13 Facts About Doc Cheatham

Adolphus Anthony Cheatham, better known as Doc Cheatham, was an American jazz trumpeter, singer, and bandleader.

Doc Cheatham was born in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, of African, Cherokee and Choctaw heritage.

Doc Cheatham noted there was no jazz music there in his youth; like many in the United States he was introduced to the style by early recordings and touring groups at the end of the 1910s.

Doc Cheatham later toured in band accompanying blues singers on the Theater Owners Booking Association circuit.

Doc Cheatham played in Albert Wynn's band, and recorded on sax with Ma Rainey before moving to Philadelphia in 1927, where he worked with the bands of Bobby Lee and Wilbur de Paris, before moving to New York City the following year.

Doc Cheatham returned to the United States in 1930, and played with Marion Handy and McKinney's Cotton Pickers, before landing a job with Cab Calloway.

Doc Cheatham performed with Benny Carter, Teddy Wilson, Fletcher Henderson, and Claude Hopkins in the 1940s; after World War II he started working regularly with Latin bands in New York City, including the bands of Perez Prado, Marcelino Guerra, Ricardo Ray, Machito, and others.

The first time Doc Cheatham joined Machito's band, he was fired because he could not cope with clave rhythm.

Doc Cheatham led his own band on Broadway for five years, starting in 1960, after which he toured with Benny Goodman.

Doc Cheatham's singing career began almost by accident in a Paris recording studio on May 2,1977.

Doc Cheatham's singing was well received and Cheatham continued to sing in addition to play music for the rest of his career.

Doc Cheatham toured widely in addition to his regular Sunday gig leading the band at Sweet Basil in Manhattan's Greenwich Village in his final decade.

Doc Cheatham continued playing until two days before his death from a stroke, eleven days shy of his 92nd birthday.