ABSTRACT
American trumpeter, born in Pittsburgh. He began playing professionally at age 16, and was performing in Harlem by 1930. In 1935 he joined Fletcher Henderson; a year later he formed his own band in Chicago. “Heckler’s Hop” was an important early record with that group (Vocalion 3577; 1937), which made eight other discs for Vocalion and Varsity by the end of 1939. As a member of the Gene Krupa band in 1941 Eldridge was one of the first Black musicians to appear in a big band brass section. With Krupa he made a hit record, “Rockin’Chair” (Okeh 6352; 1941), followed by another, with Anita O’Day doing the vocal: “Let Me Off Uptown” (Okeh 6210; 1941). His most modern jazz style is heard in “The Gasser” (Brunswick 80117; 1943). He was with Artie Shaw in 1944-1945. Eldridge performed in Paris in 1950, creating a sensation. He also did remarkable work with the Coleman
Hawkins Quintet, and in duets with singer Ella Fitzgerald during 1963-1965. After suffering a heart attack in 1980, Eldridge performed only occasionally. He is regarded as
a link between Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. He died in Valley Stream, New York.
