Clark Terry

Clark Terry is known not only as a headliner at the world's premier jazz events and a TV personality, but also as one of jazzdom's finest educators. He is justly celebrated as one of contemporary music's greatest innovators as well as a musician of great technical virtuosity, swinging lyricism, and impeccably good taste. Combining these with the gifts of a great dramatist, he is a master storyteller whose spellbinding musical tales leave audiences thrilled. In the 1940s, after serving in the Navy, his musical star rose rapidly with successful stints in the bands of Charlie Barnet, Charlie Ventura, Eddie Vinson, and then, in 1948, the great Count Basie. In 1951 he joined Duke Ellington's orchestra, where he stayed for eight years as a featured soloist. Now an international star, he was courted by the National Broadcasting Company in New York to join its musical staff. Accepting the challenge of becoming the first black musician on the NBC payroll, he soon became a television star as one of the spotlighted players in the "Tonight" show band.
Clark Terry's considerable accomplishments as a jazz innovator and educator of the highest rank have earned an impressive array of honors for the multi-talented musician. The University of New Hampshire, Berklee College of Music, and Teikyo Westmar University have bestowed honorary doctorates on him. The U.S. State Department selected him and his band for tours to the Middle East and Africa as American Ambassadors of Goodwill. He was also inducted into Kansas City's Jazz Hall of Fame; the formal presentation was made by Johnny Carson during one of the "Tonight" show broadcasts. Along with his honors, recordings, and sell-out appearances at festivals and concerts, he has focused his increased attention on his activities as a jazz educator. His dedication to the task of passing the torch of musical improvisation onto the next generation is second to none.

   Terry Discography

The artist profiles on these pages were excerpted from the Carnegie Hall Tribute program. We present them here in an effort to recognize the artists that keep the music of Lady Ella alive through their repertoire.