Al Sears
Albert Omega Sears (February 21, 1910 – March 23, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and bandleader, sometimes credited as Big Al Sears. Sears was born in Macomb, Illinois, United States. His first major gig came in 1928 when he replaced Johnny Hodges in Chick Webb's ensemble. Following this he played with Elmer Snowden (1931–32), then led his own groups between 1933 and 1941. In the early 1940s he was with Andy Kirk (1941–42) and Lionel Hampton (1943-44) before he became a member of Duke Ellington's Orchestra in 1944, replacing Ben Webster. He remained with Ellington until 1949, when first Jimmy Forrest and then Paul Gonsalves took over his chair. He played with Johnny Hodges in 1951–52 and recorded the tune "Castle Rock" with him; the tune became a hit but was released under Hodges's name. Sears was in Alan Freed's band when Freed did live shows, being introduced as "Big Al Sears." He played as a studio musician on R&B albums in the 1950s and recorded two albums for Swingville in 1960. He also owned several record labels, including Arock, Serock, and Gator. In 1990, he died in St. Albans, New York, at the age of 80. |
Birth and Death Data: Born February 22, 1910 (Macomb), Died March 23, 1990 (New York City)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1957
Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, saxophone
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 51-75 of 89 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Decca | 71826 | 10-in. | 3/2/1944 | Chop chop | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71827 | 10-in. | 3/2/1944 | Flying home No.2 | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71828 | 10-in. | 3/2/1944 | Hamp's boogie woogie | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 75610 | 12/19/1949 | 125th Street New York | Al Sears ; The Sparrows | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 75611 | 12/19/1949 | Shake hands | Al Sears ; The Sparrows | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 75612 | 12/19/1949 | Tan skin lad | Al Sears ; The Sparrows | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 75613 | 12/19/1949 | Brown baby | Al Sears ; The Sparrows | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 87814 | 4/22/1955 | Come and dance with me | Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 87815 | 4/22/1955 | come a-runnin' | Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 87816 | 4/22/1955 | Tom, Dick 'n Harry (Instrumental) | Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 87817 | 4/22/1955 | Tina's canteen (Instrumental) | Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 89964 | 5/16/1956 | Camel rock | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 89965 | 5/16/1956 | Up and down | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 89966 | 5/16/1956 | Take one | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 89967 | 5/16/1956 | The grey bear | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 100343 | 7/27/1956 | Homesick blues | Eddie Fontaine | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 100344 | 7/27/1956 | Into each life some rain must fall | Eddie Fontaine | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 100345 | 7/27/1956 | Cool it baby | Eddie Fontaine | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101657 | 2/14/1957 | John Thompson | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101658 | 2/14/1957 | Sure | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101659 | 2/14/1957 | Swell | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101660 | 2/14/1957 | Easy rock | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101666 | 2/15/1957 | Sentimental journey | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101667 | 2/15/1957 | Stop, look and run | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101668 | 2/15/1957 | Twenty one | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Sears, Al," accessed November 5, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109665.
Sears, Al. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109665.
"Sears, Al." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Sears, Al, 1910-1990 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no93022660
Wikidata: Al Sears - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q195171
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/51880055
MusicBrainz: Al Sears - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/52f9e4c8-27e2-4151-9d3c-8a505d0d044b
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