Freddie Jenkins

Freddie Jenkins was an American jazz trumpeter.

Life and works

Freddie Jenkins was born in New York City, United States on October 10, 1906. Jenkins played in the Jenkins Orphanage Band when young, and attended Wilberforce University. At Wilberforce he played with Edgar Hayes and Horace Henderson as a member of the Collegians band. Following graduation, he took a position in Duke Ellington's Orchestra in 1928. As a member, he soloed in the 1930 film, Check and Double Check, during a performance of the song "Old Man Blues". He remained with the Ellington Orchestra until 1935, when lung problems forced him to quit.
He recovered and formed his own group in 1935, recording one session as a leader; sidemen included Ward Pinkett, Albert Nicholas and Bernard Addison. After this he played with Luis Russell in 1936. In 1937–38 he played with Ellington again, and for a short time thereafter played with Hayes Alvis. After 1938, his lung ailment returned and he retired from performance. In later years he worked in songwriting, disc jockeying, and in music press, and became a deputy sheriff in Fort Worth. Stanley Dance, writing about a concert played by Ellington and Sarah Vaughan, said
Jenkins died in Texas on July 12, 1978.