Zilner Randolph

Zilner Trenton Randolph
Born(1899-01-28)January 28, 1899
DiedFebruary 2, 1994(1994-02-02) (aged 95)
EducationBiddle University
Kreuger Conservatory
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
  • music educator
Musical career
GenresJazz
Instruments
  • Trumpet
  • Piano
Years active1920s–1970s

Zilner Trenton Randolph (January 28, 1899 – February 2, 1994) was an American jazz trumpeter, arranger, and music educator.

Early life

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Randolph was born in Dermott, Arkansas, on January 28, 1899.[1] He attended Biddle University, the Kreuger Conservatory, and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.[2]

Later life and career

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Randolph played in St. Louis in the early 1920s, then in Bernie Young's band in Milwaukee from 1927 to 1930.[1] He moved to Chicago in 1931 and was a trumpeter and arranger with Louis Armstrong for 1931–32 and again in 1933 and 1935.[1] Randolph also played trumpet on a number of Armstrong's recordings and composed the tune "Old Man Mose".[1] He played with Carroll Dickerson and Dave Peyton in 1934, and led his own Chicago band later in the 1930s.[2] He arranged for such bandleaders as Earl Hines, Woody Herman, Fletcher Henderson, and Duke Ellington, and led a quartet in the 1940s.[2]

From the 1940s Randolph devoted himself mainly to teaching, but recorded as a pianist in 1951.[2] He retired in the 1970s, and died in Chicago on February 2, 1994.[1]

Zilner's daughter, Hattie, became a vocalist; his son, Lucious, became a trumpeter.[3] Both were part of Sun Ra's band in the 1950s.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Randolph, Zilner T(Renton) (2003), "Randolph, Zilner T(renton)", Grove Music Online, Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J369900, retrieved March 29, 2020
  2. ^ a b c d Yanow, Scott. "Zilner Randolph". AllMusic. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Campbell, Robert L.; Trent, Christopher; Pruter, Robert (February 21, 2020). "From Sonny Blount to Sun Ra: The Chicago Years". campber.people.clemson.edu. Retrieved March 29, 2020.