Sam Woodyard | |
|---|---|
 Sam Woodyard in 1965 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | January 7, 1925 Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | September 20, 1988 (aged 63) Paris, France |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Drums |
Sam Woodyard (January 7, 1925 – September 20, 1988)[1] was an American jazz drummer.
He was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States.[1] Woodyard was largely an autodidact on drums and played locally in the Newark, New Jersey, area in the 1940s.[1] He performed with Paul Gayten in an R&B group, then played in the early 1950s with Joe Holiday, Roy Eldridge, and Milt Buckner. In 1955, he joined Duke Ellington's orchestra and remained until 1966.[1]
After his time with Ellington, Woodyard worked with Ella Fitzgerald, then moved to Los Angeles.[1] In the 1970s, he played less due to health problems, but he recorded with Buddy Rich,[1] and toured with Claude Bolling. In 1983, he belonged to a band with Teddy Wilson, Buddy Tate, and Slam Stewart.[1] His last recording was on Steve Lacy's 1988 album, The Door.
He died of cancer in Paris at the age of 63.[2]
- ^ a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 438/9. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
- ^ "Sam Woodyard Dies; Jazz Drummer Was 63". Nytimes.com. 23 September 1988. Retrieved August 3, 2021.