Alvin "Abe" Aaron (January 27, 1910 – January 31, 1970) was a

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 ...

clarinetist and saxophonist, who was born in Canada but spent most of his life performing in the United States. Aaron was born in Toronto on January 27, 1910. His father was bandleader with a theater band in

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

and had him play reeds in the band for more than ten years. Early in the 1940s he left this group to play alto saxophone in the big band of

Jack Teagarden Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden (August 20, 1905 – January 15, 1964) was an United States, American jazz Trombone, trombonist and singer. He led both of his bands himself and was a sideman for Paul Whiteman's orchestra. From 1946 to 1951, he played ...

, with which he recorded in 1942. He moved to Hollywood in 1943 and played with

Horace Heidt Horace Heidt (May 21, 1901 – December 1, 1986) was an American pianist, big band leader, and radio and television personality. His band, Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights, toured vaudeville and performed on radio and television during the 19 ...

on radio. From 1945 to 1947 he played with

Skinnay Ennis Edgar Clyde "Skinnay" Ennis Jr. (August 13, 1907 – June 3, 1963) was an American jazz and pop music bandleader and singer. Early years The son of Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Ennis, he was born Edgar Clyde Ennis Jr. in Salisbury, North Carolina, United ...

, then returned to work under Heidt through 1949. Through the decade of the 1950s Aaron played in Les Brown's Band of Renown, including on tours of Europe and East Asia. He recorded often as a member of Brown's band for

Coral Records Coral Records was a subsidiary of Decca Records that was formed in 1949. Coral released music by Patsy Cline, Buddy Holly, the McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer. Coral issued jazz and swing music in the 1940s, but after Bob Thiele became head ...

and

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...

. In the band, he played clarinet and alto sax in the early 1950s, then switched to tenor and baritone. He also recorded on bass clarinet with Billy Usselton.

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Abe Aaron
at Find a Grave 1910 births 1970 deaths Canadian jazz clarinetists Canadian jazz saxophonists Male saxophonists 20th-century saxophonists 20th-century Canadian male musicians Canadian male jazz musicians Canadian expatriates in the United States Musicians from Toronto Burials at Eden Memorial Park Cemetery {{jazz-musician-stub