Print
Email
Look It Up
AT A GLANCE
Dolphy, Eric
2 articles on Dolphy, Eric
Dolphy, Eric
Source: Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience, Second Edition
Word Count: 5181928–1964
African American jazz alto saxophonist, bass clarinetist, and flutist. Eric Dolphy was an extraordinary improviser and innovator who expanded Jazz beyond the developments of Bebop. He established a long-lasting role in progressive jazz for instruments such as the flute and particularly the bass clarinet. Also excelling on alto saxophone, he made multi-instrumentality a common goal for wind players.Dolphy was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Panamanian immigrants. He began learning clarinet at age six and played alto saxophone professionally while still in junior high school. He performed locally while serving in the United States Army from 1950 to 1952. While leading his own bands, he caught the attention of drummer Chico Hamilton; he later played in Hamilton's popular quintet during ...
Read full articleDolphy, Eric
Source: African American National Biography
Word Count: 1239 Includes: Further Reading | Obituary:(20 June 1928–29 June 1964), jazz musician, was born Eric Allan Dolphy Jr, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Eric Dolphy Sr. and Sadie Gillings. He showed a strong interest in music during his preschool years and began playing clarinet in the first grade. He participated in musical activities throughout his grade school years, and he studied privately with Lloyd Reese, a well-known Los Angeles music teacher who also taught the jazz musicians Buddy Collette, Dexter Gordon, and Charles Mingus. After graduating from high school Dolphy enrolled in music classes at Los Angeles City College. By this time he also was playing alto saxophone with local bands, and he made his first recordings with a big band led by the drummer Roy Porter. After serving in the army during the early 1950s he returned ...
Read full article