Frankie Trumbauer

The preeminent white saxophonist of the 1920s, Frankie Trumbauer was a major influence on jazz performers of all colors -- at his peak, his supreme standing on the alto was comparable to the kind of dominance later enjoyed by Charlie Parker. Born May 30, 1901, in Carbondale, IL, Trumbauer -- often called "Tram" by his contemporaries -- was playing with Chicago's Benson Orchestra when he was ...more