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Garland, Red
1 articles on Garland, Red
Garland, Red
Source: African American National Biography
Word Count: 1458 Includes: Further Reading | Obituary:(13 May 1923–23 Apr. 1984), jazz pianist, was born William McKinley Garland Jr. in Dallas, Texas, the son of William Garland Sr., an elevator operator. His mother's name is unknown. Garland played clarinet and then alto saxophone in high school during which time he received lessons from the renowned jazz saxophonist Buster Smith, who took a disciplined approach to Garland's learning to read music. Before settling into music Garland had thirty-five fights as a lightweight professional boxer, at one point losing to Sugar Ray Robinson.While serving in the army Garland switched from alto sax to piano. At Fort Huachuca in Arizona he demonstrated his ability to read music and received informal lessons from the pianist John Lewis, who cofounded the Modern Jazz Quartet. He later studied with the pianist ...
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