| By the 1940's the saxophone was a well established | | | | passed quickly but it helped to take the sax to another |
| and very popular instrument in both classical and jazz | | | | level of popularity, The rock and roll saxophone sound |
| music. As the 40's brought more musical styles like | | | | was now mandatory in all the jump, R&B, and |
| jump blues, rhythm and blues and rock and roll the | | | | rock and roll bands. |
| instrument would become even more important and | | | | This new sound of the 40's rhythm and blues |
| play a major roll in the new sound. | | | | produced many rock and roll saxophone stars. Besides |
| Illinios Jacqeut was a very good swing jazz player and | | | | the ones I mentioned above, here's a few others; Joe |
| like many others he was drawn to the new sounds. | | | | Houston, Red Prysock, Sam "the man" Taylor, Lee |
| He was only19 years old when he worked with Lionel | | | | Allen, Willis "gatortail" Jackson, Louis Jordan and King |
| Hampton's band and recorded his famous solo that | | | | Curtis. |
| started others honkin' and screramin' to start the | | | | "Tenor battles" were popular as soon as you had a |
| beginning of the rock and roll saxophone. | | | | couple greats at any given time, like Coleman Hawkins |
| One kid he inspired was Big Jay McNeely who took | | | | with Lester Young, or Red Prysock with Sil Austin, and |
| the honkin' over the edge and made a show of it... | | | | two of my favorites Sam Taylor with King Curtis. |
| laying on his back, strolling into the crowds and walking | | | | Most of these guys were coming from the swing |
| on top of bars. (That's where the term "honkers and | | | | scene as well but were involved with their own |
| bar walkers" came from. That's a good cd compilation | | | | R&B / rock and roll groups or were sidemen to |
| series featuring other rock and roll saxophonists) | | | | star singers like Little Richard, Fats Domino, Wynonie |
| Ahh... those crazy kids. This was a new generation, | | | | Harris,and Ray Charles. |
| born in the 20's right around the time Louis Armstrong | | | | Without a doubt, one of the most influential for us guys |
| and Coleman Hawkinswere coming on the scene. | | | | playing any kind of rock and roll saxophone today is |
| They probably thought these guys were nuts, but they | | | | King Curtis, who came onto the New York scene |
| fuelled the bands and drove the audience crazy with | | | | shortly after the rock and roll movement got into full |
| their energy. | | | | swing in the mid 50's. Of coarse you've heard his sax |
| Honkin' and screamin' aside, the saxophone, especially | | | | on many hit records from Aretha Franklin to The |
| the tenor was sounding big and raunchy like never | | | | Coasters and he had many of his own as well in the |
| before. Guys were growling more and making it | | | | 60's. |
| squawk and really wailin'. The honkin' was a fad that | | | | Unfortunately he was killed tragically at a young age. |