Oscar Pettiford American jazzman and composer, one of the founders of bebop Date of Birth: 30.09.1922 Country: Denmark

1. Oscar Pettiford: A Pioneer of Bebop
2. Early Life and Musical Beginnings
3. Emerging as a Musician
4. California and Collaborations
5. Later Career and Legacy

Oscar Pettiford: A Pioneer of Bebop

Oscar Pettiford was an American jazz musician and composer, known as one of the pioneers of bebop. He was a master of both the cello and double bass and played in a unique, self-invented style. Alongside his contemporary Charles Mingus, Pettiford is considered one of the greatest and most prolific composers and leaders of groups that preferred the double bass.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Oscar Pettiford was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. His mother was from the Choctaw tribe and his father was biracial, of Cherokee and African-American descent. Pettiford showed a talent for music from a young age, performing in his family band. He started singing and dancing, then switched to piano at the age of 12, and began learning the double bass at 14. Even at a young age, Pettiford believed that other musicians were playing the double bass incorrectly, so he started to develop his own technique.

Emerging as a Musician

By the age of 14, Pettiford had gained the respect of several well-known musicians, such as Milt Hinton. However, in 1941, he became convinced that he couldn't make a living through music and began searching for a more lucrative job. After only five months, he reunited with Hinton, who convinced him to return to music. In 1942, Pettiford joined Charlie Barnet's group and quickly gained recognition as a successful performer, particularly after recording "The Man I Love" with Coleman Hawkins in 1943. He later collaborated with Earl Hines, Ben Webster, and Dizzy Gillespie, forming a bebop group.

California and Collaborations

In 1945, Pettiford traveled to California with Hawkins and appeared in the adventure thriller "The Crimson Canary," known for its jazz soundtrack. From 1945 to 1948, he worked with Duke Ellington, and in 1949, he joined Woody Herman's band. It was Pettiford who discovered Julian "Cannonball" Adderley by allowing the relatively unknown music teacher to perform on stage. Recognizing Adderley's talent, Pettiford gave him a solo, realizing that he had found a true gem. Pettiford is often credited as the founder of jazz cello music. He first experimented with the instrument to play a prank on Woody Herman. In 1949, Pettiford broke his hand and could no longer play the double bass, prompting him to experiment again with the cello. He discovered that by tuning it in fourths, like the double bass but an octave higher, he could still play it even with a bandaged hand.

Later Career and Legacy

In 1950, Pettiford recorded his first experimental cello composition, and from then on, the cello became his second favorite instrument. In the 1950s, he recorded actively for various labels such as Debut, Bethlehem, and ABC Paramount. In 1958, Pettiford relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark, where he mainly collaborated with European companies. Unfortunately, Pettiford passed away in Copenhagen, just a few weeks before his 38th birthday.