Famous Bandleaders

• Basie, Count

  Swing bandleader and performer of "One O'Clock Jump"

• Blakey, Art

  Drummer and leader of the Jazz Messengers

• Coltrane, John

  Innovative sax player and composer

• Connick, Harry Jr.

  Jazz heartthrob and Independence Day star

• Ellington, Duke

  Performer of "Take the 'A' Train"

• Goodman, Benny

  Clarinetist nicknamed "The King of Swing"

• Haley, Bill

  The guy who sang "Rock Around the Clock"

• Handy, W.C.

  The composer called "The Father of the Blues"

• Hawkins, Coleman

  Tenor sax player who had the hit "Body and Soul"

• Hines, Earl

  Influential jazz pianist

• Miller, Glenn

  Wartime big band leader

• Mingus, Charles

  Jazz bassist and composer who did Pithecanthropus Erectus

• Monroe, Bill

  Kentuckian called "The Father of Bluegrass Music"

• Parker, Charlie

  Influential alto saxophone player

• Severinsen, Doc

  Bandleader for Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show

• Shaw, Artie

  The clarinet-playing big band leader who recorded Begin the Beguine

• Sousa, John Philip

  The guy who wrote "Stars and Stripes Forever"

• Vernon, Justin

  The indie musician behind the band Bon Iver

• Waller, Fats

  The joyous piano player who wrote the song "Ain't Misbehavin'"

See: Index by Occupation