John Sheridan (January 20, 1946 – August 24, 2021) 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 ...

pianist and arranger born in

Columbus, Ohio Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...

, perhaps best known for his work with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band.

Biography

John showed interest in piano at an early age, i.e. three or four, and regularly watched and enjoyed a pianist on television in Columbus. Later he enjoyed watching Peter Nero, Victor Borge, and Liberace He studied piano with Mrs. McCullagh for about five years, 1958 – 1963. Later he studied under Mr. Les Susi at Whetstone High School where he played in Whetstone High School orchestra and Jazz Band, and performed as a clarinetist in the marching band 1964 – 1969 During summers he worked as a rehearsal pianist for Kenley Players of Warren, Ohio when they performed in Columbus. There he met many well known celebrates. He frequently enjoyed watching Billy Maxted with his parents, John Willard Sheridan and Katherine Timm Sheridan, when he performed in Columbus. He graduated from Capital University in Bexley, Ohio where he studied music focusing on jazz. After college he joined the Navy, and played in the Navy Band. There he played aboard the Presidential Yacht, and met many dignitaries, including Sen. Everett Dirksen. In 1977, Sheridan received a

Master of Music The Master of Music (MM or MMus) is, as an academic title, the first graduate degree in music awarded by universities and conservatories. The MM combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization (usually performance in singing or i ...

degree from the

North Texas State University The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public university, public research university located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Its main campus is in Denton, Texas, Denton, with a satellite campus in Frisco, Texas, Frisco. It serves as the ...

, and two years later joined the Jim Cullum Jazz Band as an arranger and performer. In 2002, Sheridan left the band and did freelance work, also recording for the

Arbors Records Arbors Records is a record company and independent record label in Clearwater, Florida. It was founded by Mat and Rachel Domber in 1989 and was initially devoted to the recordings of their friend, Rick Fay. Arbors became known in the 1990s for swi ...

jazz record label. In 2011, he returned to the Jim Cullum Jazz Band.

Discography

* ''Two Sleepy People'' with Dan Barrett (Arbors, 1996) * ''Something Tells Me'' (Arbors, 1997) * ''They Can't Take That Away from Me'' (Arbors, 1999) * '' Forgotten Dreams'' with Dick Hyman (Arbors, 2002) * ''Around the World with Jeff Barnhart and John Sheridan'' (Summit World Jazz, 2003) * ''Artistry3'' (Arbors, 2004) * ''Embraceable You'' with John Cocuzzi (Arizona Cactus World Jazz, 2006)

As sideman

With Jim Cullum Jr. * ''Tis the Season... To Be Jammin'!'' (World Jazz, 1984) * ''Super Satch'' (Stomp Off, 1987) * ''New Year's All Star Jam'' (Pacific Vista, 1993) * ''Battle of the Bands'' (Pacific Vista, 1994) * ''Honky Tonk Train'' (Riverwalk, Live from the Landing, 1994) * ''Hot Jazz for a Cool Yule'' (Riverwalk, Live from the Landing, 1995) * ''Fireworks! Red Hot & Blues'' (Riverwalk, Live from the Landing, 1996) * ''American Love Songs'' (Riverwalk, Live from the Landing, 1997) * ''Chasin' the Blues'' (Riverwalk, Live from the Landing, 2005) With others * John Allred, ''Head to Head'' (Arbors, 2002) * Bob Barnard, ''Cornet Copia'' (La Brava Music 2000) * Dan Barrett, ''Being a Bear: Jazz for the Whole Family'' (Arbors, 2000) *

Evan Christopher Evan Christopher (born August 31, 1969) is an American jazz clarinetist and composer. Biography Background His first musical training was at the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts. After high school, he studied saxophone at the University ...

, ''This Side of Evan'' (Jazzology, 2002) * John Cocuzzi, ''Groove Merchant'' (Arbors, 2011) *

Wild Bill Davison William Edward Davison (January 5, 1906 – November 14, 1989), nicknamed "Wild Bill", was an American jazz cornetist. He emerged in the 1920s through his work playing alongside Muggsy Spanier and Frank Teschemacher in a cover band where they ...

, ''The Memphis Jazz Festival 1982 Volume Four'' (Jazzology, 1983) *

Chuck Hedges Charles "Chuck" A. Hedges (July 21, 1932 – June 24, 2010) was an American jazz clarinetist. Early life and education Hedges was born in Chicago. He began playing clarinet while attending a military school. He received formal training under C ...

, Allan Vache, ''Clarinet Climax'' (Jazzology, 1983) * Allan Vache, ''Jazz Moods'' (Audiophile, 1983) * Allan Vache, ''High Speed Swing'' (Audiophile, 1985)

References

External links

Interview with John Sheridan, June 9, 1980. University of Texas at San Antonio: Institute of Texan Cultures: Oral History Collection, UA 15.01, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
1946 births 2021 deaths American jazz pianists American male jazz pianists University of North Texas alumni 20th-century American pianists 21st-century American pianists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians Arbors Records artists {{US-jazz-pianist-stub