Grady Tate

Grady Tate

Grady Tate in 1972
Background information
Born (1932-01-14) January 14, 1932
Origin Durham, North Carolina
Genres Jazz, bop, hard bop
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Drums, percussion, vocals
Labels Skye, Impulse!, Milestone

Grady Tate (born January 14, 1932)[1] is an American hard bop and soul-jazz drummer and singer with a distinctive baritone voice. In addition to his work as sideman, Tate has released many albums as leader and vocalist[1] as well as lent his voice to a number of songs in the Schoolhouse Rock! series.

Biography

Tate was born in Hayti, Durham, North Carolina.[1] In 1963 he moved to New York City, where he became the drummer in Quincy Jones's band.[1]

Grady Tate's drumming helped to define a particular hard bop, soul jazz and organ trio sound during the mid-1960s and beyond. His slick, layered and intense sound is instantly recognizable for its understated style in which he integrates his trademark subtle nuances with sharp, crisp "on top of the beat" timing (in comparison to playing slightly before, or slightly after the beat). The Grady Tate sound can be heard prominently on many of the classic Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery albums recorded on the Verve label in the 1960s.[1]

Tate was the drummer on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for six years.[1] During the 1970s he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet. In 1981 he played drums and percussion for Simon and Garfunkel's Concert in Central Park.

As a sideman he has played with Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, Boogaloo Joe Jones, Lena Horne, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Blossom Dearie, Chris Connor, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Cal Tjader, Peggy Lee, Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Tom Rapp, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Stanley Turrentine, Charles Earland, Quincy Jones, Stan Getz, and Wes Montgomery.[1]

Among his most widely heard vocal performances are the songs "I Got Six", "Naughty Number Nine", and "Fireworks" from Multiplication Rock and America Rock, both part of the Schoolhouse Rock series.[1] For the 1973 motion picture Cops And Robbers, Tate sang the title song, written by Michel Legrand and Jacques Wilson.[2]

He has been on the faculty of Howard University since 1989.[1]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ginell, Richard S. (January 14, 1932). "Allmusic Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  2. ↑ "Cops and Robbers / Aram Avakian [motion picture]:Bibliographic Record Brief Display". Performing Arts Encyclopedia. Library of Congress. March 22, 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-29.

External links

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