Jack McDuff

Cil Austin was born in 1929, renowned jazz and rhythm and blues saxophonist who gained fame in the 1950s for hits like Danny Boy.

Brother Jack McDuff was born in 1926, influential soul jazz organist and bandleader whose gritty Hammond B-3 organ grooves helped to pioneer the soul jazz movement back in the 1960s.

David Happy Williams was born in 1946, accomplished Trinidadian jazz contrabassists who performed a lot with huge jazz royalty like Elvin Jones and the Roberta Flack band.

Ralph Sharon was born in 1923, gained fame as a jazz pianist and arranger, best remembered for his multi-decade partnership as being the primary musical director and accompanist for the iconic Mr. Tony Bennett, the late great.

That combination made Grant Green almost perfect for the soul jazz and organ trio music that became popular during the early 60s.

Green worked with musicians like Jack McDuff, Babyface Willett, Big John Patton, Larry Young, Lou Donaldson, and many others.

But the most important relationship of his career was with Blue Note Records.

After moving to New York around 1960, Green became one of the label's busiest musicians.

When he would come to town, he'd sing at the Pershing Hotel and get his hair done there.

And Jack McDuff was actually – the organist lived there for a while.

So it's just – it was a center during – I'm talking like 47, 48 to about 57.

Yes.