Famous
Drummers From A to Z
Born:
May 4, 1926. Died: January 29, 1979. The son of drummer/bandleader
Chris Columbus, Sonny got his start as a pro with the
Dud & Paul
Bascomb band in 1944. He later worked with Hot Lips
Page, Earl Bostic, Tiny Grimes, the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra and his
own band for
two years, but it was Sonny's hard swinging drumming with Count Basie
that he is best known for. He worked with Basie from 1955 through
1965. Then, after some brief work playing with Frank Sinatra and
with his own trio, Sonny
again got into the Big Band seat. This time with the Harry
James Big Band where he stayed for seven years, from 1966 to 1973.
Sonny reunited briefly with Basie from 1973 to 1974, played Europe
with Illinois Jacquet, and then, just before his death, worked
with Harry James Big Band again.
But
it was his work with Count Basie that he will always be remembered
for.
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