Arthur James "Zutty" Singleton (May 14, 1898 – July 14, 1975) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

drummer.

Career

Singleton was born in Bunkie, Louisiana, United States, and raised in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

. According to his ''Jazz Profiles'' biography, his unusual nickname, acquired in infancy, is the Creole word for "cute".Biography
by Steven A. Cerra, a
Jazz Profiles
Retrieved April 28, 2017. He was working professionally with Steve Lewis by 1915. He served with the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. After returning to New Orleans he worked with Papa Celestin, Big Eye Louis Nelson, John Robichaux, and Fate Marable. He left for St. Louis, Missouri, to play in Charlie Creath's band, then moved to

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, Illinois. In Chicago, Singleton played with Doc Cook, Dave Peyton,

Jimmie Noone James "Jimmie" Noone (April 23, 1895 – April 19, 1944) was an American jazz clarinetist and bandleader. After beginning his career in New Orleans, he led Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra, a Chicago band that recorded for Vocalion and Decca ...

, and theater bands, then joined

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 ...

's band with Earl Hines. In 1928 and 1929, Singleton performed on landmark recordings with Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five. In 1929, he moved with Armstrong to New York City. In addition to playing with Armstrong in New York, he played with Bubber Miley, Tommy Ladnier, Fats Waller,

Jelly Roll Morton Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe ( Lemott, later Morton; c. September 20, 1890 – July 10, 1941), known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American blues and jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer of Louisiana Creole descent. Morton was jazz ...

and Otto Hardwick. Singleton also played in the band backing Bill Robinson. In 1934, Singleton returned to Chicago. In 1937, he returned to New York, working there with Mezz Mezzrow and

Sidney Bechet Sidney Joseph Bechet ( ; May 14, 1897 – May 14, 1959) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. He was one of the first important Solo (music), soloists in jazz, and first recorded several months before trumpeter Louis Ar ...

. In 1943, Singleton moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, California, where he led his own band, played for motion pictures, and appeared on the radio program '' The Orson Welles Almanac'' (1944). He also worked with Slim Gaillard, Wingy Manone, Eddie Condon, Nappy Lamare, Art Hodes, Oran "Hot Lips" Page, and Max Kaminsky.

Death

Singleton retired after suffering a stroke in 1970. He died in New York City in 1975, at the age of 77. His wife Margie (sister of Charlie Creath) died in 1982 at the age of 82.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singleton, Zutty 1898 births 1975 deaths People from Bunkie, Louisiana Burials at Long Island National Cemetery 20th-century American drummers 20th-century American male musicians African-American drummers American jazz drummers American male drummers Dixieland jazz musicians American male jazz musicians Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five members Tuxedo Brass Band members 20th-century African-American musicians Drummers from Louisiana