Willie Pickens
Willie Pickens was an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator
born on April 18, 1931, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He began studying piano
formally at age 14. In the early 1960s, Pickens played on saxophonist Eddie
Harris' first four recordings for Vee-Jay Records. After obtaining a B.S. in
music education from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1958, he moved to
Chicago and taught music at public schools until 1990. He recorded with
clarinetist Buddy DeFranco in 1977, drummer Louis Bellson in 1994, and played in
drummer Elvin Jones' band from 1990 to 1997. Pick...
