Jazz musician Lou Donaldson turns 100

Jazz musician Lou Donaldson was born on October 26, 1926, in Badin, North Carolina.

He grew up in the segregated South under the strict guidance of his mother, Lucy Donaldson. Lucy was a classically trained concert pianist who taught her son discipline through music. She introduced young Lou to the clarinet when he was nine years old after noticing his natural ear for melody.

Donaldson served in the Navy, where he switched from the clarinet to the alto saxophone. By the early 1950s, he moved to New York City and began his professional career. He developed a fast playing style influenced by Charlie Parker. This technique caught the attention of Alfred Lion, the head of Blue Note Records.

Donaldson became a regular on the Blue Note label. He recorded as a leader and participated in sessions with Clifford Brown, Thelonious Monk, and Horace Silver. He also contributed to Art Blakey's albums from the Birdland club.

In the 1960s, Donaldson changed his musical direction. He moved away from the complex structures of bebop toward a blues-based sound. He adopted the motto, "No blues, no groove, no funk." To create this new style, he replaced traditional piano trios with the Hammond B-3 organ. He collaborated with organists Baby Face Willette, Jimmy Smith, Charles Earland, Brother Jack McDuff, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and John Patton.

He also worked with guitarist Grant Green to create the foundational sound of soul-jazz. His 1958 album "Blues Walk" and the 1967 release "Alligator Boogaloo" demonstrated this shift. "Alligator Boogaloo" became a commercial success and featured musicians George Benson and Idris Muhammad.

Local saxophone player Ricky Diamond recalled meeting Donaldson in a Chicago club. Diamond said Donaldson observed a jazz-fusion band playing with many effects and no clear melody. After an hour, a fan asked Donaldson if the band could play. Diamond reported that Donaldson took a sip of his drink and replied in a high-pitched voice, "I think it's a good idea!" Diamond noted that Donaldson also joked about the 8-track tape format. He said that if he put his funk on an 8-track, the plastic would melt before the listener hit the highway.

Donaldson continues to be recognized for his work in the genre. His music from the 1960s and 1970s remains available on various formats, including vinyl and digital platforms. He is celebrated for blending classical discipline with the blues traditions of his North Carolina upbringing.