Marshall Royal

For close to 20 years -- from the early '50s until 1970 -- the characteristic sax sound of <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>'s big band was topped by the clear, vibrating lead alto of Marshall Royal. Royal was, by all accounts, a competent swing-based soloist, but his strength was first and foremost as a team player. Royal's style became the prototype for swinging a sax section; his slightly behind-the-beat phrasing, pronounced vibrato, and aggressive leadership influenced a subsequent generation of ensemble players.

As a child, Royal learned to play violin, guitar, and various reed instruments; trumpeter <a href="spotify:artist:6zR6TsPrep8p2ZAiMDmms2">Ernie Royal</a> was his brother. He began performing in public at the age of 13. Royal spent much of the '30s with Les Hite's band; he also recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:3DtSOCXYU6o4EV0K1NgIKq">Art Tatum</a> around that time. Royal joined <a href="spotify:artist:2PjgZkwAEk7UTin4jP6HLP">Lionel Hampton</a>'s band in 1940, staying two years. During the war, Royal served in a Navy band. In 1946, he played with <a href="spotify:artist:4Up5NIBDcGXsFk2lcsHaNG">Eddie Heywood</a> before moving to Los Angeles. Royal worked in the studios for a time, and then, in 1951, he joined the septet <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a> had formed following the demise of his big band. <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Basie</a> reorganized the big band the next year, with Royal ensconced as lead altoist and music director -- dual roles he would occupy until 1970. After leaving <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Basie</a>, Royal settled for good in Los Angeles. Royal played and recorded with Bill Berry's big band and the <a href="spotify:artist:2tJcoKGK6fKgHE1j4ElVzP">Frankie Capp-Nat Pierce Juggernaut</a>. In 1977, he recorded as a soloist with <a href="spotify:artist:4Yb0JMYgAtln5bhIZ1ZV8n">Dave Frishberg</a>, and in 1978 with <a href="spotify:artist:0GWVa7PVBGQTtltgwpf5hw">Warren Vache</a>. In the late '70s and early '80s, Royal recorded with a band he co-led with Snooky Young, as well as under his own name. Royal kept busy during the '80s; among his activities was a 1982 record date with <a href="spotify:artist:5V0MlUE1Bft0mbLlND7FJz">Ella Fitzgerald</a> and a 1987 Concord Jazz Festival <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Basie</a> tribute led by <a href="spotify:artist:7HZokAjDop6Gjgtghfr8lp">Gene Harris</a>. Royal stayed in touch with his ex-<a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Basie</a> colleagues as well, recording with the big bands of <a href="spotify:artist:2BfPjBXQDG4PLu4TbzcsBt">Ernie Wilkins</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1yy6FH5FQX3RQqxnjMPRBn">Frank Wess</a> in 1990. ~ Chris Kelsey, Rovi