June Christy, Singer, 1925, Springfield, IL
June began her career with local bands in 1938 and later sang with Boyd Raeburn in the Chicago area. In 1945 she replaced Anita O'Day in Stan Kenton's band. With Kenton she recorded some of the big hits of the era; Tampico, And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine, and Across the Alley From The Alamo. In 1946, 47, 48, and 1950 she was voted Best Band Vocalist by Downbeat magazine's reader's poll. June's real name wasShirley Luster. It was while on tour with Kenton, as their bus was approaching Corpus Christy, Texas, that Stan suggested she take the stage name"June Christy". June later married Kenton's tenor saxophonist Bob Cooper with whom she made small-group recordings. Christy was influenced by Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washinton, and Anita O'Day. Her breathy, husky sound was ideally suited for the cool jazz of the '50s. June Christy died in 1990.
Skeeter Best, Guitar, 1914, Kinston, NC
Skeeter came to prominance in the late '30s in Philadelphia. In 1941 he went with Earl Hines for a year, and then joined the navy. After his discharge in 1945 he spent most of his career working as a freelance with various small groups, including one led by Milt Jackson and Ray Charles. He also recorded with Mercer Ellington in 1958. During his last years he was active as a teacher in New York. Although he worked mainly as a rhythm guitarist, his playing with Ray Charles contained solos which show his style to have been influenced by that of Charlie Christian. Skeeter Best died in 1985.
Don Braden, Saxophone, 1963, Cincinnati, OH
Don, raised in Louisville, Ky., was turned on to jazz at an early age by listening to the radio and to his parent's large record collection. He was so inspired that he took up the tenor sax when in his early teens and within a short while was playing in a local band and also won first chair with the McDonald's All American High School Jazz Band and the McDonald's All American High School Marching Band. His award was a new Yamaha tenor saxophone. Don entered Harvard University in 1981 and quickly became very popular in the Boston jazz scene. It was while a student at Harvard that Don began to get serious abour writing and arranging. He composed for several Harvard projects and for a quartet of his own. In the mid '80s Don made his home in New York where he played with the Harper Brothers Quintet, Lonnie Smith, and then Betty Carter. For almost a year he toured with Wynton Marsalis, returned to New York, and then contionued working with numerous "name" musicians. He participated in the recording of Betty Carter's award winning album "Look What I Got". For several years, in the late '80s, Don worked with Freddie Hubbard's quintet, and since then he has worked with Kenny Barron, the Mingus Big-Band, Tom Harrell, J.J. Johnson, and others. With all of his experience, he has developed an extensive knowledge of every aspect of jazz performance. He has a beautiful sound, and he certainly swings. These qualities and his easy-going personality make him one of the most popular jazz musicians working today.
