Scoops Carry
Encyclopedia
George Dorman "Scoops" Carry (January 23, 1915 – August 4, 1970) was an American jazz
alto saxophonist and clarinetist.
Carry's mother was a music teacher, and his brother Ed Carry was a Chicago
-based bandleader
and guitarist in the 1920s and 1930s. He started on horn at age eight, later studying at the Chicago College of Music and Iowa University. He worked with Cassino Simpson
, the Midnight Revellers, and Boyd Atkins
's Firecrackers in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
In 1931 he played with Lucky Millinder
in RKO theater palaces. He reunited with his brother in 1932, and the pair co-led an orchestra through the middle of the 1930s. Following this Scoops played with Zutty Singleton, Fletcher Henderson
, and Roy Eldridge
; in 1938 he was with Art Tatum
, and in 1939 with Horace Henderson
. At the end of the decade he worked briefly with Darnell Howard
before joining Earl Hines
's band in 1940.
Carry remained in Hines's employ until 1946, working with him in both large and small ensemble settings. After his tenure with Hines, Carry left music and entered law school
in 1947, eventually working in the office of the Illinois state attorney.
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...
alto saxophonist and clarinetist.
Carry's mother was a music teacher, and his brother Ed Carry was a 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...
-based bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
and guitarist in the 1920s and 1930s. He started on horn at age eight, later studying at the Chicago College of Music and Iowa University. He worked with Cassino Simpson
Cassino Simpson
Wendell "Cassino" Simpson was an American jazz pianist, best known for his associations on the Chicago jazz scene....
, the Midnight Revellers, and Boyd Atkins
Boyd Atkins
Boyd Atkins was an American jazz and blues reed player. He played saxophone and violin professionally.Atkins played with the Fate Marable band touring on the Mississippi River in the late 1910s. He was on the St. Louis, Missouri musical scene with the band of Dewey Jackson early in the 1920s...
's Firecrackers in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
In 1931 he played with Lucky Millinder
Lucky Millinder
Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder was an American rhythm and blues and swing bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical taste made his bands successful...
in RKO theater palaces. He reunited with his brother in 1932, and the pair co-led an orchestra through the middle of the 1930s. Following this Scoops played with Zutty Singleton, 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 Roy Eldridge
Roy Eldridge
Roy David Eldridge , nicknamed "Little Jazz" was an American jazz trumpet player. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos and his strong influence on Dizzy Gillespie mark him as one of the most exciting musicians of the swing era and a...
; in 1938 he was with Art Tatum
Art Tatum
Arthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. was an American jazz pianist and virtuoso who played with phenomenal facility despite being nearly blind.Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time...
, and in 1939 with Horace Henderson
Horace Henderson
Horace W. Henderson Born in Cuthbert, Georgia , younger brother of Fletcher Henderson, was an American jazz pianist, organist, arranger, and bandleader....
. At the end of the decade he worked briefly with Darnell Howard
Darnell Howard
Darnell Howard was an American jazz clarinetist.Howard began playing violin at age seven, picking up clarinet and saxophone later in his youth. He played professionally with John H. Wickcliffe's Ginger Orchestra from 1913 to 1916, then moved to New York City in 1917, where he played and recorded...
before joining Earl Hines
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
's band in 1940.
Carry remained in Hines's employ until 1946, working with him in both large and small ensemble settings. After his tenure with Hines, Carry left music and entered law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
in 1947, eventually working in the office of the Illinois state attorney.