Dicky Wells

William Wells (June 10, 1907 or 1909 – November 12, 1985), known professionally as Dicky Wells (sometimes Dickie Wells), was an American jazz trombonist.

Early life Wells was born in Centerville, Tennessee. Early in his life, he lived in Centerville with his farmer father, George Washington Wells, and mother, Florence. Wells had a brother, Charlie or Henry Wells, and three sisters, Leona, Tenny, and Georgia.

Wells and his family moved to Nashville, Tennessee for some time where he started drinking whiskey from a bar. Wells' mother was absent as she was traveling with his stepfather so his sister, Leona, took care of him and his brother. Both of Wells' parents died within a year of each other which took its toll on him. He played frequently at the West End jazz club at 116th and Broadway, most often with a band called The Countsmen, led by alto saxophonist Earle Warren, his colleague from Count Basie days. A trademark of Wells was his "pepper pot" mute, which he made himself.

Death

Wells died of cancer on November 12, 1985, in New York City. Shortly after his death, Wells's family donated his trombone to the Rutgers University Institute of Jazz Studies.

Discography As leader Bones for the King (Felsted, 1958) Trombone Four-in-Hand (Felsted, 1959) Chatter Jazz with Rex Stewart (RCA Victor, 1959) Heavy Duty! (Vocalion, 1965) Dicky Wells in Paris 1937 (Prestige, 1968) Lonesome Road (Uptown, 1981) The Stanley Dance Sessions (Lone Hill, 2005) Dicky Wells with the Alex Welsh Band (Jazzology, 2011)

As sideman With Lloyd Scott

Harlem Shuffle (Victor, 1927) Symphonic Scrontch (Victor, 1927) Happy Hour Blues (Victor, 1927)

With Teddy Hill

Lookie, Lookie, Here Comes Cookie (Banner, 1935) When the Robin Sings His Song Again (Banner, 1935) Uptown Rhapsody (Vocalion, 1936) At the Rug Cutters’ Ball (Vocalion, 1936) Blue Rhythm Fantasy (Vocalion, 1936) Passionate (Vocalion, 1936)

With Count Basie

Blues by Basie (Columbia, 1956) The Count (RCA Camden, 1958) The Count Swings Out (Coral, 1959)

With Buck Clayton Songs for Swingers (Columbia, 1959) Goin' to Kansas City (Riverside, 1960) One for Buck (Columbia, 1962) Copenhagen Concert (SteepleChase, 1979)

With Jimmy Rushing The Jazz Odyssey of Jimmy Rushing (Philips, 1957) Little Jimmy Rushing and the Big Brass (Columbia, 1958) Every Day I Have the Blues (Bluesway, 1967) Livin' the Blues (Bluesway, 1968)

With others James Brown, Live at the Apollo (1963 album) (King, 1963) Vic Dickenson & Joe Thomas, Mainstream (Atlantic, 1958) Dizzy Gillespie, The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (Bluebird, 1995) Tommy Gwaltney, Goin' to Kansas City (Riverside, 1960) Nancy Harrow, Wild Women Don't Have the Blues (Candid, 1961) John Lee Hooker, It Serve You Right to Suffer (Impulse!, 1966) Spike Hughes, Spike Hughes and His All American Orchestra (London 1933 1956) Frankie Laine & Buck Clayton, Jazz Spectacular (Columbia, 1956) Jay McShann, The Big Apple Bash (Atlantic, 1979) Red Prysock, Fruit Boots (Mercury, 1957) Rex Stewart, Henderson Homecoming (United Artists, 1959) Buddy Tate, Swinging Like Tate (Felsted, 1958)