Arthur Whetsol

Arthur Whetsol, one of the original members in Duke Ellington's Washingtonians, had an attractive tone, impressive technique, and a very lyrical style that set a standard for Ellington; in future years Harold "Shorty" Baker filled a similar role with Duke. A childhood friend of Ellington, Whetsol came to New York with Duke to join Elmer Snowden's group in 1923 but left a year later to study ...more