Tee Carson - Biographical Notes

About Tee Carson

Tee Carson is one of those outstanding musicians who has been an integral part of the San Francisco Bay Area jazz scene for what seems like forever. Actually, he came here in 1977. Many Bay Area jazz fans know him from his long run at San Francisco's Cypress Club or from his many nights at the piano at the Fairmont Hotel's posh New Orleans Room. An even larger audience heard Tee's weekly radio show on KCSM, the all-jazz station in San Mateo.

Tee was born and raised in Washington, D.C. He first performed professionally there – at a club opening featuring Ethel Waters. He joined the union for that event and formed a trio. According to Tee, this was in 1945 or 1946.

A long-standing engagement at Washington's prestigious Shoreham Hotel brought Tee to prominence. His trio was featured in the hotel's Marquis Lounge. Also, in the main entertainment room at the Shoreham, the Blue Room, the Tee Carson Trio was the opening act for many famous visiting artists. Tee's trio also accompanied them and he arranged big band charts for these artists, including Sammy Davis, Jr., Pearl Bailey, Lena Horne, and Robert Goulet. Tee calls this period of his life "OJT" – on-the-job training.

Tee was first-call pianist in Washington, D.C., at that time. He performed with Billie Holiday and was present at the jam sessions that proliferated in Washington. A highlight of his career was his personal friendship with Art Tatum, whom he always revered. Imagine a jam session at Tee's home with Tee and Tatum together at a spinet piano! Some of the others who participated in these informal private sessions were Ahmad Jamal, Roger Williams, and Matt Dennis.

In 1972, at the Howard Theatre, Tee met Ella Fitzgerald. Ella's accompanist, Jimmy Jones, had suffered a heart attack. His replacement was none other than Tee Carson. In addition to his musical duties, Tee was also employed by the U.S. Marshall Service. (He testified at the Watergate hearings.)

In 1977, Bobby Kennedy arranged a leave of absence for Tee so that he could work full-time with Ella.

He worked with Ella throughout 1977. They were frequently joined by Count Basie and his band and sometimes by another of Tee's heroes, Oscar Peterson.

Basie's health problems became acute and Tee frequently took over the piano chair at The Count's request. The two of them had become close friends. Tee travelled with the Basie band for 14 years, until Basie's death in 1984. With the Basie band, Tee travelled throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and Japan.

After bravely battling cancer for the last few years of his life, Tee died February 13, 2000. He'll be remembered in his music.

Tee leaves a legacy of many recordings, with the Count Basie band, the Frank Wess Orchestra, and others. He appears as leader on his most recent CD, Tee Carson and Friends.