Ben Thigpen
Encyclopedia
Ben Thigpen was an American jazz
drummer. He is the father of drummer Ed Thigpen
.
Ben Thigpen played piano as a child, having been trained by his sister Eva. He played in South Bend, Indiana
with Bobby Boswell
in the 1920s, and then moved to Chicago
to study under Jimmy Bertrand
. While there he played with many noted Chicago bandleaders and performers, including Doc Cheatham. He played with Charlie Elgar
's Creole Band during 1927-1929 but did not record with them. Following this he spent time in Cleveland with J. Frank Terry, and then became the drummer for Andy Kirk
's Clouds of Joy, where he stayed from 1930 to 1947. Much of his work is available on collections highlighting the piano work of Mary Lou Williams
, who also played in this ensemble.
After his time with Kirk, Thigpen's career is poorly documented. He led his own quintet in St. Louis and recorded with Singleton Palmer
in the 1960s.
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...
drummer. He is the father of drummer Ed Thigpen
Ed Thigpen
Edmund Leonard "Ed" Thigpen was an American jazz drummer, best-known for his work with the Oscar Peterson trio from 1959 to 1965...
.
Ben Thigpen played piano as a child, having been trained by his sister Eva. He played in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
with Bobby Boswell
Bobby Boswell
Robert Allen "Bobby" Boswell is an American soccer player who currently plays for Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.-College:...
in the 1920s, and then moved to 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...
to study under Jimmy Bertrand
Jimmy Bertrand
Jimmy Bertrand was an American jazz and blues drummer.James Bertrand was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and was active on the Chicago blues/jazz scene of the 1920s...
. While there he played with many noted Chicago bandleaders and performers, including Doc Cheatham. He played with Charlie Elgar
Charlie Elgar
Charles Anthony "Charlie" Elgar was an American jazz bandleader.Elgar was once thought to have been born in 1885, but later interviews confirmed 1879 as his year of birth...
's Creole Band during 1927-1929 but did not record with them. Following this he spent time in Cleveland with J. Frank Terry, and then became the drummer for Andy Kirk
Andy Kirk
Andrew Dewey Kirk was a jazz saxophonist and tubist best known as a bandleader of the "Twelve Clouds of Joy," popular during the swing era....
's Clouds of Joy, where he stayed from 1930 to 1947. Much of his work is available on collections highlighting the piano work of Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Williams wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements, and recorded more than one hundred records...
, who also played in this ensemble.
After his time with Kirk, Thigpen's career is poorly documented. He led his own quintet in St. Louis and recorded with Singleton Palmer
Singleton Palmer
Singleton Palmer was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist and bandleader....
in the 1960s.