Jazz Legend Lou Donaldson To Be Honored By The Bronx Council On The Arts
|
posted:May
23rd, 2010
Bronx, NY
- Jazz Legend Lou Doaldson, will be honored by the Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA)
at a ceremony at the Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos Community College. The
celebration will coincide with the evening’s Bronx Culture Trolley activities
and will include a presentation of the 2010 BRIO Award to 25 Bronx artists.
Jazz critics agree that “Sweet Poppa Lou” Donaldson is one of the greatest alto
saxophonists of all time. He began his career as a bandleader with Blue Note
Records in 1952 and by age 25, he had found his sound — the sound that earned
him his famed nickname “Sweet Poppa Lou.”
The second of four children, Lou was born in Badin, North Carolina on November
1, 1926. His mother, Lucy, a teacher, music director, and concert pianist,
introduced Lou to the clarinet. He played in the marching band when he attended
North Carolina A & T College and then in the Great Lakes Navy Band after being
drafted in 1945. It was here that picked up the alto saxophone and stylized
himself after jazz legend Charlie Parker.
Lou moved to New York around 1950 with his new wife and longtime sweetheart,
Maker, who remained his wife and business partner for 56 years until her death
in 2006. Together they raised two daughters, Lydia and Carol, and called the
Bronx their home, living in Throggs Neck from 1952 until 1963, when they moved
to the Valley where Lou resides today.
Lou made a series of classic recordings for Blue Note in the 50s and takes pride
in having showcased many musicians who made their first records as his sidemen.
His Alligator Bogaloo (1967) was one of his most famous Blue Note recordings,
many of which are still high demand favorites today. Lou also holds the title of
the label’s oldest musician from that notable era of jazz.
His accolades include being awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters by his alma
mater and a scholarship, awarded annually to the college’s most gifted jazz
musician, was established in his name. Lou was inducted into the International
Jazz Hall of Fame and the recipient of countless additional honors and awards
for his outstanding contributions to jazz, America’s “classical music.”
Today, at age 83, Lou keeps a busy travel schedule, plays golf, and continues to
play at his very best, entertaining audiences worldwide with spirited
performances that are always soulful, thoroughly swinging, and steeped in the
blues.
Other activities taking place during that evening’s Bronx Culture Trolley
include exhibitions at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos, the Bronx Museum of
the Arts, Pregones Theater, BronxArtSpace, and LDR Studio Gallery. Additional
activities include an after-party karaoke night at the Bruckner Bar & Grill.
The Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos is located on the campus of Hostos Community
College at 450 Grand Concourse and 149th Street. It is easily accessible by the
#2, #4, and #5 trains. For additional information on BCA’s 45th Anniversary
Celebration at June 2nd’s Bronx Culture Trolley, contact Phil Cardone at
718-931-9500
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 718-931-9500 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
x33 or
phil@bronxarts.org.
Date: Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Longwood Art Gallery
at Hostos Community College