati performer live and on radio...

, and others; he also led some ensembles, which sometimes included pianist Herbie Nichols

Herbie Nichols

Herbie Nichols , was an American jazz pianist and composer who wrote the jazz standard "Lady Sings the Blues". Obscure during his lifetime, he is now highly regarded by many musicians and critics.-Life:...

. Early in the 1950s Autrey was hurt in a car crash, sidelining his career for one year. He played with Saints & Sinners

Saints & Sinners

-Album charts:-Certifications:-External links:*...

 in the 1960s, including on their 1968/69 tours of Europe. In 1969 he played with "Buzzy Drootin

Buzzy Drootin

Benjamin "Buzzy" Drootin was a legendary jazz drummer. He played with some of the greatest leading jazz musicians for over sixty years....

's Jazz Family" which included Benny Morton

Benny Morton

Benny Morton , born in New York City, was a jazz trombonist most associated with the swing genre. He was praised by fellow trombonist Bill Watrous among others. One of his first jobs was working with Clarence Holiday, and he appeared with Clarence's daughter Billie Holiday towards the end of her...

, Herb Hall

Herb Hall

Herbert "Herb" Hall was an American jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist.Herb was the brother of Edmond Hall and the son of clarinetist Edward Hall. He began on banjo with the Niles Jazz Band , then settled on reeds. In 1926 he played with Kid Augustin Victor in Baton Rouge, and moved to New...

, pianist Sonny Drootin, bassist Eddie Gibbs

Eddie Gibbs

Eddie Gibbs is an American jazz banjoist, guitarist, and bassist.Gibbs began his career late in the 1920s, playing with Wilbur Sweatman, Eubie Blake, and Billy Fowler. As a banjoist he was strongly influenced by Elmer Snowden. He played with Edgar Hayes from 1937 and played with him on a tour of...

and Buzzy on drums. In the 1970s he began to lose his playing capacity and spent more time as a vocalist.