Vi Redd

Elvira (Vi) Redd was born in Los Angeles, September 20, 1928. She was the daughter of Alton Redd, a leading drummer who played Dixieland with Kid Ory, swing with Les Hite, and bebop with Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray. From 1968 until his death in 1979, Alton conducted the 'Young Men From New Orleans' band aboard the Mark Twain at Disneyland. Vi’s mother, Mattie Redd, played the saxophone but only as a hobby.

Vi began singing in church when she was five years old and, after studying piano for a while, and when she was in high school, she went on to blow a C Melody saxophone that her great-aunt Alma Hightower had given when she was 10.

Vi Redd had much in common with trombonist Melba Liston. Both played a horn, in Vi’s case alto saxophone and occasionally soprano saxophone, both were Los Angeles girls, and both studied with Mrs. Hightower. Under her tutelage, Vi cut her musical teeth...

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Vi Redd Vinyl

1 record