Lou Donaldson

American saxophonist (1926–2024)

Born: 1 November 1926
Badin
Died: 9 November 2024
Daytona Beach
Country: United States
Active: 1952–2017
Record labels: Blue Note
Discography: 49 albums

Biography

Lou Donaldson was a jazz musician who played saxophone, alto saxophone and voice. Lou Donaldson was born on 1 November 1926 in Badin and died on 9 November 2024 in Daytona Beach. The music is usually filed under jazz, bebop and soul jazz. Record labels: Blue Note. The discography here lists 49 albums, from “New Faces - New Sounds” (1952) to “Complete 1952 Blue Note Sessions” (2002). Honours include North Carolina Award for Fine Arts (2012) and NEA Jazz Masters.

Louis Andrew Donaldson Jr. (November 1, 1926 – November 9, 2024) was an American jazz alto saxophonist. He was best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years, he was heavily influenced by Charlie Parker, as were many during the bebop era.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

New Faces - New Sounds 1952 · Blue Note Quartet/Quintet/Sextet 1957 · Blue Note Blues Walk 1958 · Blue Note Light Foot 1958 · Blue Note Lou Takes Off 1958 · Blue Note LD + 3 1959 · Blue Note The Time Is Right 1959 · Blue Note Here ’Tis 1961 · Blue Note Sunny Side Up 1961 · Blue Note Gravy Train 1962 · Blue Note Good Gracious! 1963 · Blue Note Signifyin' 1963 · Argo The Natural Soul 1963 · Blue Note Cole Slaw 1964 · Argo Possum Head 1964 · Argo Musty Rusty 1965 · Argo At His Best 1966 · Cadet Records Rough House Blues 1966 · Cadet Records Alligator Bogaloo 1967 · Blue Note Blowing in the Wind 1967 · Cadet Records Fried Buzzard 1967 · Live · Cadet Records Lush Life 1967 · Blue Note Mr. Shing-A-Ling 1967 · Blue Note Midnight Creeper 1968 · Blue Note Everything I Play Is Funky 1969 · Blue Note Hot Dog 1969 · Blue Note Say It Loud! 1969 · Blue Note Pretty Things 1970 · Blue Note Cosmos 1971 · Blue Note Sassy Soul Strut 1973 · Blue Note Sophisticated Lou 1973 · Blue Note Sweet Lou 1974 · Blue Note A Different Scene 1976 · Cotillion Color As A Way Of Life 1977 · Cotillion Poinciana 1979 · Jazz Bird Fine and Dandy 1980 Midnight Sun 1980 · Blue Note Sweet Poppa Lou 1981 · Muse Records Back Street 1982 · Muse Records Forgotten Man 1982 · Timeless Records Live in Bologna 1984 · Live · Timeless Records

Jimmy Smith Trio + LD 1985

Play the Right Thing 1990 Birdseed 1992 · Milestone Caracas 1994 · Milestone Sentimental Journey 1995 · Columbia The Scorpion: Live at the Cadillac Club 1995 · Live · Blue Note A Man With a Horn [Connoisseur] 1999 · Blue Note

Complete 1952 Blue Note Sessions 2002

Also plays on

Albums where Lou Donaldson is credited as a sideman

1952	Wizard of the Vibes — Milt Jackson	alto saxophone
1957	Jimmy Smith at the Organ, Volume 1 — Jimmy Smith	alto saxophone
1957	A Date With Jimmy Smith, Volume 2 — Jimmy Smith	alto saxophone
1958	Jimmy Smith at the Organ, Volume 2 — Jimmy Smith	alto saxophone
1958	House Party — Jimmy Smith	alto saxophone
1959	The Sermon! — Jimmy Smith	alto saxophone
1963	Rockin’ the Boat — Jimmy Smith	alto saxophone
1978	Live Messengers — Art Blakey	alto saxophone
1980	Cool Blues — Jimmy Smith	alto saxophone
1985	More Genius of Thelonious Monk — Thelonious Monk	alto saxophone
1988	New York City, Birdland Club, February 21, 1954 — Art Blakey & Clifford Brown	alto saxophone
1993	All-Star Sessions — Gene Ammons	alto saxophone
2003	Complete Blue Note Studio Masters — Clifford Brown	alto saxophone
2014	Live in New York 1953 — Horace Silver Quartet With Lou Donaldson	alto saxophone
—	Bambino — Cedar Walton	alto saxophone

Awards

2012 North Carolina Award for Fine Arts
NEA Jazz Masters

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Lou Donaldson play?

Lou Donaldson is known for playing saxophone, alto saxophone and voice.

When and where was Lou Donaldson born?

Lou Donaldson was born 1 November 1926 in Badin.

What are Lou Donaldson's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include New Faces - New Sounds (1952), Quartet/Quintet/Sextet (1957), Blues Walk (1958), Light Foot (1958) and Lou Takes Off (1958).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.