Stevenson, George (Edward)
Stevenson, George (Edward)
Stevenson, George (Edward), jazz trombonist; b. Baltimore, June 20, 1906; d. N.Y, Sept. 21, 1970. Stevenson’s brother, Cyrus, and his father played piano. At age 15, Stevenson studied saxophone and trombone with A. J. Thomas and joined his Baltimore Concert Band. At 19 he joined pianist Harold Stepteau and his Melody Boys, then organized his own 11-piece Baltimore Melody Boys. They disbanded in 1928 and he moved to N.Y. Through the 1930s and 1940s he worked with various bands, including the Savoy Bearcats (spring 1932), Charlie Johnson (1932–33), Fletcher Henderson (1935), Claude Hopkins (1936), Jack Carter’s Orch. (1938), Lucky Millinder (1939–43), Cootie Williams and Roy Eldridge (1944), and Cat Anderson (1947). From 1948 he freelanced with various leaders, continuing to perform through the 1960s. He also briefly led his own band in 1959. His last performances were with Max Kaminsky a year before his death. His trombone style was greatly influenced by Tricky Sam Nanton.
—John Chilton , Who’s Who of Jazz/Lewis Porter