Zilner Randolph

Musical careerGenresJazzInstrument(s)Years active1920s–1970s

Zilner Trenton Randolph (January 28, 1899 – February 2, 1994) was an American jazz trumpeter, arranger, and music educator.

Early life

Randolph was born in Dermott, Arkansas, on January 28, 1899.^[1] He attended Biddle University, the Kreuger Conservatory, and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.^[2]

Later life and career

Randolph played in St. Louis in the early 1920s, then in Bernie Young's band in Milwaukee from 1927 to 1930.^[1] He moved to Chicago in 1931 and was a trumpeter and arranger with Louis Armstrong for 1931–32 and again in 1933 and 1935.^[1] Randolph also played trumpet on a number of Armstrong's recordings and composed the tune "Old Man Mose".^[1] He played with Carroll Dickerson and Dave Peyton in 1934, and led his own Chicago band later in the 1930s.^[2] He arranged for such bandleaders as Earl Hines, Woody Herman, Fletcher Henderson, and Duke Ellington, and led a quartet in the 1940s.^[2]

From the 1940s Randolph devoted himself mainly to teaching, but recorded as a pianist in 1951.^[2] He retired in the 1970s, and died in Chicago on February 2, 1994.^[1]

Zilner's daughter, Hattie, became a vocalist; his son, Lucious, became a trumpeter.^[3] Both were part of Sun Ra's band in the 1950s.^[3]

References