Billy Usselton
Encyclopedia
Billy Usselton was an American jazz
reed player.
Usselton was proficient on tenor saxophone, clarinet, and oboe. He began playing professionally in high school
with Bubbles Becker. Although his parents wanted him to attend college in Pennsylvania, he wanted to play for a living. He then played with Sonny Dunham
in the 1940s before joining Ray Anthony
in 1948-49 and again in 1951-52. In the interim, he joined Tommy Dorsey
's band and recommended Mel Lewis after Buddy Rich was fired. After his second stint with Anthony, he played with Bill Harris
in Florida
.
In 1954 Usselton joined Les Brown
's band, and played with him for decades. Usselton plays on nearly all of Brown's records released on Coral Records
and Capitol Records
, and toured with him worldwide as part of Bob Hope's U.S.O. Tours. He married Lauri Johnson
, a vocalist in Brown's ensemble, in 1958. Billy and family lived in Chicago in the 60's where he gigged and was a jazz clinician for the Conn Corporation. The Usselton family moved to Phoenix in 1977.
Usselton's only album as a leader was the 1957 release His First Album, issued on Kapp Records
.
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...
reed player.
Usselton was proficient on tenor saxophone, clarinet, and oboe. He began playing professionally in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
with Bubbles Becker. Although his parents wanted him to attend college in Pennsylvania, he wanted to play for a living. He then played with Sonny Dunham
Sonny Dunham
Elmer "Sonny" Dunham was an American trumpet player and bandleader.Born in Brockton, Massachusetts, the son of Elmer and Ethel Dunham, he attended local schools and took lessons on the valve trombone at the age of 7. He changed to the slide trombone at age 11, and was playing in local bands by...
in the 1940s before joining Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony is an American bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor.- Biography :...
in 1948-49 and again in 1951-52. In the interim, he joined Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
's band and recommended Mel Lewis after Buddy Rich was fired. After his second stint with Anthony, he played with Bill Harris
Bill Harris (musician)
Bill Harris was a jazz trombonist.-Biography:Early in his career, Harris performed with Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, and Eddie Condon. He is renowned for his broad, thick tone and quick vibrato that remained for the duration of each tone. He went on to join Woody Herman's First Herd in 1944...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
In 1954 Usselton joined Les Brown
Les Brown (bandleader)
Les Brown, Sr. and the Band of Renown are a big band that began in the late 1930s, initially as the group Les Brown and His Blue Devils that Brown led while a student at Duke University. He was the first president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences...
's band, and played with him for decades. Usselton plays on nearly all of Brown's records released on Coral Records
Coral Records
Coral Records was a Decca Records subsidiary formed in 1949. It recorded pop artists McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, as well as rock and roller Buddy Holly....
and Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, and toured with him worldwide as part of Bob Hope's U.S.O. Tours. He married Lauri Johnson
Lauri Johnson
Lauri Johnson is an American character actress and career coach.-Career:Johnson was born in Santa Monica in 1949.Her first prominent role was providing additional voices to the Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Jetsons...
, a vocalist in Brown's ensemble, in 1958. Billy and family lived in Chicago in the 60's where he gigged and was a jazz clinician for the Conn Corporation. The Usselton family moved to Phoenix in 1977.
Usselton's only album as a leader was the 1957 release His First Album, issued on Kapp Records
Kapp Records
Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc...
.