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Tommy Potter

1918 – 1988

American jazz double bassist

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About Tommy Potter

Lived 1918 – 1988 (aged 69). Tommy Potter was an American jazz musician and musician.

Charles Thomas Potter (September 21, 1918 – March 1, 1988) was an American jazz double bass player, best known for having been a member of Charlie Parker's "classic quintet", with Miles Davis, between 1947 and 1950.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

Potter also performed and recorded with many other notable jazz musicians, including Count Basie, Buck Clayton, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Stan Getz, Tyree Glenn, Eddie Heywood, Earl Hines, Charles Lloyd, Bud Powell, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, and Artie Shaw.

Discography Potter (left) with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Duke Jordan, and Max Roach, c. August 1947Photo: William P. Gottlieb Tommy Potter's Hard Funk, (East-West, 1956)

As sideman Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins (Prestige, 1956) – with Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins and Art Taylor With Stan Getz Stan Getz Quartets (Prestige, 1949–50 ) The Complete Roost Recordings (Blue Note, 1950–54 ) With Al Cohn Al Cohn's Tones (Savoy, 1950 ) With Sonny Stitt Kaleidoscope (Prestige, 1950 ) Stitt's Bits (Prestige, 1950 ) Stitt in Orbit (Roost, 1962) With Gene Ammons All Star Sessions (Prestige, 1950–55 ) With Artie Shaw Artie Shaw & His Gramercy 5 (Clef, 1954) - including Tal Farlow, Hank Jones, Irv Kluger, Joe Roland Artie Shaw – The Last Recordings Rare & Unreleased (1992 Re-issue) With Cecil Payne Patterns of Jazz (Savoy, 1956) With Freddie Redd Freddie Redd in Sweden (1956) With Phil Woods Four Altos (Prestige, 1957) – with Gene Quill, Sahib Shihab and Hal Stein With Willis Jackson Please Mr. Jackson (Prestige, 1959) Cool "Gator" (Prestige, 1959) Blue Gator (Prestige, 1959) Together Again! (Prestige, 1959 ) – with Jack McDuff Together Again, Again (Prestige, 1959 ) – with Jack McDuff With Tommy Flanagan The Tommy Flanagan Trio (Moodsville, 1960) With Jo Jones Vamp 'til Ready (Everest, 1960) With Joe Williams Together (Roulette, 1961) with Harry "Sweets" Edison With Jimmy Forrest Out of the Forrest (Prestige, 1961) Sit Down and Relax with Jimmy Forrest (Prestige, 1961) Most Much! (Prestige, 1961) Soul Street (New Jazz, 1962)

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Charles Thomas Potter

People in Tommy Potter's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Tommy Potter's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Tommy Potter?

American jazz double bassist (1918–1988)

When was Tommy Potter born?

Tommy Potter was born on 21 September 1918 in Philadelphia.

When did Tommy Potter die?

Tommy Potter died on 1 March 1988 in Philadelphia.

What was Tommy Potter's occupation?

Tommy Potter was a jazz musician and musician.

What nationality was Tommy Potter?

Tommy Potter was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Tommy Potter

· Wikidata: Q1369941

· DBpedia: Tommy Potter

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tommy Potter. https://biography.guide/tommy-potter/

MLA: "Tommy Potter." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tommy-potter/.

Chicago: "Tommy Potter." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tommy-potter/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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