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Listen to Sonny Criss, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!

Sonny Criss

Jazz

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Top Songs By Sonny Criss

Listen to Day Dream by Sonny Criss, see lyrics, music video & more!
Day DreamSonny Criss
Listen to Criss Cross (1990 Remaster) by Sonny Criss, see lyrics, music video & more!
Criss Cross (1990 Remaster)Sonny Criss
Listen to My Ideal by Sonny Criss, see lyrics, music video & more!
My IdealSonny Criss
Listen to Easy Living (1990 Remaster) by Sonny Criss, see lyrics, music video & more!
Easy Living (1990 Remaster)Sonny Criss
Listen to Blues in My Heart by Sonny Criss, see lyrics, music video & more!
Blues in My HeartSonny Criss
Listen to Brother Can You Spare a Dime by Sonny Criss, see lyrics, music video & more!
Brother Can You Spare a DimeSonny Criss
Listen to Black Coffee (Rudy Van Gelder Remaster) by Sonny Criss, see lyrics, music video & more!
Black Coffee (Rudy Van Gelder Remaster)Sonny Criss
Listen to All Night Long by Sonny Criss, see lyrics, music video & more!
All Night LongSonny Criss
Listen to All The Things You Are by Sonny Criss, see lyrics, music video & more!
All The Things You AreSonny Criss
Listen to Willow Weep For Me by Sonny Criss, see lyrics, music video & more!
Willow Weep For MeSonny Criss

More albums from Sonny Criss

Listen to Out Of Nowhere by Sonny Criss
ALBUMOut Of NowhereSonny Criss
Listen to Warm & Sonny by Sonny Criss
ALBUMWarm & SonnySonny Criss
Listen to The Joy Of Sax by Sonny Criss
ALBUMThe Joy Of SaxSonny Criss
Listen to Criss Craft by Sonny Criss
ALBUMCriss CraftSonny Criss
Listen to I'll Catch The Sun! by Sonny Criss
ALBUMI'll Catch The Sun!Sonny Criss
Listen to Rockin' In Rhythm by Sonny Criss
ALBUMRockin' In RhythmSonny Criss
Listen to The Beat Goes On! (Remastered 2000) by Sonny Criss
ALBUMThe Beat Goes On! (Remastered 2000)Sonny Criss
Listen to Portrait Of Sonny Criss (Remastered 1991) by Sonny Criss
ALBUMPortrait Of Sonny Criss (Remastered 1991)Sonny Criss
Listen to This Is Criss! (Rudy Van Gelder Remaster) by Sonny Criss
ALBUMThis Is Criss! (Rudy Van Gelder Remaster)Sonny Criss
Listen to Go Man by Sonny Criss
ALBUMGo ManSonny Criss
Listen to Jazz - U.S.A. by Sonny Criss
ALBUMJazz - U.S.A.Sonny Criss
Listen to Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter by Sonny Criss
ALBUMSonny Criss Plays Cole PorterSonny Criss

About Sonny Criss

Listen to Sonny Criss, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Hometown
Memphis, TN, United States
Born
October 23, 1927
Genre
Jazz
Alto saxophonist William "Sonny" Criss was an anomaly of the jazz musicians who came up during the bebop era. Criss moved to Los Angeles from Memphis at the age of 15, and at 19 played in Howard McGhee's band with Charlie Parker and Teddy Edwards. As was the norm for every alto player, Parker exerted a huge influence on Criss' playing. His beefy, earthy tone can be heard on a number of Savoy sessions beginning the next year. Criss drifted, playing in jazz and R&B groups, including those led by Johnny Otis, Billy Eckstine, and Stan Kenton. After joining Buddy Rich in 1956, Criss recorded Jazz U.S.A. for Imperial as a leader; it's one of the true underground classics of the hard bop era. Imperial -- mainly an R&B label specializing in New Orleans acts such as Fats Domino -- put no promotional push behind it. Nonetheless, he was able to cut two more sessions for the label: the excellent Go Man! and Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter. Still playing with Rich, Criss cut At the Crossroads while on tour in Chicago for the Peacock label; the set featured Wynton Kelly and was critically well received. The saxophonist continued to work, fronting his own band in Los Angeles and gigging with others for brief out-of-town jaunts. He signed with Prestige in 1965 and issued a host of fine recordings, This Is Criss! and Sonny's Dream among them. Criss also cut various sessions for Xanadu, Muse, and ABC/Impulse near the end of his life. He committed suicide in 1977 due to the painful consequences of stomach cancer. His fine Crisscraft and Out of Nowhere albums were reissued on CDs, as were his complete Imperial recordings. ~ Thom Jurek

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Sonny Criss has also released music as a member of Sonny Criss Quartet, Sonny Criss Sextet The Sonny Criss Orchestra.