Tuts Washington
Background information
Birth nameIsidore Washington
Born(1907-01-24)January 24, 1907
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedAugust 5, 1984(1984-08-05) (aged 77)
New Orleans
GenresBlues, jazz, boogie-woogie
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1920s–1984
LabelsImperial, Rounder, Night Train International Records, 504 Records

Isidore "Tuts" Washington (January 24, 1907 – August 5, 1984)[1][2] was an American blues pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.[3]

He taught himself to play the piano at age 10 and studied with the New Orleans jazz pianist Joseph Louis "Red" Cayou.[4] In the 1920s and 1930s, he was a leading player for dance bands and Dixieland bands in New Orleans. His style blended elements of ragtime, jazz, blues, and boogie-woogie.[1]

After World War II, Washington joined Smiley Lewis in a trio with drummer Herman Seals.[4] They released several popular songs for Imperial, including "Tee-Nah-Nah", "The Bells Are Ringing", and "Dirty People". Washington moved to St. Louis to play with Tab Smith.[1] He returned to New Orleans in the 1960s, performing in restaurants in the French Quarter, in clubs such as Tipitina's and at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. For years he had a regular engagement playing piano at a bar in the Pontchartrain Hotel. He avoided recording for most of his career,[4] but he released the solo piano album New Orleans Piano Professor for Rounder in 1983.[1] A live recording by Washington, Live at Tipitina's '78, was released by Night Train International Records in 1998.[5]

Washington is featured, along with Professor Longhair and Allen Toussaint, in the 1982 documentary film "Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together".

Washington died on August 5, 1984, after having a heart attack while performing at the World's Fair in New Orleans.[1]

Discography

New Orleans Piano (with Lemon Nash, ukulele and vocal, incorrectly listed as Charles "Little Red" Lajoie, vocal and banjo)* - 504 Records – 504 CD 32

Live At Tipitina's '78 - Night Train International – NTI CD 7101

Tuts Washington - New Orleans Piano Professor - Rounder Records – Rounder CD 11501

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Ankeny, Jason. "Tuts Washington". AllMusic. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  2. ^ du Noyer, Paul, ed. (August 22, 2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music. Flame Tree. p. 181. ISBN 978-1904041702.
  3. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 367–9. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
  4. ^ a b c "Isidore Tuts Washington". Thebluestrail.com. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Live at Tipitina's '78 - Tuts Washington". AllMusic. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  6. ^ Fancourt, Les; McGrath, Bob (2006). Blues Discography- 1943- 1970. Eyeball Productions. ISBN 0968644570.
  7. ^ Ford, Robert; McGrath, Bob (2011). The Blues Discography, 1971-2000 : The Later Years : A Selective Discography. Eyeball Productions. ISBN 0986641731.
Categories