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Sonny Greer

dr, 1895-1982 US, Long Branch, New Jersey
Singer / Musician of Jazz

Sonny Greer (13 December 1895 – 23 March 1982) was an American jazz drummer and vocalist, best known for his work with Duke Ellington.Greer was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and played with Elmer Snowden's band and the Howard Theatre's orchestra in Washington, D.C. before joining Duke Ellington, whom he met in 1919. He was Ellington's first drummer, playing with his quintet, the Washingtonians, and moving with Ellington into the Cotton Club. As a result of his job as a designer with the Leedy Drum Company of Indiana, Greer was able to build up a huge drum kit worth over a then-considerable $3,000, including chimes, a gong, timpani, and vibes.

     
Instruments
  • Drums
  • Vocals
  • Percussion
Genres
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Pop
Popular Tracks   
Moaning Day on Jammin' at Rudi's by Various Artists
Moon over Dixie (with Sonny Greer) on Ellington In Order, Volume 4 by Duke Ellington
Sloppy Joe on All That Jazz, Vol. 9: Duke Ellington – The Cotton Club Years by Duke Ellington
Soda Fountain Rag on Soda Fountain Rag by Brooks Kerr & Sonny Greer
Sunny Jungle on Jammin' at Rudi's by Various Artists
Sweet Sue on Jammin' at Rudi's by Various Artists
Skiffle Jam on Jammin' at Rudi's by Various Artists
Tip Toe Topic on Ellington, Duke: Blue Abandon by Duke Ellington & Duke Ellington Orchestra
I'm So In Love With You on Soda Fountain Rag by Brooks Kerr & Sonny Greer
Kersey's Boogie on Jammin' at Rudi's by Various Artists

Track list and 30sec audio provided by


Band Members
Discography



Title Artist Year Type
Jamming At Rudi'sDanny Barker, Eubie Blake, Dave Burley, Pops Foster, Tyree Glenn, Sonny Greer, Conrad Janis, John Jeffrey, Kenny Kersey, Freddie Moore, Hot Lips Page, Walter Page, Burney Peacock, Paul Quinichette, Tom Sharpsteen, R. C. H. Smith, Ralph Sutton, Bob Wilber1996Compil.
The Queen And Her KnightsVictoria Spivey With Lonnie Johnson, Little Brother Montgomery, Memphis Slim, Sonny Greer1965Album
Rex Stewart And His OrchestraDuke Ellington, Ben Webster, Harry Carney, Lawrence Brown, Jimmy Blanton, Sonny Greer With Rex Stewart And His Orchestra1954Compil.
Jamming At Rudi's, No. 2Hot Lips Page, Tyree Glenn, Sonny Greer, Paul Quinichette, Burney Peacock, Walter Page, Dan Burley, Danny Barker1951Album
Sunny Jungle / Main StreetSonny Greer1946Album
Mood Indigo / The MoocheSonny Greer And The The Duke's Men1945Album
Sonny Greer's Jazz ExpressSonny GreerSingle
Capitol Presents Coleman Hawkins & Sonny GreerColeman Hawkins / Sonny GreerCompil.
Newport Jazz Festival 3 July 1958/ Paris Jazz Festival 3 November 1965Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart, Tyree Glenn, Hilton Jefferson, Ben Webster, Billy Strayhorn, Oscar Pettiford, Sonny Greer, Roy Eldridge, Stuff Smith, Don Byas, Earl Hines, Jimmy Woode, Kenny ClarkeAlbum
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Acknowledgements
To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.
Universal Link: https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Sonny%20Greer
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