Tuts Washington | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Isidore Washington |
| Born | January 24, 1907 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | August 5, 1984 (aged 77) New Orleans |
| Genres | Blues, jazz, boogie-woogie |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1920s–1984 |
| Labels | Imperial, Rounder, Night Train International Records, 504 Records |
Isidore "Tuts" Washington (January 24, 1907 – August 5, 1984)[1][2] was an American blues pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.[3]
He taught himself to play the piano at age 10 and studied with the New Orleans jazz pianist Joseph Louis "Red" Cayou.[4] In the 1920s and 1930s, he was a leading player for dance bands and Dixieland bands in New Orleans. His style blended elements of ragtime, jazz, blues, and boogie-woogie.[1]
After World War II, Washington joined Smiley Lewis in a trio with drummer Herman Seals.[4] They released several popular songs for Imperial, including "Tee-Nah-Nah", "The Bells Are Ringing", and "Dirty People". Washington moved to St. Louis to play with Tab Smith.[1] He returned to New Orleans in the 1960s, performing in restaurants in the French Quarter, in clubs such as Tipitina's and at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. For years he had a regular engagement playing piano at a bar in the Pontchartrain Hotel. He avoided recording for most of his career,[4] but he released the solo piano album New Orleans Piano Professor for Rounder in 1983.[1] A live recording by Washington, Live at Tipitina's '78, was released by Night Train International Records in 1998.[5]
Washington is featured, along with Professor Longhair and Allen Toussaint, in the 1982 documentary film, Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together.
Washington died on August 5, 1984, after having a heart attack while performing at the World's Fair in New Orleans.[1]
- ^ a b c d e Ankeny, Jason. "Tuts Washington". AllMusic. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ du Noyer, Paul, ed. (August 22, 2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music. Flame Tree. p. 181. ISBN 978-1904041702.
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 367–9. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
- ^ a b c "Isidore Tuts Washington". Thebluestrail.com. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
- ^ "Live at Tipitina's '78 - Tuts Washington". AllMusic. Retrieved March 12, 2021.