Gerald Foster Wiggins (May 12, 1922 – July 13, 2008) was an American jazz pianist and organist.

Early life

Wiggins was born in New York City on May 12, 1922.Vacher, Pete
"Wiggins, Gerry"
''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'' (2nd edition). Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved February 1, 2016. (Subscription required). He studied classical music, but switched to jazz in his teens.

Later life and career

Wiggins began as a professional career as a musician accompanying comedian

Stepin Fetchit Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry (May 30, 1902 – November 19, 1985), better known by his stage name Stepin Fetchit, was an American vaudevillian, comedian, and film actor of Jamaican and Bahamian descent, considered to be the first black ...

. Wiggins 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 ...

and

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

. He was in the military from 1944 to 1946. In the 1940s, he moved to Los Angeles, where he played music for television and film. He also worked with singers like

Lena Horne Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010) was an American singer, actress, dancer and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned more than seventy years and covered film, television and theatre. Horne joined the chorus of the C ...

(1950–51),

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, and

Eartha Kitt Eartha Mae Kitt (née Keith; January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer and actress. She was known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby" ...

. In 1960, his best recording as a pianist appeared, ''Wiggin' Out'', known for the quality of its music and fresh, clear sound. He recorded another LP at the organ with saxophonist

Teddy Edwards Theodore Marcus "Teddy" Edwards (April 26, 1924 – April 20, 2003) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography Edwards was born in Jackson, Mississippi, United States. He learned to play at a very early age, first on alto saxophone ...

. "In the 1960s he worked as a music director and vocal coach in film studios," including "a lengthy stint as vocal coach for Marilyn Monroe." In the 1970s he often collaborated with vocalist

Helen Humes Helen Humes (June 23, 1913 – September 13, 1981) was an American singer. She was a blues, R&B and classic popular singer. Early life Humes was born on June 23, 1913, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Emma Johnson and John Henry Humes. She grew up ...

. Wiggins was known for his trio with

Andy Simpkins Andrew Simpkins (April 29, 1932 – June 2, 1999) was an American jazz bassist. Born in Richmond, Indiana, he first became known as a member of the group The Three Sounds, with which he performed from 1956 to 1968.allmusic biography/ref> After ...

and Paul Humphrey, among others. He also appeared in an episode of ''

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'', and an episode of ''

Moesha ''Moesha'' (, ) is an American television sitcom that aired on UPN from January 23, 1996, to May 14, 2001. The series stars Contemporary R&B, R&B singer Brandy Norwood, Brandy as Moesha Denise Mitchell, an African-American teenager living with ...

'', in both cases he played a pianist. "He appeared regularly at American jazz parties and festivals and occasionally at Japanese and European festivals and was in demand for recording sessions." Late in his career, Wiggins recorded for

Concord Records Concord Records is an American record label owned by Concord and based in Los Angeles, California. Concord Records was launched in 1995 as an imprint designed to reach beyond the company's foundational Concord Jazz label. The label's artists ha ...

which according to ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'' "demonstrate his firm touch, all-round musicianship, and sense of swing."

Personal life and death

Wiggins was married to Lynn Wiggins from 1987 until his death. He had two children, three step-children, and several grandchildren, and died in Los Angeles on July 13, 2008, at the age of 86.

Selected discography

As leader/co-leader

* ''Wiggin' with Wig'' (Dig, 1956) * ''Relax and Enjoy It!'' (Contemporary, 1956) * ''

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'' with

Red Norvo Red Norvo (born Kenneth Norville; March 31, 1908 – April 6, 1999) was an American musician, one of jazz's early vibraphonists, known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone as jazz instruments. His recor ...

Art Pepper Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American jazz musician, most known as an alto saxophonist. He occasionally performed and recorded on tenor saxophone, clarinet (his first instrument) and bass clarinet. Active ...

and

Joe Morello Joseph Albert Morello (July 17, 1928 – March 12, 2011) was an American jazz drummer best known for serving as the drummer for pianist Dave Brubeck, as part of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, from 1957 to 1972, including during the quartet's "clas ...

(Intro, 1957) * ''Reminiscin' with Wig'' (Fresh Sound, 1957) * ''The King and I'' (Challenge, 1957) * ''The Gerald Wiggins Trio'' (Tampa, 1958) * ''The Loveliness of You...'' (Tampa, 1958) * ''Music from "Around the World in 80 days" in Modern Jazz'' (Specialty, 1958) * ''Wiggin' out'' (Hi-Fi Jazz, 1960) – as organist * ''Memory Lane'' (Ava, 1964) * ''Wig is here'' (Black and Blue, 1977) * ''A beautiful friendship'' (Black and Blue, 1977) * ''

Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume Eight ''Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume Eight'' is an album of solo performances by jazz pianist Gerald Wiggins, recorded in 1990. Music and recording The album was recorded in August 1990 at the Maybeck Recital Hall in Berkeley, California. The m ...

'' (Concord, 1990) * ''Soulidarity'' (Concord, 1995) * ''Gerry Wiggins and friends'' (Madwig Music, 2002)

As sideman

With Mel Brown *''

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'' (Impulse!, 1967) With

Red Callender George Sylvester "Red" Callender (March 6, 1916 – March 8, 1992) was an American string bass and tuba player. He is perhaps best known as a jazz musician, but worked with an array of pop, rock and vocal acts as a member of The Wrecking Cre ...

*''

The Lowest ''The Lowest'' is an album by bassist and tubist Red Callender, recorded for the MetroJazz label in 1958.

'' (MetroJazz, 1958) With

*'' Aspects'' (United Artists, 1959) With

Buddy Collette William Marcel "Buddy" Collette (August 6, 1921 – September 19, 2010) was an American jazz flutist, saxophonist, and clarinetist. He was a founding member of the Chico Hamilton Quintet. Early life William Marcel Collette was born in ...

*'' Tanganyika'' (Dig, 1956) *''

Man of Many Parts ''Man of Many Parts'' is an album by multi-instrumentalist and composer Buddy Collette recorded at sessions in 1956 and released on the Contemporary label.

'' (Contemporary, 1956) *''

Everybody's Buddy ''Everybody's Buddy'' is an album by multi-instrumentalist and composer Buddy Collette recorded at sessions in 1957 and released on the Challenge Records (1950s), Challenge label.Edwards, D. and Callahan, MChallenge/4 Star Album Discographyacces ...

'' (Challenge, 1957) *''

Porgy & Bess ''Porgy and Bess'' ( ) is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play '' Porgy'', its ...

'' (Interlude 1957

959 Year 959 ( CMLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * April - May – The Byzantines refuse to pay the yearly tribute. A Hungarian army, led by Apor, invades Mace ...

With

Harry Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard back ...

*'' "Sweets" for the Sweet'' (Sue, 1964) *''

Sweets for the Sweet Taste of Love ''Sweets for the Sweet Taste of Love'' is an album by jazz trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison with recorded in California in 1964 and released by the Vee-Jay label.Callahan, M. & Edwards, DBoth Sides Now: Vee-Jay Album Discography, Part 2: Main Seri ...

'' (Vee-Jay, 1964) With

*'' Heart & Soul'' (as organist) (Contemporary, 1962) With

Tal Farlow Talmage Holt Farlow (June 7, 1921 – July 25, 1998) was an American jazz guitarist. He was nicknamed "Octopus" because of how his large, quick hands spread over the fretboard. Early life and education Talmage Holt Farlow was born in Greensb ...

* '' Autumn In New York'' (Norgran 1954) With Paul Horn *''

House of Horn ''House of Horn'' is the debut album by saxophonist Paul Horn which was released on the Dot label in 1957.Edwards, D. and Callahan, MDot Album Discography Part 2: LPs 3000-3250/25000-25250accessed August 14, 2015 Illinois Jacquet Jean-Baptiste Illinois Jacquet (October 30, 1922 – July 22, 2004) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, best remembered for his solo on " Flying Home", critically recognized as the first R&B saxophone solo. He is also known as one of the w ...

*'' Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra'' (Verve, 1956) With

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 ...

*''Cal Tjader Quartet'' (Fantasy, 1956) With

Gerald Wilson Gerald Stanley Wilson (September 4, 1918 – September 8, 2014) was an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Mississippi, he was based in Los Angeles from the early 1940s. He arranged music for D ...

*'' Jessica'' (Trend, 1983)

References

External links

Interview of Gerald Wiggins
part o
Central Avenue Sounds Oral History Project
Center for Oral History Research, UCLA Library Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles. *

All Music AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the datab ...

br>Gerald Wiggins Interview
NAMM Oral History Library, February 13, 2008. {{DEFAULTSORT:Wiggins, Gerald 1922 births 2008 deaths American jazz pianists American male jazz pianists West Coast jazz pianists Challenge Records artists Specialty Records artists 20th-century American pianists 20th-century American male musicians The Capp-Pierce Juggernaut members American military personnel of World War II