Happy Birthday Sweet Pappa Lou Donaldson
🍾Lou Donaldson was born on November 1, 1926 in Badin, North Carolina. The alto saxophonist and composer will celebrate his 95 years young November 2 at Dizzy’s jazz club in New York City. “Sweet Pappa Lou” or “Poppa Lou”, as he is fondly called, is known for soulful blues approach with a little funk. His greatest influence was Charlie Parker.
Lou attended North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro where he was a member of the band — but his main interest was in baseball. He was a star on the college team with hopes of playing in the big leagues until and injury put him in the bleachers. During his long association with Blue Note Records, the NEA Jazz Master recorded his biggest hit “Alligator Boogaloo”, the title track from the (1967) album which became an anthem on both the jazz and R&B record charts. He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2012. Sweet Lou’s performances always include a few jokes told in his distinctive high voice and a few blues tunes he belts out filled with humorous lyrics. Sweet Lou has been a mentor to six generations of musicians and the numbers keep adding up… .Thanks Lou…much love.
Lou Donaldson Quartet Live at Dizzy’s 2016 Lou at 90. David Becker, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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