The Murder of Eddie Jefferson in 1979

October 29, 2024

Hello my friends, as a fan of Eddie Jefferson I decided to make an article about his murder in 1979. Eddie Jefferson was one of the most innovative singers of jazz music. The saxophonist Richie Cole and Eddie Jefferson had created a great friendship and partnership from the mid 70s. It was one night in early 1976, when alto saxophonist Richie Cole and vocalist Eddie Jefferson were both participants in the same New York City gig. Despite there was a big age gap between Eddie and Richie, they found a deep musical chemistry. For about 4 years, they were touring as a pair around the states with a minivan, playing just about everywhere until 1979.

On the 9th of May 1979, Eddie Jefferson was shot dead in the streets of Detroit. After completing his live performance at Baker's Keyboard Lounge, he left the venue with his road manager and a female friend. As they were walking, suddenly a vehicle pulled up and its driver fired four shotgun blasts.

The police said that Mr.Jeferson got shot in the chest as he emerged from Baker's Keyboard Lounge. The other day on the 10th of May, the police stated that a suspect was arrested. The suspect was a 41-year-old unemployed that previous was a dancer at Baker's Keyboard Lounge.

Eddie Jefferson was born in Pittsburgh on August 3, 1918. For some fans of music, Eddie Jefferson was the father of the art of jazz vocalese. He grew up with a few jazz legends like the drummer and pianist Art Blakey, the saxophonist Ray Crawford, and the singer Billy Eckstine. He also grew up with Stanley Turrentine and Errol Garner, He started in show business as a singer and dancer, appearing at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago with the originals Zephyrs. But he was best known for fitting lyrics to improvised instrumental jazz solos. He also went on to write and sing lyrics.

His first opportunity to record such material came in 1950 with Spotlite Records in New York City. The solo saxophone accompanies just about all his lyrics, because according to Jefferson "I heard the saxophone, that sound was in my ear. It seemed like I could hear more stories. It was very easy for me to write lyrics to players like Lester Young and Hershell Evans.". "He always had an ear for the tenor saxophone" says his partner, alto saxophonist Richie Cole. And so it was to the tenor saxophone solo of James Moody playing "I'm In The Mood For Love" that Jefferson wrote his first successful tune. However this successful recording of Moody's was not made by Jefferson, but by a friendly rival, King Pleasure (AKA Clarence Beeks). Jefferson stated "King Pleasure used to come around and listen to me in Cincinnati in 1947-48. Then around 1951 he heard me do "Moody's Mood (For Love)" at the Cotton Club in Cincinnati.I think he was a waiter. He would just sit and listen. I didn't even know who he was. I knew only that he liked the music.

After King Pleasure went to New York he ran into my wife, a great singer named Tiny Brown who was on Capitol Records for a minute. She coached him on how to get over on "Mood For Love".

His most popular and succesful project was his album in 1977 "The Main Man". This album was released on Inner City Records. It was the reason that in 1979 he was nominated for a Grammy Award as best vocal jazz album.

His popularity grew, as he performed on the PBS television show Sound Stage with singers, John Hendricks, Annie Ross, and Leon Thomas. As I told you at the start, his latest and most successful partnership was with the saxophonist Richie Cole until his death.

I had the opportunity to present many times on my show my favorite track "New York Afternoon". This track was written by Richie Cole. Richie first recorded it for his album with the same title "New York Afternoon" in 1977. Eddie Jefferson sang this song for the album of Richie Cole "Keeper Of The Flame". It was released in 1979.