Houston Person


Houston Person is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He received the "Eubie Blake Jazz Award" in 1982.

Biography

Person grew up in Florence, South Carolina, and first played piano, before switching to tenor saxophone. He studied at South Carolina State College, where he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1999.
In the United States Air Force, he joined a service band stationed in West Germany, and played with Don Ellis, Eddie Harris, Cedar Walton, and Leo Wright. Person later continued his studies at Hartt College of Music in Hartford, Connecticut.
He first became known for a series of albums for Prestige in the 1960s. Contrary to popular belief, he was never married to the vocalist Etta Jones, but did spend many years as her musical partner, recording, performing and touring, and for much of his career this association was what he was best known for. They first met playing in organist Johnny Hammond's band.
There are more than 75 albums recorded by Person as a bandleader, on Prestige, Westbound, Mercury, Savoy, and Muse, and he has most recently been recording on HighNote. He has recorded with Charles Brown, Ron Carter, Bill Charlap, Charles Earland, Lena Horne, Etta Jones, Lou Rawls, Janis Siegel, Horace Silver, Dakota Staton, Cedar Walton, plus Billy Butler, Don Patterson, Grant Green, Sonny Phillips, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Richard "Groove" Holmes and others.
Person has been a resident of Newark, New Jersey.

Awards

Person received the Eubie Blake Jazz Award in 1982, and in 2011 the Jazz Legend Award, presented in San Diego.

Discography

As leader

Underground Soul! Chocomotive Trust in Me Blue Odyssey Soul Dance! Goodness! Truth! Person to Person! Houston Express Broken Windows, Empty Hallways Sweet Buns & Barbeque Island Episode The Real Thing - 2LPHouston Person '75 Get Out'a My Way! Pure Pleasure Harmony Stolen Sweets Wild Flower The Nearness of You The Gospel Soul of Houston Person The Big Horn Suspicions Very PERSONal Heavy Juice Road Warriors - with Les McCann Creation - with Roger Kellaway Always on My Mind The Talk of the Town We Owe It All to Love Basics Something in Common - with Ron CarterThe Party Now's the Time - with Ron CarterJust Friends - with Buddy Tate and Nat SimkinsWhy Not! The Lion and His Pride Christmas with Houston Person and Friends - with Randy Johnston, Etta Jones, Grady Tate, Benny Green Horn to Horn - with Teddy EdwardsClose Encounters - with Teddy EdwardsPerson-ified - with Richard Wynands, Ray Drummond, Kenny Washington Lost & Found - with Charles Brown The Opening Round Christmas With Houston Person and Etta Jones My Romance Soft Lights Together at Christmas - with Etta JonesThe Way We Were: Live in Concert - with Etta JonesIn a Sentimental Mood Dialogues - with Ron CarterBlue Velvet Sentimental Journey Social Call - with Paul BollenbackTo Etta with Love - with Paul BollenbackYou Taught My Heart to Sing - with Bill CharlapAll Soul Just Between Friends - with Ron CarterThinking of You The Art and Soul of Houston Person - 3CDMellow Moment to Moment So Nice Naturally Nice 'n' Easy The Melody Lingers On - with Steve NelsonSomething Personal Chemistry - with Ron CarterRain or Shine Remember Love - with Ron CarterI'm Just a Lucky So and So Live in Paris
  • ''Reminiscing at Rudy's''

As sideman

With Joe AltermanGive Me the Simple Life Brisket for Breakfast
With Billy ButlerThis Is Billy Butler! Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow Night Life
With Joey DeFrancescoAll About My Girl Plays Sinatra His Way
With Charles EarlandBlack Talk! Pleasant Afternoon
With Peter Hand Big BandThe Wizard of Jazz: A Tribute to Harold Arlen Out of Hand Blue Topaz
With Richard "Groove" HolmesGood Vibrations Broadway Blues All Day Long Hot Tat
With Etta JonesEtta Jones '75 Ms. Jones to You My Mother's Eyes If You Could See Me Now Save Your Love for Me Fine and Mellow I'll Be Seeing You Sugar Christmas with Etta Jones Reverse the Charges At Last The Melody Lingers On My Buddy: Etta Jones Sings the Songs of Buddy Johnson All the Way Easy Living Etta Jones Sings Lady Day
With Johnny LytleFast Hands Good Vibes Moonchild
With Don PattersonFour Dimensions Oh Happy Day Tune Up!
With Johnny "Hammond" SmithMr. Wonderful A Little Taste The Stinger The Stinger Meets the Golden Thrush - with Byrdie GreenGettin' Up Soul Flowers Dirty Grape Nasty! Here It 'Tis
With others