PAUL GAYTEN AND HIS ORCHESTRA

Biography

Paul Leon Gayten (January 29, 1920 – March 26, 1991), also credited as Paul Gayton, was born in Kentwood, Louisiana, as the nephew of blues pianist Little Brother Montgomery. Starting as a teenager, he played piano in local bands and formed his own group, Paul Gayten's Sizzling Six, which included future bebop saxophonist Teddy Edwards. During World War II, he led a band at an Army base in Biloxi, Mississippi, before moving to New Orleans, where his trio gained residency at Club Robin Hood and recorded early R&B hits like 'True (You Don't Love Me)' and 'Since I Fell for You' featuring Annie Laurie in 1947, both reaching the R&B top ten.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• Gayten's orchestra shared double bills with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker during tours in the late 1940s and early 1950s.[1][2]
• He ran Chess Records' West Coast office in Los Angeles from 1960 until 1969, after moving there with his wife Odile, and later founded his own short-lived label, Pzazz Records, which recorded Louis Jordan.[3]
• Gayten played piano on Chuck Berry classics like 'Carol' and produced Bobby Charles' 'Later Alligator,' bridging R&B and early rock 'n' roll.[2][3]
• His early group was called Paul Gayten's Sizzling Six, featuring future bebop sax star Teddy Edwards in his teens.[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Little Brother Montgomery - uncle and blues pianist (familial influence on early piano playing) [1920s-1930s]

Key Collaborators

• Annie Laurie - frequent vocalist on recordings and tours ('Since I Fell for You' (1947), 'I'll Never Be Free' (1949)) [1947-1950s]
• Hank Mobley - saxophonist in orchestra (tours with Gayten's orchestra) [late 1940s-early 1950s]
• Little Jimmy Scott - singer in orchestra and tours (tours with Gayten's orchestra) [late 1940s-early 1950s]
• Clarence 'Frogman' Henry - discovered and produced as talent scout at Chess Records ('Ain't Got No Home' (1956), 'But I Do' (1961)) [1956-1961]
• Chuck Berry - played piano on recordings ('Carol', 'Beautiful Delilah', 'Vacation Time') [1950s]
• Lee Allen - saxophonist in band (New Orleans band post-1953) [1953-1950s]
• Earl Palmer - drummer in band (various recordings) [late 1940s-1950s]
• Edgar Blanchard - guitarist in early combo (DeLuxe Records session (1947)) [1947]
• Larry Darnell - wrote hit for him ('For You My Love' (#1 R&B, 1949)) [1949]
• Bobby Charles - produced recording ('Later Alligator') [1950s]

Artists Influenced

• Clarence 'Frogman' Henry - discovered and launched career via production ('Ain't Got No Home' (1956)) [1956]
• Eddie Bo - signed as A&R man at Chess (early recordings) [1950s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia