Lester Young

Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist. Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most influential players on his instrument. In contrast to many of his hard-driving peers, Young played with a relaxed, cool tone and used sophisticated harmonies, using what one critic called "a free-floating style, wheeling and diving like a gull, banking with low, funky riffs that pleased dancers and listeners alike". Known for his hip, introverted style, he invented or popularized much of the hipster jargon which came to be associated with the music.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 27, 1909 (Woodville), Died March 15, 1959 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, clarinet, saxophone

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-062747	10-in.	3/10/1941	Blitzkrieg baby	Una Mae Carlisle ; Les Young Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, saxophone
Victor	BS-062748	10-in.	3/10/1941	Beautiful eyes	Una Mae Carlisle ; Les Young Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, saxophone
Victor	BS-062749	10-in.	3/10/1941	There'll be some changes made	Una Mae Carlisle ; Les Young Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, saxophone
Victor	BS-062750	10-in.	3/10/1941	It's sad but true	Una Mae Carlisle ; Les Young Orchestra	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, saxophone
Columbia	W26341	10-in.	12/13/1939	Night and day	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Columbia	W26342	10-in.	12/13/1939	The man I love	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Columbia	W26343	10-in.	12/13/1939	You're just a no account	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Columbia	W26344	10-in.	12/13/1939	You're a lucky guy	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Columbia	W26900	10-in.	6/07/1940	I'm pulling through	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Columbia	W26901	10-in.	6/07/1940	Tell me more and more (and then some)	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Columbia	W26902	10-in.	6/07/1940	Laughing at life	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Columbia	W26903	10-in.	6/07/1940	Time on my hands	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Columbia	29987	10-in.	3/21/1941	Let's do it	Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Columbia	29988	10-in.	3/21/1941	Georgia on my mind	Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Columbia	29989	10-in.	3/21/1941	Romance in the dark	Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Columbia	29990	10-in.	3/21/1941	All of me	Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B20568	10-in.	1/25/1937	He ain't got rhythm	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B20569	10-in.	1/25/1937	This year's kisses	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B20570	10-in.	1/25/1937	Why was I born?	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B20571	10-in.	1/25/1937	I must have that man	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B21117	10-in.	5/11/1937	Sun showers	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B21118	10-in.	5/11/1937	Yours and mine	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B21119	10-in.	5/11/1937	I'll get by	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B21120	10-in.	5/11/1937	Mean to me	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B21217	10-in.	6/01/1937	Foolin' myself	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B21218	10-in.	6/01/1937	Easy living	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B21219	10-in.	6/01/1937	I'll never be the same	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B22192	10-in.	1/06/1938	My first impression of you	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B22194	10-in.	1/06/1938	When you're smiling	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B22195	10-in.	1/06/1938	I can't believe that you're in love with me	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B22255	10-in.	1/06/1938	If dreams come true	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B23642	10-in.	10/31/1938	Everybody's laughing	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B23643	10-in.	10/31/1938	Here it is tomorrow again	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B23687	10-in.	11/09/1938	Say it with a kiss	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B23688	10-in.	11/09/1938	April in my heart	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B23689	10-in.	11/09/1938	I'll never fail you	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Brunswick	B23690	10-in.	11/09/1938	They say	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Philo	P1000A	12-in.	July 1942	Body and soul	Lester Young Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Philo	P1000B	12-in.	July 1942	Indiana	Lester Young Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Philo	P1001A	12-in.	July 1942	Tea for two	Lester Young Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Philo	P1001B	12-in.	July 1942	I can't get started	Lester Young Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	21249	10-in.	6/15/1937	Me, myself and I (are all in love with you)	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	21250	10-in.	6/15/1937	A sailboat in the moonlight	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	21251	10-in.	6/15/1937	Born to love	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	21252	10-in.	6/15/1937	Without your love	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	21686	10-in.	9/13/1937	Getting some fun out of life	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	21687	10-in.	9/13/1937	Who wants love?	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	21688	10-in.	9/13/1937	Trav'lin' all alone	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	21689	10-in.	9/13/1937	He's funny that way	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	22281	10-in.	1/12/1938	Now they call it swing	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	22282	10-in.	1/12/1938	On the sentimental side	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	22283	10-in.	1/12/1938	Back in your own backyard	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	22284	10-in.	1/12/1938	When a woman loves a man	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	23467	10-in.	9/15/1938	The very thought of you	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	23468	10-in.	9/15/1938	I can't get started	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	23469	10-in.	9/15/1938	I've got a date with a dream	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone
Vocalion	23470	10-in.	9/15/1938	You can't be mine (and someone else's too)	Billie Holiday	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone
Decca	61542	10-in.	1/21/1937	Honeysuckle rose	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Decca	61543	10-in.	1/21/1937	Pennies from heaven	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Decca	61544	10-in.	1/21/1937	Swinging at the Daisy Chain	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Decca	61545	10-in.	1/21/1937	Roseland shuffle	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Decca	62078	10-in.	3/26/1937	Exactly like you	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62079	10-in.	3/26/1937	Boo-Hoo	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62080	10-in.	3/26/1937	The glory of love	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62081	10-in.	3/26/1937	Boogie woogie (I may be wrong)	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62331	10-in.	7/7/1937	Smarty	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62332	10-in.	7/7/1937	One o'clock jump	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62333	10-in.	7/7/1937	Listen my children (and you shall hear)	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62334	10-in.	7/7/1937	John's idea	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62511	10-in.	8/9/1937	Good morning blues	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62512	10-in.	8/9/1937	Our love was meant to be	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62513	10-in.	8/9/1937	Time out	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62514	10-in.	8/9/1937	Topsy	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62682	10-in.	10/13/1937	I keep remembering	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62683	10-in.	10/13/1937	Out the window	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62684	10-in.	10/13/1937	Don't you miss your baby?	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	62685	10-in.	10/13/1937	Let me dream	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	63122	10-in.	1/3/1938	Georgianna	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	63123	10-in.	1/3/1938	Blues in the dark	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	63286	10-in.	2/16/1938	Sent for you yesterday (and here you come today)	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	63287	10-in.	2/16/1938	Every tub	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	63288	10-in.	2/16/1938	Now will you be good?	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	63289	10-in.	2/16/1938	Swingin' the blues	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	63918	10-in.	6/6/1938	Mama don't want no peas' n' rice' n' cocoanut oil	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	63919	10-in.	6/6/1938	Blue and sentimental	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	63920	10-in.	6/6/1938	Doggin' around	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64471	10-in.	8/22/1938	Stop beatin' round the mulberry bush	Count Basie Orchestra ; Jimmy Rushing		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Decca	64472	10-in.	8/22/1938	London bridge is falling down	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Decca	64473	10-in.	8/19/1938	Texas shuffle	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Decca	64474	10-in.	8/19/1938	Jumpin' at the Woodside	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Decca	64746	10-in.	11/16/1938	Dark rapture	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64747	10-in.	11/16/1938	Shorty George	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64748	10-in.	11/16/1938	The blues I like to hear	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64749	10-in.	11/16/1938	Do you wanna jump, children?	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64750	10-in.	11/16/1938	Panassie stomp	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64851	10-in.	1/5/1939	My heart belongs to Daddy	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64852	10-in.	1/5/1939	Sing for your supper	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64978	10-in.	2/2/1939	You can depend on me	Count Basie Sextet		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64979	10-in.	2/3/1939	Cherokee, part 1	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64980	10-in.	2/3/1939	Cherokee, part 2	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64981	10-in.	2/3/1939	Blame it on my last affair	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64982	10-in.	2/4/1939	Jive at five	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64983	10-in.	2/4/1939	Thursday-1	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64984	10-in.	2/4/1939	Evil blues-1	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	64985	10-in.	2/4/1939	Oh, Lady be good-1	Count Basie Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	68920	10-in.	4/3/1941	The goon drag	Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	68921	10-in.	4/3/1941	Things 'bout coming my way	Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	68922	10-in.	4/3/1941	Lead me Daddy straight to the bar	Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	68923	10-in.	4/3/1941	Just jivin' around	Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	75147		8/17/1949	'Tain't nobody's business if I do	Billie Holiday		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	75148		8/17/1949	Baby get lost	Billie Holiday		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Signature	T-1919	10-in.	12/21/1943	Linger awhile	Dicky Wells Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Signature	T-1920	10-in.	12/21/1943	Hello babe	Dicky Wells Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Signature	T-19003	12-in.	12/21/1943	I got rhythm	Dicky Wells Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Signature	T-19004	12-in.	12/21/1943	I'm fer it too	Dicky Wells Orchestra		instrumentalist, tenor saxophone

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Young, Lester," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/211293.

Young, Lester. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/211293.

"Young, Lester." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.