George Thomas Cohn (March 14, 1925 – November 7, 2006), known professionally as Sonny Cohn, 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, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

trumpeter whose career spanned over six decades. After working for fifteen years with Red Saunders (1945–1960), Cohn went on to spend another twenty four years in

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 ...

's trumpet section (1960–1984).

Life and career

Cohn was born in Chicago, Illinois. Cohn started playing in small groups around the city with King Fleming while he was still a teenager.Campbell, Robert L.; Pruter, Robert and Büttner, Armin "King Fleming Discography"
Cohn joined Red Saunders' group in 1945, while Saunders was out of the

Club DeLisa The Club DeLisa, also written Delisa or De Lisa, was an African-American nightclub and music venue in Chicago, Illinois. Located at 5521 South State Street (State Street and Garfield Avenue, on the South Side), it was possibly the most prestigious ...

and working with a sextet instead of his usual mid-sized band. After his stint in the military, Cohn joined the Saunders group at the Capitol Lounge in Chicago; Leon Washington had recommended him. Cohn was featured on Saunders' first recordings as a leader, for

Savoy Savoy (; frp, Savouè ; french: Savoie ) is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south. Sa ...

Sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it c ...

, and (behind

Big Joe Turner Joseph Vernon "Big Joe" Turner Jr. (May 18, 1911 – November 24, 1985) was an American singer from Kansas City, Missouri. According to songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him." His greatest fame was due to ...

) on National. Cohn was heard on the records that Saunders made for

OKeh Records Okeh Records () is an American record label founded by the Otto Heinemann Phonograph Corporation, a phonograph supplier established in 1916, which branched out into phonograph records in 1918. The name was spelled "OkeH" from the initials of Ott ...

beginning in 1951 through 1953. After those records, Cohn was on Saunders' recordings for

Parrot Parrots, also known as psittacines (), are birds of the roughly 398 species in 92 genera comprising the order Psittaciformes (), found mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three superfamilies: the Psittacoide ...

and Blue Lake in 1953 and 1954. Cohn survived several downsizings of the Red Saunders band, as well as the closure of the

, but eventually accepted an offer from

, with whom he worked from 1960 through 1984. After Basie's death, Cohn returned to Chicago, where he remained active as a musician for another two decades.

Health and death

Cohn underwent bypass surgery in 2003. Cohn died on November 7, 2006 in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois at the age of 81. His funeral was held on November 11, 2006 and he was buried at

Burr Oak Cemetery Burr Oak Cemetery is a cemetery located in Alsip, Illinois, United States, a suburb southwest of Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1927, Burr Oak was one of the few early Chicago cemeteries focused on the needs of the African-American community, ...

in Alsip, Illinois.

Discography

With

*''

Not Now, I'll Tell You When ''Not Now, I'll Tell You When'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in 1960 and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography - 1960-1969 accessed November 3, 2015 Reception ...

'' (Roulette, 1960) *'' The Count Basie Story'' (Roulette, 1960) *''

Kansas City Suite ''Kansas City Suite'' (subtitled ''The Music of Benny Carter'') is an album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in 1960 and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography - 1960-1 ...

'' (Roulette, 1960) *'' The Legend'' (Roulette, 1961) *''

Back with Basie ''Back with Basie'' (subtitled ''More Hit Performances of the '60s'') is an album released by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in 1962 (with one from 1960) and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, ...

'' (Roulette, 1962) *''

Basie in Sweden ''Basie in Sweden'' (subtitled ''Recorded Live in Concert featuring Louis Bellson on Drums'') is a live album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded at an amusement park in Sweden in 1962 and originally released ...

'' (Roulette, 1962) *''

On My Way & Shoutin' Again! ''On My Way & Shoutin' Again!'' is an album released by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring compositions by Neal Hefti recorded in 1962 and originally released on the Verve label.This Time by Basie! ''This Time by Basie'' (subtitled ''Hits of the 50's & 60's'') is an album released by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring jazz versions of contemporary hits recorded in 1963 and originally released on the Reprise label. Recept ...

'' (Reprise, 1963) *'' More Hits of the 50's and 60's'' (Verve, 1963) *'' Pop Goes the Basie'' (Reprise, 1965) *'' Basie Meets Bond'' (United Artists, 1966) *''

Live at the Sands (Before Frank) ''Live at the Sands (Before Frank)'' is a live album by the pianist and bandleader Count Basie with performances recorded in Las Vegas in 1966 at the same concerts that produced Frank Sinatra's 1966 album ''Sinatra at the Sands''. It was released ...

'' (Reprise, 1966 998 *''

Sinatra at the Sands ''Sinatra at the Sands'' is a live album by Frank Sinatra accompanied by Count Basie and his orchestra, and conducted and arranged by Quincy Jones, recorded live in the Copa Room of the former Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1966. It ...

'' (Reprise, 1966) with

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the " Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1940s, 1950s, and ...

*''

Basie's Beatle Bag ''Basie's Beatle Bag'' is a 1966 studio album by Count Basie and his orchestra, arranged by Chico O'Farrill. Basie released a second album of Beatles songs, ''Basie on the Beatles'', in 1969. Track listing # "Help!" – 2:15 # "Can't Buy Me L ...

'' (Verve, 1966) *'' Broadway Basie's...Way'' (Command, 1966) *'' Hollywood...Basie's Way'' (Command, 1967) *''

Basie's Beat ''Basie's Beat'' is a 1967 album by Count Basie Count Basie Orchestra, and his orchestra. The trombonist Richard B. Boone, Richard Boone sings on two of the tracks, "Boone's Blues" and "I Got Rhythm". Track listing # "It's Only a Paper Moon" (Ha ...

'' (Verve, 1967) *'' Basie's in the Bag'' (Brunswick, 1967) *'' The Happiest Millionaire'' (Coliseum, 1967) *''

Manufacturers of Soul ''Manufacturers of Soul'' is an album by soul music vocalist Jackie Wilson and jazz pianist and bandleader Count Basie featuring performances of jazz versions of contemporary R&B/soul hits recorded in 1968 and released on the Brunswick label.Edwa ...

'' (Brunswick, 1968) with

Jackie Wilson Jack Leroy Wilson Jr. (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an American singer and performer of the 1950s and 60s. He was a prominent figure in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. Nicknamed "Mr. Excitement", he was considered a mas ...

*''

The Board of Directors Annual Report ''The Board of Directors Annual Report'' is an album by vocal group The Mills Brothers with pianist and bandleader Count Basie and His Orchestra featuring performances recorded in 1968 and released on the Dot label.Edwards, D. & Callahan, MDot ...

'' (Dot, 1968) with The Mills Brothers *''

Basie Straight Ahead ''Basie Straight Ahead'' is an album recorded at TTG Studios, Hollywood, California in October 1968 featuring Count Basie and his orchestra. This album marked the first collaboration between Basie and his long-time orchestrator, Sammy Nestico, w ...

'' (Dot, 1968) *''

How About This ''How About This'' is an album by vocalist Kay Starr and pianist and bandleader Count Basie, released in 1969 by the Paramount Records label.Edwards, D. & Callahan, MParamount Album Discography accessed November 15, 2015 Background In the 1960s, ...

'' (Paramount, 1968) with

Kay Starr Katherine Laverne Starks (July 21, 1922 – November 3, 2016), known professionally as Kay Starr, was an American singer who enjoyed considerable success in the late 1940s and 1950s. She was of Iroquois and Irish heritage. Starr performed multip ...

*''

Standing Ovation A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim. In Ancient Rome returning military commanders (such as Marcus Licinius Crassus a ...

'' (Dot, 1969) *''

Basic Basie ''Basic Basie'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Count Basie featuring performances recorded in Chicago in 1969 and released on the MPS label. It was released in the U.S. in 1972 on the Groove Merchant label as ''Evergreens''.

'' (MPS, 1969) *''

Basie on the Beatles ''Basie on the Beatles'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Count Basie featuring performances recorded in late 1969 and released on the short-lived Happy Tiger label.Edwards, D., Callahan, M. & Eyries, PHappy Tiger Album Discography accessed N ...

'' (Happy Tiger, 1969) *''

High Voltage High voltage electricity refers to electrical potential large enough to cause injury or damage. In certain industries, ''high voltage'' refers to voltage above a certain threshold. Equipment and conductors that carry high voltage warrant sp ...

'' (MPS, 1970) *'' Me and You'' (Pablo, 1983) With James Moody *'' Last Train from Overbrook'' (Argo, 1958) With

Duke Jordan Irving Sidney "Duke" Jordan (April 1, 1922 – August 8, 2006) was an American jazz pianist. Biography Jordan was born in New York and raised in Brooklyn where he attended Boys High School. An imaginative and gifted pianist, Jordan was a regul ...

*'' Les Liaisons Dangereuses'' (Vogue, 1962)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohn, Sonny 1925 births 2006 deaths American jazz musicians American rhythm and blues musicians American jazz trumpeters American male trumpeters African-American musicians Count Basie Orchestra members Musicians from Chicago Jazz musicians from Illinois American male jazz musicians 20th-century American male musicians Burials at Burr Oak Cemetery