About Rudy Rutherford
Lived 1924 – 1995 (aged 70). Rudy Rutherford was an American clarinetist, jazz musician, saxophonist and musician.
Elman H. "Rudy" Rutherford (June 18, 1924 – March 31, 1995) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist.
Career Rutherford played early in the 1940s with Lionel Hampton and Count Basie; he initially took Jack Washington's place in Basie's orchestra as a baritone saxophonist, and once Washington returned from military service, Rutherford switched to alto saxophone. In 1947 Rutherford moved to Teddy Buckner's band, though he continued working with Basie into the early 1950s. He worked with Wilbur De Paris late in the 1950s and appeared with Chuck Berry at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958. In the 1960s he worked with Buddy Tate and spent several years with Earl Hines in the mid-1970s. He worked with Illinois Jacquet in the 1980s and was active in performance until his death.
Discography Billy Eckstine, 1944–1945 (Classics, 1996) Count Basie, Count Basie Classics by the Great Count Basie Band (Columbia, 1955) Count Basie, The Count (RCA Camden, 1958) Corky Corcoran, The Lamplighter All Star Broadcasts (Hep, 2009) Earl Hines, Live at Buffalo (Improv, 1976) Earl Hines & Marva Josie, Jazz Is His Old Lady... and My Old Man (Catalyst, 1977) Lurlean Hunter, Blue & Sentimental (Atlantic, 1960) Illinois Jacquet, Jacquet's Got It (Atlantic, 1988) Preston Love, Preston Love (Mexie L, 2003) Dinah Washington, Dinah Washington Sings the Best in Blues (Mercury, 1957) Dicky Wells, Bones for the King (Felsted, 1958) Lester Young, Blue Lester (Savoy, 1956)
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Important facts
People in Rudy Rutherford's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Rudy Rutherford's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Rudy Rutherford?
American jazz musician
When was Rudy Rutherford born?
Rudy Rutherford was born on 18 June 1924 in Arizona.
When did Rudy Rutherford die?
Rudy Rutherford died on 31 March 1995 in New York City.
What was Rudy Rutherford's occupation?
Rudy Rutherford was a clarinetist, jazz musician, saxophonist and musician.
What nationality was Rudy Rutherford?
Rudy Rutherford was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Rudy Rutherford. https://biography.guide/rudy-rutherford/
MLA: "Rudy Rutherford." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/rudy-rutherford/.
Chicago: "Rudy Rutherford." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/rudy-rutherford/.
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