Don Byas

About

Collaborator with many jazz greats who took Lester Young's place in Count Basie's band in 1941. He was a bandleader on more than twenty albums, including Midnight at Minton's.

Before Fame

He played a variety of instruments as a young man but switched to tenor saxophone when he moved to Los Angeles, where he performed with many bands.

Trivia

He spent time living and performing in his Oklahoma hometown, in Los Angeles, in New York City, in Paris, and in the Netherlands.

Family Life

When he moved to the Netherlands, Byas married a Dutch woman with whom he stayed until his death.

Associated With

He toured in Europe with many different artists, including Dizzy Gillespie.