Shirley Horn singer 1934 Washington DC
Shirley Horn is primarily a singer, but is equally well known as a pianist, and band leader. She began piano at the age of four, and later studied music at Howard University. In 1954 she formed her own trio and gained recognition in the early 1960s when her career was aided by Miles Davis, Quincy Jones and others. In 1963 Shirley recorded two albums, one with Quincy's orchestra, and the other with a big- band composed of prominent swing and bop musicians, including Hank Jones, Kenny Burrell, Joe Newman, and Frank Wess. She later recorded a third album with many of the same musicians. She also made a third popular and big-selling album, "I Thought About You" recorded live during a performance at the Vine Street Bar and Grille, in Hollywood.
Ira Sullivan trumpet 1931 Washington DC
Music was very prominent in the Sullivan family, and before the age of 10 Ira began learning the saxophone and trumpet from his parents. Although the trumpet was his main instrument at this time, when he began playing jobs, while in high school, it was usually on the tenor sax. During the 1950s he was living in Chicago except for a short time in N.Y. with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. His played both instruments well (and soon added the baritone), and his ability in the bop style became well known and he began working with numerous prominent groups. Ira never liked traveling , and in the early '60s he settled in Florida. This limited him to fewer opportunities to perform with major jazzmen, though he did appear regularly in some of the major cities in florida. Except for occasional recording sessions, he seldom appeared outside of Florida. During the 1960s he grew he tired of bop, and began playing a freer style. He also started playingt the soprano sax and flute around this time. In the early '80s he began teaching and he and Red Rodney formed a group. On Ira's insistance, the group played their own compositions rather than old bop tunes, and as a result, the music was among the most interesting and exciting of the era.
