Don Byas
Born of musician parents, Don Byas began by learning the violin, clarinet and
alto saxophone. At the end of the '20s, he began playing saxophone in small
bands, before setting up his own group. When he moved to California in the early
'30s, he finally opted for the tenor saxophone. He was initially hired by Lionel
Hampton and Buck Clayton. Don Byas then left for New York with the orchestra
accompanying singer Ethel Waters. He played with a number of the leading bands
of the great swing period, before succeeding Lester Young in Count Basie's
orchestra for three years from 1941. In...
