Jackie Paris

Despite his talents as a singer, Jackie Paris never made it big nor even had a regular recording career. Paris, who played guitar with Nick Jerret's band in the early '40s, was in the Army during 1944-46 and then became known a bit in New York where he was part of the bop scene including touring with Charlie Parker. Paris recorded four songs in 1947 as a leader (including &Skylark&) and five others in 1949 (highlighted by the first vocal version of &Round Midnight&). He was with Lionel Hampton's Orchestra during 1949-50 but no recordings or lasting fame occurred. Paris worked fairly regularly in the 1950's, (sometimes with his wife singer Anne Marie Moss) but remained more of a cult figure (despite being a fine jazz singer) than a legend. In addition to his early recordings (for MGM and EmArcy), Paris made records for Brunswick, Wing, East-West (1957-58), Time (1960), Impulse (1962) and Audiophile (1981); he also guested on sessions by Donald Byrd-Gigi Gryce and Charles Mingus (1974's &Duke Ellington's Sound of Love&) and was active into the 2000's with his last album, Intimate Jackie Paris, being released in 2001. Jackie Paris passed away on June 17, 2004. He was 79.