Walter Fuller
Encyclopedia
Walter "Rosetta" Fuller (February 15, 1910, Dyersburg, Tennessee
- April 20, 2003, San Diego, California
) was an American jazz
trumpeter and vocalist. He is no relation to Gil Fuller
, whose birth name is also Walter.
as a child before settling on trumpet. He played in a traveling medicine show
from age 14, then played with Sammy Stewart
in the late 1920s. In 1930 he moved to Chicago
and played with Irene Eadie and Her Vogue Vagabonds. He began a longtime partnership with Earl Hines
in 1931, remaining with him until 1937, when he took a job with Horace Henderson
's ensemble. This gig lasted only a few months, though and after a year with Henderson he returned to duty under Hines again. He left Hines again in 1940 to form his own band, playing at the Grand Terrace in Chicago and the Radio Room in Los Angeles
. Among his sidemen were Rozelle Claxton
, Quinn Wilson
, Omer Simeon
, and Gene Ammons
. He led bands on the West Coast for over a decade, and played as a side trumpeter and vocalist for many years afterward.
Fuller won the nickname
"Rosetta" based on his singing on the 1934 Hines recording of the song "Rosetta".
Dyersburg, Tennessee
Dyersburg is a city in and the county seat of Dyer County, Tennessee, United States, north-northeast of Memphis on the Forked Deer River. The population was 17,145 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Dyersburg is located at...
- April 20, 2003, San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
) was an American jazz
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...
trumpeter and vocalist. He is no relation to Gil Fuller
Gil Fuller
Walter Gilbert "Gil" Fuller was an American jazz arranger. He is no relation to the jazz trumpeter and vocalist Walter "Rosetta" Fuller....
, whose birth name is also Walter.
Biography
Fuller learned mellophoneMellophone
The mellophone is a brass instrument that is typically used in place of the horn in marching bands or drum and bugle corps....
as a child before settling on trumpet. He played in a traveling medicine show
Medicine show
Medicine shows were traveling horse and wagon teams which peddled "miracle cure" medications and other products between various entertainment acts. Their precise origins unknown, medicine shows were common in the 19th century United States...
from age 14, then played with Sammy Stewart
Sammy Stewart
Samuel Lee "Sammy" Stewart , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1978-1987. He attended Owen High School in Asheville and Montreat College, and signed his first pro contract with the Baltimore Orioles in 1975...
in the late 1920s. In 1930 he 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...
and played with Irene Eadie and Her Vogue Vagabonds. He began a longtime partnership with Earl Hines
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
in 1931, remaining with him until 1937, when he took a job with Horace Henderson
Horace Henderson
Horace W. Henderson Born in Cuthbert, Georgia , younger brother of Fletcher Henderson, was an American jazz pianist, organist, arranger, and bandleader....
's ensemble. This gig lasted only a few months, though and after a year with Henderson he returned to duty under Hines again. He left Hines again in 1940 to form his own band, playing at the Grand Terrace in Chicago and the Radio Room in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Among his sidemen were Rozelle Claxton
Rozelle Claxton
Rozelle Claxton was an American jazz pianist.Claxton learned piano at age 11 and was playing professionally with Clarence Davis by age 17, whose band was working with W.C. Handy. He played and arranged for Harlan Leonard and played solo in Chicago in the 1930s...
, Quinn Wilson
Quinn Wilson
Quinn Brown Wilson was an American jazz bassist and tubist.Wilson played violin as a child, and studied composition and arrangement in his youth. He had his first professional experience in the mid-1920s, playing with Tiny Parham, Walter Barnes, Jelly Roll Morton , Erskine Tate , and Richard M...
, Omer Simeon
Omer Simeon
Omer Victor Simeon was an American jazz clarinetist. He also played soprano, alto, and baritone saxophone and bass clarinet....
, and 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:...
. He led bands on the West Coast for over a decade, and played as a side trumpeter and vocalist for many years afterward.
Fuller won the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"Rosetta" based on his singing on the 1934 Hines recording of the song "Rosetta".