Overton "Ovie" Alston (December 14, 1905 – 1989)[2] was an American jazz trumpeter, vocalist, and bandleader.
Ovie Alston | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Overton Alston |
| Born | December 14, 1905 |
| Died | 1989 (aged 83–84) |
| Occupation(s) | trumpeter, vocalist, bandleader |
| Instrument(s) | trumpet, vocals |
| Years active | 1928–1952[1] |
| Labels | Brunswick Records |
Alston played with Bill Brown and His Brownies in New York in 1928, recording with them for Brunswick Records. He was hired by Claude Hopkins in 1931 and remained with him until 1936; it is for this association that he is best known. After leaving Hopkins he started his own band, playing at the Apollo Theater, the Plantation Club, the Ubangi Club and the Roseland Ballroom in the late 1930s and early 1940s. He toured with the band for the armed forces during World War II; Noble Sissle, Freddie Mitchell, and Eubie Blake joined the group during this time.[3][4]
Alston continued working major New York hotels and ballrooms after the war; his sidemen included, at times, Bobby Sands, Edmond Hall, and Fernando Arbello. Late in his career he did mostly private concerts.
References
edit- ^ "Ovie Alston Biography". Solid!. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ^ "Ovie Alston". Discogs. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ^ Chadbourne, Eugene. "Ovie Alston Music Biography". allmusic. Rovi Corp. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ^ Howard Rye (2001). "Mitchell, Freddie [Taxi]". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J641900.