American musician (c. 1932–1986)
Don Wilkerson (c. 1932 – 18 July 1986) was an American soul jazz / R&B tenor saxophonist born in Moreauville, Louisiana . He was raised in Houston , and it remained his base until he died there in 1986.[ 1]
He is probably best known for his Blue Note Records recordings in the 1960s as bandleader with guitarist Grant Green . Prior to signing with the label, he worked frequently with Cannonball Adderley . Some of his earliest recordings were done in the 1950s as a sideman for Amos Milburn and Ray Charles .[ 2] [ 3]
Remaining in Houston from the early 1970s, he played in the Sonny Franklin Big Band with Tom Archia , Arnett Cobb , and his bandmate from the Ray Charles band, Joe Bridgewater ,[ 4] Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown . Many of the band's arrangements were done by Cedric Haywood .[ 5]
Wilkerson's work is featured in the 2001 Blue Note Records series,The Complete Blue Note Sessions .[ 6]
Discography
Source:[ 7]
As leader
As sideman
With Ray Charles
Yes Indeed! Atlantic , 1958)Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (ABC-Paramount, 1962)Berlin 1962 (Pablo, 1996)With others
References
^ Association, Texas State Historical. "Wilkerson, Donald A." Texas State Historical Association . Retrieved 13 August 2023 . ^ Huey, Steve. "Don Wilkerson Biography" . Allmusic . Retrieved 23 June 2007 . ^ Association, Texas State Historical. "Wilkerson, Donald A." Texas State Historical Association . Retrieved 13 August 2023 . ^ Lydon, Michael (2004). Ray Charles: Man and Music, Updated Commemorative Edition ISBN 978-0-203-49832-3 ^ Campbell, Robert L.; Bukowski, Leonard J. and Büttner, Armin "The Tom Archia Discography" ^ Don Wilkerson - The Complete Blue Note Sessions , retrieved 13 August 2023 ^ "Don Wilkerson Albums and Discography" . AllMusic . Retrieved 13 August 2023 .
Years given are for the recording(s), not first release.
As With
International National Artists
