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Milt Buckner

1915 – 1977

American jazz pianist and organist

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About Milt Buckner

Lived 1915 – 1977 (aged 62). Milt Buckner was an American pianist, jazz musician, composer and musician.

Milton Brent Buckner (July 10, 1915 – July 27, 1977) was an American jazz pianist and organist, who in the early 1950s popularized the Hammond organ. He pioneered the parallel chords style that influenced Red Garland, George Shearing, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson. Buckner's brother, Ted Buckner, was a jazz saxophonist.

Early life and career Milton Brent Buckner was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Buckner studied piano for three years from the age 10, then at 15 began writing arrangements for the band, he and his brother going on to become active in the Detroit jazz world in the 1930s. He led a short-lived big band of his own for two years, but then returned to Hampton's in 1950. In 1952, he formed his own trio and pioneered the use of the electric Hammond organ. He often played in Europe in the late 1960s. His last studio session took place in Paris on July 4, 1977. Milt Buckner is also known for the use of his song "The Beast" in the film Mulholland Drive and in the title menu of the video game Battlefield: Bad Company.

Buckner died of a heart attack in July 1977, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 62.

Discography "Vibe Boogie" (with Lionel Hampton) (V-Disc 404, 1945) "Chord-A-Re-Bop" (with Lionel Hampton) (Decca 18830, 1946) Milton Buckner: The Swinging Block-Chords Pianist 1943–1950 (EPM Musique 16018, 2002) The Chronological Milt Buckner 1946–1951 (Classics 'Blues & Rhythm Series' 5032, 2002) "Milt's Boogie" b/w "Buck's Bop" (MGM 10410, 1949) "M.B. Blues" b/w "Oo-Be-Doop" (MGM 10504, 1949) "Buck-A-Boo" b/w "Yesterdays" (MGM 10632, 1949) Milt Buckner Piano (Savoy MG-15023 [10" LP], 1953) – note: includes 6 of the 13 tracks Buckner's Beale Street Gang recorded for Savoy in 1946, 1947, 1948, and 1951. Organ...Sweet 'N' Swing (Regent MG-6004, 1956) – note: a shared album with Bobby Banks, and Vin Strong; includes 4 of the 6 tracks Buckner's trio recorded for Scooter Records (a subsidiary of Roost) in 1952: "By The River St. Marie", "Rollin' Strollin'", Take It Away", and "Russian Lullaby". Rockin' with Milt (Capitol T-642, 1955; CD reissue: Jasmine JASCD-499, 2009) Rockin' Hammond (Capitol T-722, 1956; CD reissue: Jasmine JASCD-499, 2009) Send Me Softly (Capitol T-938, 1957; CD reissue: Solar [EU] 4569921, 2012) Mighty High (Argo LPS-660, 1959; CD reissue: Solar [EU] 4569916, 2012) Please, Mr. Organ Player (Argo LPS-670, 1960; CD reissue: Solar [EU] 4569921, 2012) Midnight Mood (Argo LPS-702, 1961; CD reissue: Solar [EU] 4569916, 2012) The New World of Milt Buckner (Bethlehem BCP-6072, 1963) Play Chords (SABA 15110, 1966) Them There Eyes (with Buddy Tate) (Black & Blue 33.013, 1967) Locked Hands (MPS 15199, 1968) More Chords (MPS 15237, 1969) Rockin' Again (Black & Blue 33.043, 1972) Black and Blue Stomp (Black & Blue, 33.061, 1973) Block Chords Parade (Black & Blue 33.184, 1974 [rel. 1984]; CD reissue: Black & Blue BB-953, 2002) Green Onions (with Roy Gaines) (Black & Blue 33.087, 1975; Classic Jazz CJ-141, 1980; CD reissue: Black & Blue BB-929, 2000) Milt Buckner & His Alumni (The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions) (Black & Blue BB-909, 1976 [rel. 1998]) Boogie Woogie USA (Black & Blue 33.120, 1977)

As sideman With Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Sings Louis Jordan (Black & Blue 33.053, 1973) Cold Strange (Black & Blue 33.096, 1973 [rel. 1976])

With Arnett Cobb Again with Milt Buckner (Black & Blue 33.052, 1973) Midnight Slows, Vol. 3 (with Floyd "Candy" Johnson too!) (Black & Blue 33.055, 1973) Midnight Slows, Vol. 6 (Black & Blue 33.093, 1976) The Wild Man From Texas (Black & Blue 33.099, 1976)

With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Leapin' on Lenox (Black & Blue 33.072, 1974)

With Roy Gaines Superman (Black & Blue, 33.088, 1975)

With Tiny Grimes Chasin with Milt (Black & Blue 33.017, 1968)

With Illinois Jacquet Go Power! (Cadet LPS-773, 1966) The King! (Prestige PR-7597, 1968) The Soul Explosion (Prestige PR-7629, 1969) Genius at Work! (Black Lion BL-146, 1971) Illinois Jacquet with Milt and Jo (Black & Blue 33.070, 1974) Jacquet's Street (Black & Blue 33.112, 1976)

With Floyd "Candy" Johnson Candy's Mood (with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown too!) (Black & Blue 33.058, 1973)

With Guy Lafitte Midnight Slows, Vol. 7 (Black & Blue 33.115, 1977)

With Jay McShann Jumpin' the Blues (Black & Blue 33.039, 1970 [rel. 1972]) Kansas City Memories (Black & Blue 33.057, 1973)

With Buddy Morrow Night Train Goes to Hollywood (Mercury MG-20702/SR-60702, 1962)

With Andre Persiany Pianistically Yours (Black & Blue 33.176, 1975–1976 [rel. 1982])

With Hal Singer Milt And Hal (with Tiny Grimes too!) (Black & Blue 33.016, 1968)

With Buddy Tate When I'm Blue (Black & Blue 33.014, 1967) Crazy Rhythm (Black & Blue 33.018, 1968) Midnight Slows, Vol. 1 (Black & Blue 33.026, 1971) Midnight Slows, Vol. 4 (Black & Blue 33.068, 1974) Midnight Slows, Vol. 5 (Black & Blue 33.075, 1974)

With Marcel Zanini Blues and Bounce! (Black & Blue 33.110, 1976)

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Milton Brent Buckner, Milton Buckner

People in Milt Buckner's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Milt Buckner's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Milt Buckner?

American jazz pianist and organist (1915–1977)

When was Milt Buckner born?

Milt Buckner was born on 10 July 1915 in St. Louis.

When did Milt Buckner die?

Milt Buckner died on 27 July 1977 in Chicago.

What was Milt Buckner's occupation?

Milt Buckner was a pianist, jazz musician, composer and musician.

What nationality was Milt Buckner?

Milt Buckner was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Milt Buckner

· Wikidata: Q1727308

· DBpedia: Milt Buckner

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Milt Buckner. https://biography.guide/milt-buckner/

MLA: "Milt Buckner." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/milt-buckner/.

Chicago: "Milt Buckner." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/milt-buckner/.

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