Booker T | en

James Carroll Booker III (December 17, 1939 – November 8, 1983) was a New Orleans rhythm and blues pianist, organ player and singer, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Booker's unique style combined rhythm and blues with jazz standards. Musician Dr. John described Booker as “the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced.” Booker was the son and grandson of Baptist ministers, both of whom played the piano. He spent most of his childhood on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where his father pastored a church. Booker received a saxophone as a gift from his...

See Booker T. Jones and Booker T. & The MG's .

Booker Little, Jr. (April 2, 1938 – October 5, 1961) was an American jazz trumpeter and composer. He appeared on a number of recordings, both as side-man and as leader. Little was closely associated with Max Roach, but also performed with John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy and was strongly influenced by Sonny Rollins and Clifford Brown. He died at age 23. Little was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He was the fourth child of Booker, a Pullman porter (who was also a trombonist) and his wife, Ophelia (who played piano). Little graduated from Manassas High School. He studied trumpet at the...

Biography by Ed Hogan Singer/keyboardist Booker Newberry III was a member of mid-'70s soul groups Sweet Thunder ("Baby I Need Your Love Today") and Impact. Born January 19, 1956, in Youngstown, OH, Newberry began his professional singing career in the group Mystic Nights around 1971. Moving to Philadelphia, PA, he became the lead singer of the band Sweet Thunder, which also included drummer John Aaron, bassist Rudell Alexander, and guitarist Charles Buie. Signing with Philly-based label WMOT Records, the group's single, "Baby I Need Your Love Today" b/w "I Don't Care What You Say," stirred interest and was picked up...

Booker Telleferro Ervin II (Denison, Texas, October 31, 1930 – New York City, July 31, 1970) was an American tenor saxophone player. Ervin is best known for his association with bassist Charles Mingus. He worked with Mingus from 1956 to 1963, appearing on "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" on the album Mingus Ah Um and "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" on Blues and Roots, as well as Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus. After teaching himself tenor saxophone while in the United States Air Force Booker Ervin moved to the Boston area and studied at Berklee College of Music. His tenor playing was...