TEDDY WILSON [ca. late-1930s-1961] Photo archive

Teddy Wilson. 1930s-1961. Photos. New York: Various, [ca. late-1930s to 1961]. Set of eight mostly 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm) glossy silver gelatin black-and-white photos. Minor use, about fine.

American jazz pianist Teddy Wilson has been described as “the definitive swing pianist”. He recorded with jazz greats Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman and Ella Fitzgerald. Born in Austin, Texas, he made his way into the Detroit music scene by 1929 and worked with Benny Goodman by the mid-1930s, earning him a contract with Brunswick Records. He became a headliner in Cafe Society and went on to teach at Julliard from 1945 to 1952. Wilson was known throughout Europe as well.

Portraits include Wilson at the piano (as well as with the orchestra of Cafe Society), rehearsing with Benny Goodman, with Earl Himes and preparing for a Carnegie Hall performance.