Trudy Pitts
Encyclopedia
Trudy Pitts born Gertrude E. Pitts, was an American
soul jazz
keyboardist
from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. She was known primarily for playing the Hammond B3 organ.
and Juilliard, as well as other institutions. Early work experience included a position as an assistant to the pianist in the Tony Award
-winning musical Raisin
.
At the end of the musical's tour, she was encouraged by her husband (who had worked with Shirley Scott
as a drummer) to continue developing her repertoire.
In 1967, the Boston Globe printed a piece calling her a rising star and complimented her drawbar
variations, vibrato
shadings, and bass pedal work. Her husband, William Theodore Carney II (born 1925), aka "Mr. C.", often joined her on the drums.
Trudy Pitts eventually went on to play with Ben Webster
, Gene Ammons
, and Sonny Stitt
. She recorded four album
s for Prestige Records, appearing with Willis Jackson
among others. In 1999, a compilation album
of several records was released as Legends of Acid Jazz, Trudy Pitts & Pat Martino. Recent festival appearances include the 11th Annual Mary Lou Williams
Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
, in May 2006. On September 15, 2006, Pitts was the first jazz artist play a concert on Philadelphia's Kimmel Center's 7,000 pipe organ, "taking the medium to a whole new level".
In 2008, she again performed on an exceptional organ, this time the Kennedy Center's Filene Organ.
Trudy Pitts died on December 19, 2010, aged 78, from pancreatic cancer
.
Singles
WIth Willis Jackson
With Roland Kirk
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul jazz
Soul jazz
Soul jazz is a development of jazz incorporating strong influences from blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues in music for small groups, often an organ trio featuring a Hammond organ.- Overview :Soul jazz is often associated with hard bop. Mark C...
keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. She was known primarily for playing the Hammond B3 organ.
Biography
Trained as a musician and a music educator, Pitts studied at the Philadelphia Musical Academy, Temple UniversityTemple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and Juilliard, as well as other institutions. Early work experience included a position as an assistant to the pianist in the Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winning musical Raisin
Raisin (musical)
Raisin is a musical theatre adaptation of the Lorraine Hansberry play A Raisin in the Sun, with songs by Judd Woldin and Robert Brittan, and a book by Robert Nemiroff and Charlotte Zaltzberg....
.
At the end of the musical's tour, she was encouraged by her husband (who had worked with Shirley Scott
Shirley Scott
Shirley Scott was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist. She was most known for working with her husband, Stanley Turrentine, and with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis...
as a drummer) to continue developing her repertoire.
In 1967, the Boston Globe printed a piece calling her a rising star and complimented her drawbar
Drawbar
Drawbar may refer to:*Drawbar , a device for coupling a hauling vehicle to a load. This usage may be road, agriculture or rail.*Drawbar organ*Drawbar , a device for changing tools on milling machines...
variations, vibrato
Vibrato
Vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Vibrato is typically characterised in terms of two factors: the amount of pitch variation and the speed with which the pitch is varied .-Vibrato and...
shadings, and bass pedal work. Her husband, William Theodore Carney II (born 1925), aka "Mr. C.", often joined her on the drums.
Trudy Pitts eventually went on to play with Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Benjamin Francis Webster , a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog," was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young...
, Gene Ammons
Gene Ammons
Eugene "Jug" Ammons also known as "The Boss," was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, and the son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons.-Biography:...
, and Sonny Stitt
Sonny Stitt
Edward "Sonny" Stitt was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. He was also one of the best-documented saxophonists of his generation, recording over 100 albums in his lifetime...
. She recorded four album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s for Prestige Records, appearing with Willis Jackson
Willis Jackson
Willis "Gator" Jackson was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Born in Miami, Florida, Jackson joined Duke Ellington alumnus Cootie Williams's band in 1949 as a teenager, after being discovered by Eddie Vinson. During the 1950s he participated in R&B and jazz recordings, primarily as a session...
among others. In 1999, a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of several records was released as Legends of Acid Jazz, Trudy Pitts & Pat Martino. Recent festival appearances include the 11th Annual 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...
Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in May 2006. On September 15, 2006, Pitts was the first jazz artist play a concert on Philadelphia's Kimmel Center's 7,000 pipe organ, "taking the medium to a whole new level".
In 2008, she again performed on an exceptional organ, this time the Kennedy Center's Filene Organ.
Trudy Pitts died on December 19, 2010, aged 78, from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
.
As leader
Albums- 1967: Introducing the Fabulous Trudy Pitts (Prestige PR 7523) with Pat MartinoPat MartinoPat Martino is an Italian-American jazz guitarist and composer within the post bop, fusion, mainstream jazz, soul jazz and hard bop idioms.-Biography:...
- 1967: These Blues of Mine (Prestige PR 7538) with Pat Martino
- 1968: A Bucketful of Soul (Prestige PR 7560) with Mr. C.
- 1968: The Excitement of Trudy Pitts (Recorded Live! at Club Baron) (Prestige PR 7583) with Wilbert Longmire
Singles
- 1967: Steppin' In Minor c/w Take Five (Prestige PR 45-448) Same sessions as PR 7523
- 1968: A Whiter Shade Of Pale c/w Bucket Full Of Soul (Prestige PR 45-461)
As sidewoman
WIth Pat MartinoPat Martino
Pat Martino is an Italian-American jazz guitarist and composer within the post bop, fusion, mainstream jazz, soul jazz and hard bop idioms.-Biography:...
- 1967: El Hombre (Prestige PR 7513)
WIth Willis Jackson
- 1968: Star Bag (Prestige PR 7571)
With Roland Kirk
- 1976: The Return of the 5000 Lb. ManThe Return of the 5000 Lb. ManThe Return of the 5000 Lb. Man is an album by jazz multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk featuring performances by Kirk with Howard Johnson, Romeo Penque, Hilton Ruiz, Buster Williams, Charlie Persip, Joe Habao Texidor, Betty Neals, Maeretha Stewart, Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, Fred Moore, Wilton...
(Warner Bros. BS 2918) - 1976: Other Folks' MusicOther Folks' MusicOther Folks' Music is an album by jazz multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk featuring performances by Kirk withRichard Williams, Kermit Moore, Gloria Agostini, Trudy Pitts, Hilton Ruiz, Henry Mattathias Pearson, Roy Haynes, Sonny Brown, Arthur Jenkins and Joe Habad Texidor recorded in March...
(Atlantic 1686) - 1977: KirkatronKirkatronKirkatron is an album by jazz multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk featuring performances by Kirk recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1975 and studio sessions from 1975 and 1976....
(Warner Bros. 2982)