Vic Dickenson
Birth nameVictor Dickenson
Born(1906-08-06)August 6, 1906
Xenia, Ohio, U.S.
DiedNovember 16, 1984(1984-11-16) (aged 78)
New York City
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Trombone
Years active1920s–1980s

Victor Dickenson (August 6, 1906 – November 16, 1984) was an American jazz trombonist.[1] His career began in the 1920s and continued through musical partnerships with Count Basie (1940–41), Sidney Bechet (1941), and Earl Hines.

Life and career

Born in Xenia, Ohio, in 1906,[1] Dickenson wanted to be a plasterer like his father, but he abandoned the idea after injuring himself by falling off a ladder.[2] He studied organ from 1922, then changed to performing trombone with local bands. He made his recording debut in December 1930 as a vocalist with Luis Russell's band.[1] He joined Blanche Calloway's orchestra in the early 1930s. He led his own groups both on the east and west coast between 1947 and the mid-1950s.

From then he was a session man. He appeared on the television program The Sound of Jazz in 1957 with Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Gerry Mulligan, and Billie Holiday. He also recorded as a sideman with Jimmy Rushing (on Vanguard Records), Coleman Hawkins (Capitol and Prestige Records), Pee Wee Russell (Black Lion), Benny Carter (Bluebird and Black & Blue), Lester Young (Blue Note and Verve), Count Basie (Columbia and Pablo. In 1953, he recorded The Vic Dickenson Showcase for Vanguard with Ed Hall on clarinet and Ruby Braff on trumpet.[1] In 1958, Sydney Bechet made him come to France and play record at Brussel exposal.

Dickenson was a member of "The World's Greatest Jazz Band", the house band at The Roosevelt Grill in New York City.[3] He also performed at the same venue in a smaller group that featured him alongside trumpeter Bobby Hackett.[1]

Dickenson is in Art Kane's photograph, A Great Day in Harlem, which includes trombonist Miff Mole.

Dickenson died in New York City in 1984 at the age of 78 as a result of cancer.[2]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As sideman

With Buster Bailey

With Coleman Hawkins

With Johnny Hodges

With Claude Hopkins

With Langston Hughes

With Budd Johnson

With Jo Jones

With Al Sears

With Dicky Wells

With Joe Williams

With Lester Young

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 106. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
  2. ^ a b John S. Wilson, "Vic Dickenson, a trombonist with Basie band in 40's, dies", The New York Times, November 18, 1984.
  3. ^ Scott Yanow, "World's Greatest Jazz Band — Live" (review), AllMusic.
  4. ^ "Vic Dickenson | Album Discography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
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