George James Catlett (May 13, 1933 – November 12, 2014), known professionally as Buddy Catlett, was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work as a bassist.

Career

Catlett was born in

Long Beach, California Long Beach is a coastal city in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is the list of United States cities by population, 44th-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 451,307 as of 2022. A charter ci ...

, and raised in

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

. A childhood friend of

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received List of awards and nominations re ...

, he played with Jones in bands led by Charlie Taylor and

Bumps Blackwell A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file, each crew attempting to catch and 'bump' the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind. The form is mainly used in intercollegiate c ...

. He attended Garfield High School.

Career

In 1959, he was hired by

Cal Tjader Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. ( ; July 16, 1925 – May 5, 1982) was an American Latin Jazz musician, often described as the most successful non-Latino Latin music (genre), Latin musician. He explored other jazz idioms, especially small group mod ...

. He joined Jones's band for a European tour. He worked with

Louis Armstrong Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...

, Bill Coleman,

Curtis Fuller Curtis DuBois Fuller (December 15, 1932May 8, 2021) was an American jazz trombonist. He was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributed to many classic jazz recordings. Early life Fuller was born in Detroit on December 15, 193 ...

Freddie Hubbard Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (April 7, 1938 – December 29, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter. He played bebop, hard bop, and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives fo ...

Coleman Hawkins Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.Yanow, Scot"Coleman Hawkins: Artist Biography" AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2013. One of the first ...

Junior Mance Julian Clifford Mance, Jr. (October 10, 1928 – January 17, 2021), known as Junior Mance, was an American jazz pianist and composer. Biography Early life (1928–1947) Mance was born in Evanston, Illinois. When he was five years old, Mance st ...

Chico Hamilton Foreststorn "Chico" Hamilton (September 20, 1921 – November 25, 2013) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He came to prominence as sideman for Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan, Count Basie, and Lena Horne. Hamilton became a bandleader, f ...

Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...

and

Eddie Lockjaw Davis Eddie may refer to: *Eddie (text editor), a text editor originally for BeOS and now ported to Linux and Mac OS X *Eddie (crater), a crater on Mars *Eddie (given name) *The Eddie, a surfing tournament Arts and entertainment * ''Eddie'' (film), a 1 ...

Personal life

He died of heart problems and other illnesses on November 12, 2014, at age 81. He had been living at the Leon Sullivan Health Care Center in the Central District of Seattle.

Discography

;As sideman *1959: ''

The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones ''The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones'' is an album by Quincy Jones that was released by Mercury.

'' -

*1960: ''From Boogie to Funk'' – Bill Coleman *1960: '' Big Brass'' -

Benny Bailey Ernest Harold "Benny" Bailey (August 13, 1925 – April 14, 2005) was an American jazz trumpeter. Biography A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Bailey briefly studied flute and piano before turning to trumpet. He attended the Cleveland Conserva ...

*1960: ''

Boss of the Soul-Stream Trombone ''Boss of the Soul-Stream Trombone'' is an album by American trombonist Curtis Fuller recorded in 1960 and released on the Warwick label.Curtis Fuller Curtis DuBois Fuller (December 15, 1932May 8, 2021) was an American jazz trombonist. He was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributed to many classic jazz recordings. Early life Fuller was born in Detroit on December 15, 193 ...

*1960: '' I Dig Dancers'' - Quincy Jones *1961: ''

The Magnificent Trombone of Curtis Fuller ''The Magnificent Trombone of Curtis Fuller'' is an album by jazz trombone, trombonist Curtis Fuller, released in 1961 on the Epic Records, Epic label.Fitzgerald, MCurtis Fuller Leader Entry accessed October 22, 2019 Reception Allmusic awarded ...

'' - Curtis Fuller *1961: '' Rights of Swing'' -

Phil Woods Philip Wells Woods (November 2, 1931 – September 29, 2015) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, and composer. Biography Woods was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. After inheriting a saxophone at age 12, he began t ...

*1962: '' Goin' to the Meeting'' –

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Edward F. Davis (March 2, 1922 – November 3, 1986), known professionally as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. It is unclear how he acquired the moniker "Lockjaw" (later shortened to "Jaws"): it is either said that ...

*1962: '' Tough Tenor Favorites'' - Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis *1962: '' On My Way & Shoutin' Again!'' -

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

*1963: '' This Time by Basie!'' - Count Basie *1963: ''

More Hits of the 50's and 60's ''More Hits of the 50's and 60's'' (also released as ''Frankly Basie'' and ''Frankly Speaking'') is an album released by pianist and bandleader Count Basie Count Basie Orchestra, and his orchestra featuring jazz versions of songs associated with ...

'' - Count Basie *1963: ''

Ella and Basie! ''Ella and Basie!'' is a 1963 studio album by Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by Count Basie Count Basie Orchestra, and his orchestra, with arrangements by Quincy Jones. It was later reissued with slightly different cover art as ''On the Sunny Side o ...

'' –

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April25, 1917June15, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter and composer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phra ...

and Count Basie *1964: '' Basie Land'' - Count Basie *1964: '' It Might As Well Be Swing'' -

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

and Count Basie *1966: '' Wrapped Tight'' –

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Catlett, Buddy Place of birth missing American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists American jazz double-bassists American male double-bassists 1933 births 2014 deaths American male jazz musicians 20th-century American saxophonists