Chu Berry

Chu Berry
Background information
Birth nameLeon Brown Berry
Born(1908-09-13)September 13, 1908
Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.
DiedOctober 30, 1941(1941-10-30) (aged 33)
Conneaut, Ohio, U.S.
GenresJazz, swing
OccupationMusician
InstrumentTenor saxophone
Years active1930s
Formerly ofCab Calloway, Fletcher Henderson

Leon Brown "Chu" Berry (September 13, 1908 – October 30, 1941) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist during the 1930s. He is perhaps best known for his time as a member of singer Cab Calloway's big band.

According to music critic Gary Giddins, musicians called him "Chu" either because he chewed on the mouthpiece of his saxophone or because he had a Fu Manchu mustache.[1]

  1. ^ Giddins, Gary (1 July 2007). "Pilgrim's Progress". JazzTimes. Retrieved 13 September 2010.