Yesterday, Los Angeles lost a piece of its living history. The terrific musician Gerald Wilson passed away at the age of 96. Wilson was a successful trumpeter, bandleader, and arranger. He played, composed, and arranged music with Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ray Charles, among many others.
Wilson remained an established composer and arrange throughout his career, working in L.A.’s music scene and even composing for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Later in his career, he taught jazz at CSU: Northridge and CSULA, as well as UCLA.
At 96, he was still making music. We remember Wilson, whose career spanned the from the swing era of the 1930s to the jazz sounds of the 21st century.
Guest:
Anthony Wilson, jazz guitarist and son of Gerald Wilson
John Clayton, Co-leader, conductor, and co-founder, Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Mr. Clayton is also a bassist, composer, and arranger