1. Oliver Edward Nelson was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader.
17 Facts About Oliver Nelson
1. 2.
Oliver Nelson was born into a musical family in St Louis, Missouri, United States.
3.
Oliver Nelson's brother was a saxophonist who played with Cootie Williams in the 1940s, and his sister sang and played piano.
4.
Oliver Nelson began learning to play the piano when he was six and started on the saxophone at the age of 11.
5.
In 1952, Oliver Nelson served in the United States Marines Corps playing woodwinds in the 3rd Marine Division band in Japan and Korea.
6.
Oliver Nelson later recalled that this 'was the first time that I had heard really modern music for back in St Louis I hadn't even known that Negroes were allowed to go to concerts.
7.
Oliver Nelson returned to Missouri to study music composition and theory at Washington University in St Louis and Lincoln University, graduating with a master's degree in 1958.
8.
Oliver Nelson studied with composers Elliott Carter, Robert Wykes and George Tremblay.
9.
Oliver Nelson played on the West Coast briefly with the Louie Bellson big band in 1959, and in the same year began recording for Prestige Records as the leader of various small groups.
10.
Oliver Nelson worked as an arranger on large ensemble albums for Thelonious Monk, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Johnny Hodges, Wes Montgomery, Buddy Rich, Jimmy Smith, Billy Taylor, Stanley Turrentine, Irene Reid, and Gene Ammons.
11.
Oliver Nelson led all-star big bands in various live performances between 1966 and 1975.
12.
Oliver Nelson continued to perform as a soloist during this period, now focusing primarily on soprano saxophone.
13.
In 1967, Oliver Nelson moved to Los Angeles to be near the television and movie industry and began composing background music for television and films, for which he became highly sought after.
14.
Films scored by Oliver Nelson include Death of a Gunfighter, Skullduggery, Dial Hot Line, Zig Zag and The Alpha Caper.
15.
Oliver Nelson arranged Gato Barbieri's music for Last Tango in Paris.
16.
Less well-known is the fact that Oliver Nelson composed several symphonic works, and was deeply involved in jazz education, returning to his alma mater, Washington University, in the summer of 1969 to lead a five-week-long clinic that featured such guest performers as Phil Woods, Mel Lewis, Thad Jones, Sir Roland Hanna, and Ron Carter.
17.
Oliver Nelson died of a heart attack on October 28,1975, at the age of 43.