Harold "Doc" West

born on 12/8/1915 in Wolford, ND, United States

died on 4/5/1951 in Cleveland, OH, United States

Doc West

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Harold "Doc" West (August 12, 1915, Wolford, North Dakota - May 4, 1951, Cleveland, Ohio) was an American jazz drummer.

West learned to play piano and cello as a child before switching to drums. In the 1930s he played in Chicago with Tiny Parham, Erskine Tate, and Roy Eldridge (1937-38). Late in the 1930s he filled in for Chick Webb when Webb was unable to lead his own orchestra. Early in the 1940s he played with Hot Lips Page, and played on the early bebop scene at Minton's Playhouse in New York City with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Tiny Grimes, and Don Byas. He played with Oscar Pettiford in 1944 and stood in for Jo Jones occasionally in Count Basie's orchestra.

West appears on recordings from Slam Stewart, Leo Watson, Wardell Gray, Billie Holiday, Erroll Garner, Big Joe Turner, and Jay McShann. He died in 1951 while on tour with Roy Eldridge.

References

  • [Doc West at All Music Guide Doc West] at Allmusic
This page was last modified 02.08.2013 21:40:48

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