Milt Buckner


Milton Brent Buckner was an American jazz pianist and organist, who in the early 1950s popularized the Hammond organ. He pioneered the parallel chords style that influenced Red Garland, George Shearing, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson. Buckner's brother, Ted Buckner, was a jazz saxophonist.

Early life and career

Milton Brent Buckner was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His parents encouraged him to learn to play piano, but they both died when he was nine years old. Milt and his younger brother Ted were sent to Detroit where they were adopted by members of the Earl Walton band: trombonist John Tobias, drummer George Robinson fostered Milt and reedplayer Fred Kewley fostered Ted. Buckner studied piano for three years from the age 10, then at 15 began writing arrangements for the band, he and his brother going on to become active in the Detroit jazz world in the 1930s.
Buckner first played in Detroit with the McKinney's Cotton Pickers and then with Cab Calloway. In 1941, he joined Lionel Hampton's big band, and for the next seven years served as its pianist and staff arranger. Buckner was part of a Variety Revue of 1950 organized by Lionel Hampton at the Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which was produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr. on June 25, 1950. He led a short-lived big band of his own for two years, but then returned to Hampton's in 1950. In 1952, he formed his own trio and pioneered the use of the electric Hammond organ. He often played in Europe in the late 1960s. His last studio session took place in Paris on July 4, 1977. Milt Buckner is also known for the use of his song "The Beast" in the film Mulholland Drive and in the title menu of the video game Battlefield: Bad Company.
Buckner died of a heart attack in July 1977, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 62.

Discography

  • "Vibe Boogie"
  • "Chord-A-Re-Bop" Milton Buckner: The Swinging Block-Chords Pianist 1943–1950 The Chronological Milt Buckner 1946–1951
  • "Milt's Boogie" b/w "Buck's Bop"
  • "M.B. Blues" b/w "Oo-Be-Doop"
  • "Buck-A-Boo" b/w "Yesterdays" Milt Buckner Piano – note: includes 6 of the 13 tracks Buckner's Beale Street Gang recorded for Savoy in 1946, 1947, 1948, and 1951.Organ...Sweet 'N' Swing – note: a shared album with Bobby Banks, and Vin Strong; includes 4 of the 6 tracks Buckner's trio recorded for Scooter Records in 1952: "By The River St. Marie", "Rollin' Strollin'", Take It Away", and "Russian Lullaby".Rockin' with Milt Rockin' Hammond Send Me Softly Mighty High Please, Mr. Organ Player Midnight Mood The New World of Milt Buckner Play Chords Them There Eyes Locked Hands More Chords Rockin' Again Black and Blue Stomp Block Chords Parade Green Onions Milt Buckner & His Alumni
  • ''Boogie Woogie USA''

As sideman

With Clarence "Gatemouth" BrownSings Louis Jordan Cold Strange
With Arnett CobbAgain with Milt Buckner Midnight Slows, Vol. 3 Midnight Slows, Vol. 6 The Wild Man From Texas
With Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisLeapin' on Lenox
With Roy GainesSuperman
With Tiny GrimesChasin with Milt
With Illinois JacquetGo Power! The King! The Soul Explosion Genius at Work! Illinois Jacquet with Milt and Jo Jacquet's Street
With Floyd "Candy" JohnsonCandy's Mood
With Guy LafitteMidnight Slows, Vol. 7
With Jay McShannJumpin' the Blues Kansas City Memories
With Buddy MorrowNight Train Goes to Hollywood
With Andre PersianyPianistically Yours
With Hal SingerMilt And Hal
With Buddy TateWhen I'm Blue Crazy Rhythm Midnight Slows, Vol. 1 Midnight Slows, Vol. 4 Midnight Slows, Vol. 5
With Marcel Zanini
  • ''Blues and Bounce!''