Zutty Singleton
b. Arthur James Singleton, 14 May 1898, Bunkie, Louisiana, USA, d. 14 July 1975. Playing drums from his early childhood, Singleton first worked professionally in 1915. After military service in World War I he played in several leading New Orleans bands, including those of Oscar ‘Papa’ Celestin and Louis Nelson, then worked the riverboats with Fate Marablein the early '20s. After spending time in New Orleans and St Louis, where he played with Charlie Creath (whose sister he married), Singleton moved to Chicago where he played in bands led by Dave Peyton and Jimmie Noone, then teamed up with Louis Armstrongand Earl Hinesfor record dates and a brief spell as co-owners of a club. As a member of the Carroll Dickersonband he went to New York, where he subsequently played with many leading jazzmen of the day. He also led his own band, securing residencies at several clubs and recording extensively throughout the '30s with musicians such as Roy Eldridge, Mezz Mezzrowand Sidney Bechet In the '40s he worked in bands that played in a startlingly wide range of styles, accompanying musicians as diverse as T-Bone Walker and Charlie Parker, Wingy Manone and Dizzy Gillespie. In the '50s he toured Europe, teaming up with Bill Coleman, Oran ‘Hot Lips’ Page, Mezzrow again and also leading his own bands. He recorded extensively in this period and throughout the '60s. A stroke in 1970 effectively ended his playing career, but he remained a father-figure in the jazz community, especially in New York where he and his wife made their home. Although Singleton had all the fundamental skills displayed by Baby Dodds, generally regarded as the master of New Orleans drummers, he was far more flexible, as the range of his musical companions demonstrates. His joyously springy playing style enhanced numerous recording sessions and his solo excursions managed the usually impossible task of being highly musical, even melodious, while being compellingly rhythmic. He appeared in several films, including STORMY WEATHER (1943) and L'AVENTURE DU JAZZ (1969).