- Baby Face Willette
Roosevelt "Baby Face" Willette (born
September 11 ,1933 - 1971) was ahard bop andsoul-jazz musician most known for playingHammond organ . It is unclear whether he was born inLittle Rock ,Arkansas , orNew Orleans ,Louisiana [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wckxlfge5cqq All Music Guide] Biography "Baby Face" Willette Accessed: December 1, 2006]His mother was a
missionary who played the piano in the church where his father was a minister. His musical roots are therefore ingospel and Baby Face started out playing the piano for various gospel groups, and spend his early career travelling across theUnited States ,Canada andCuba Robert Levin, Booklet of "Face to Face"] . In Chicago he decided to switch fromGospel andRhythm and Blues to playing in Jazz bands. He played piano with the bands ofKing Kolax ,Joe Houston ,Johnny Otis andBig Jay McNeely before switching to organ. In 1960 he arrived inNew York City where he metLou Donaldson andGrant Green and started become a performer on their albums. This led to Willette being signed toBlue Note Records and starting to record his debut album "Face to Face". Willette formed his own trio in 1963 and recorded two more albums for Argo . He has a son named Kevin D. Bailey. Willette taught himself to play the piano and was inspired by Jimmy Smith's work, however his playing style is heavily influenced by gospel andsoul jazz . His record Face to Face for Blue Note is easily one of the 10 best organ jazz records of all time. An enigma of sorts in the annals of jazz organ, Willette seemed to have vanished off the face of the earth. His death in 1971 is as much hearsay as fact.Discography
Albums
* "Face to Face" (1961)
Blue Note Records
* "Stop & Listen" (1961) Blue Note Records
* "Mo' Rock" (1964)MCA Records
* "Behind The 8 Ball" (1965) MCA RecordsReferences
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