Richard B. Boone
Encyclopedia
Richard Bently Boone was an American
jazz musician and scat singer
.
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas
, Richard Boone sang in his Baptist
church choir as a boy, then began playing the trombone
at the age of twelve. He served with the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1953 where he played trombone in a military band. Out of the Army, he returned to Little Rock to study music at Philander Smith College
. In 1956 Boone moved to Los Angeles
where he played venues with other jazz musicians such as Dolo Coker
, Sonny Criss
, and Derek Gordon.
Boone worked in the backup band for Della Reese
between 1962 and 1966 then became a member of the Count Basie
band. In 1970 he followed other African-American jazz musicians such as pianist
Kenny Drew
and saxophonist
Ben Webster
, and moved permanently to Copenhagen
, Denmark
.
In 1973 Boone was hired to play with the Danish Radio Big Band
where he performed until 1986. Using Denmark as a home base, Boone was able to tour Europe
.
In 1998 Boone issued his final album called "Tribute to Love." It was backed by two other American transplants along with a Danish vocalist and musicians.
"A Tribute to Love" Album credits:
On his passing in 1999, Richard Boone was interred in Assistens Kirkegård in Copenhagen.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz musician and scat singer
Scat singing
In vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. Scat singing gives singers the ability to sing improvised melodies and rhythms, to create the equivalent of an instrumental solo using their voice.- Structure and syllable choice...
.
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, Richard Boone sang in his Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church choir as a boy, then began playing the trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
at the age of twelve. He served with the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1953 where he played trombone in a military band. Out of the Army, he returned to Little Rock to study music at Philander Smith College
Philander Smith College
Philander Smith College is a private, historically black college that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The student body averages around 850 attendees, with around 30% of that figure attending part time. Although known historically as a school...
. In 1956 Boone moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where he played venues with other jazz musicians such as Dolo Coker
Dolo Coker
Charles Mitchell “Dolo” Coker Charles Mitchell “Dolo” Coker Charles Mitchell “Dolo” Coker (November 16, 1927 – April 13, 1983 was a jazz pianist and composer who recorded four albums for Xanadu Records and extensively as a sideman, for artists like Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Lou Donaldson, Art...
, Sonny Criss
Sonny Criss
William "Sonny" Criss was an American jazz musician.An alto saxophonist of prominence during the bebop era of jazz, he was one of many players influenced by Charlie Parker.-Biography:...
, and Derek Gordon.
Boone worked in the backup band for Della Reese
Della Reese
Delloreese Patricia Early, known professionally as Della Reese , is an American actress, singer, game show panelist of the 1970s, one-time talk-show hostess and ordained minister. She started her career in the 1950s as a gospel, pop and jazz singer, scoring a hit with her 1959 single "Don't You...
between 1962 and 1966 then became a member of the Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
band. In 1970 he followed other African-American jazz musicians such as pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
Kenny Drew
Kenny Drew
Kenneth Sidney "Kenny" Drew was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:Born in New York City, New York, he first recorded with Howard McGhee in 1949, and over the next two years recorded with Buddy DeFranco, Coleman Hawkins, Milt Jackson, Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich, and Dinah Washington...
and saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Benjamin Francis Webster , a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog," was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young...
, and moved permanently to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
In 1973 Boone was hired to play with the Danish Radio Big Band
DR Big Band
The Danish Radio Big Band , often referred to as the Radioens Big Band is a jazz big band founded in Copenhagen in 1964, when the Copenhagen jazz scene was particularly active, and the city was regularly visited by prominent jazz artists from the USA.- Band history :Originally called The New Radio...
where he performed until 1986. Using Denmark as a home base, Boone was able to tour Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
In 1998 Boone issued his final album called "Tribute to Love." It was backed by two other American transplants along with a Danish vocalist and musicians.
"A Tribute to Love" Album credits:
- Richard Boone - Vocals
- Carsten DahlCarsten DahlCarsten Dahl is a Danish Jazz pianist. "Dahl is a truly great pianist" Chris Mosey said, in his All About Jazz review of Dahl's CD In Our Own Sweet Way released in 2009 with Alex Riel and Mads Vinding.-Biography:...
- Piano - Niels Præstholm - Bass
- Jonas JohansenJonas JohansenJonas Johansen is a Norwegian footballer who signed for Tromsdalen in 2010, Johansen's strongest position is central defender but can also play in defence midfield and attacking midfield...
- Drums - Ed ThigpenEd ThigpenEdmund Leonard "Ed" Thigpen was an American jazz drummer, best-known for his work with the Oscar Peterson trio from 1959 to 1965...
- Drums - Bob RockwellBob RockwellBob Rockwell is a jazz saxophonist. He was born in the United States but emigrated to Denmark in 1983, where he has lived since.-Biography:...
- Tenor saxophone - Bent JædigBent Jædig- Discography :Original albums*Bent Axen - Bent Jædig: Let's Keep The Message *Danish Jazzman *Egon Denu & Bent Jædig *Sizzlin’ Compilations*From Jædig's Galaxy - Discography :Original albums*Bent Axen - Bent Jædig: Let's Keep The Message (Danish Debut, 1960)*Danish Jazzman (Debut, 1967)*Egon Denu...
- Tenor saxophone - Finn Ziegler - Violin
- Katrine MadsenKatrine MadsenKatrine Madsen is a Danish jazz singer.She studied at the Royal Academy of Music and has worked in Copenhagen on albums with transplanted American jazz artists Ed Thigpen and Richard Boone....
- Vocals
On his passing in 1999, Richard Boone was interred in Assistens Kirkegård in Copenhagen.