Earle Warren

Earle Warren (born Earl Ronald Warren; July 1, 1914 – June 4, 1994) was an American saxophonist. He was part of the Count Basie Orchestra from 1937.

Warren was born in Springfield, Ohio, on July 1, 1914.^[1] "He played piano, banjo, and ukulele in a family band before taking up C-melody, tenor, and finally alto saxophone."^[1]

When Warren became professional in 1930, he added an "e" to the end of his first name to make it different from other jazz musicians named "Earl".^[1] In his early career, he toured the Midwest as a sideman, and led his own bands.^[1] He joined the Count Basie Orchestra in 1937, playing baritone and alto saxophones initially, and then being lead altoist and occasional clarinettist and vocalist until 1945.^[1] He led bands and occasionally reunited with Basie towards the end of the decade.^[1] After managing some bands, he joined trumpeter Buck Clayton in 1957.^[1]

Warren appeared in Born to Swing, the 1972 film about former members of Basie's band.^[1] From 1973, Warren performed often at the West End jazz club in New York City, leading a band called The Countsmen.^[1] He lived part of the time in Switzerland until his return to Springfield in 1992, where he spent the final two years of his life.^[2] He died there on June 4, 1994.^[1]

With Count Basie

• The Original American Decca Recordings (GRP, 1937-39 [1992])

With Buck Clayton

• Songs for Swingers (Columbia, 1958)
• Copenhagen Concert (SteepleChase, 1959 [1979])
• One for Buck (Columbia, 1961)
• Jam Session #1 (Chiaroscuro, 2002)
• Jam Session #2 (Chiaroscuro, 2002)
• Jam Session #3 (Chiaroscuro, 2022)

With Milt Jackson

• Big Bags (Riverside, 1962)

With Jay McShann

• The Big Apple Bash (Atlantic, 1979)

With Buddy Tate

• Swinging Like Tate (Felsted, 1958)

With Teri Thornton

• Devil May Care (Riverside, 1961)

With Milt Buckner

• Send Me Softly (Capitol, 1957)

• allmusic.com biography
• Photo of Earl Warren with other bandmembers, at Library of Congress