Ben Kynard

Ben D. Kynard (February 28, 1920 Eureka Springs, Arkansas - July 5, 2012 Kansas City) was an American jazz saxophonist (alto and baritone saxophone).. He was known through his collaboration with Lionel Hampton, as a composer and arranger.

Ben Kynard
Background information
Born	(1920-02-28)February 28, 1920 Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Died	July 5, 2012(2012-07-05) (aged 92) Kansas City
Genres	Jazz
Instruments	saxophone

Life

Kynard learned his saxophone playing with his brother, and graduated in 1938 from Sumner High School in Kansas City. Already in his youth he appeared in nightclubs. After completing military service in the U. S. Army, he played from 1946 to 1953 in the Lionel Hampton orchestra, for which he arranged, and in 1946 composed the title "Red Top". Hampton recorded the song for Decca in 1947 and was soon covered by Gene Ammons,[1] However, Kynard did not get enough royalties. "Red Top" was later also recorded by musicians such as David Allen, Anthony Braxton, Dexter Gordon, Louis Jordan, Erroll Garner, Slide Hampton, Woody Herman and His Orchestra, King Pleasure / Betty Carter,[2] and Eddie Vinson.

After Kynard had left the Hampton band, he worked for 32 years at the United States Postal Service in Kansas City; He also played jazz in night clubs and wrote compositions for local musicians. Kynard worked from 1945 to 1984 at 51 recording sessions,[3] with Willis Jackson, Sonny Parker, Joe Thomas and in 1948 Billie Holiday (I Cover the Waterfront).[4]

Family

Ben Kynard was an uncle of the organist Charles Kynard.[5]

References

1. Ammons gab sich auf der 78er (Mercury 8048) ebenfalls als Autor aus.
2. "Jazz Standards Songs and Instrumentals (Red Top)". www.jazzstandards.com. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
3. Tom Lord Diskography
4. Donald Clarke: Billie Holiday – Wishing on the Moon.
5. Information at Kynard.com

External links

• Webpage
• Ben Kynard at AllMusic
• Ben Kynard discography at Discogs

 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license.