Jim Duckworth Posted January 15, 2020 Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) I teach in the public school system here in Memphis; we were reading My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass last week and, as is my wont, I started talking about Malcom X only to discover I have one of his relatives in my class. Surprised, I asked if she might be related to Booker Little as Little was Malcolm's dead name She contacted her relatives and then reported that Booker and Malcolm unbeknownst to either during their lifetimes were related. Her relatives wanted to make it clear that Blooker Little did not die from drug use-I assured her that this is common knowledge. I found this fascinating and now, forum denizens, you are getting this tidbit of possibly interesting information hot off the presses. Edited January 15, 2020 by Jim Duckworth clarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted January 15, 2020 Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) Fascinating! Booker Little died almost 60 years ago from kidney failure. I wonder if anyone knows anything about his children. Edited January 15, 2020 by jlhoots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Duckworth Posted January 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 I'll ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted January 15, 2020 Report Share Posted January 15, 2020 About 20 years ago I met a fellow, in the Jazz Record Mart, who said he was Booker Little's son. He was very happy to hear I knew of his father. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Duckworth Posted January 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2020 I was told that his son, also named Booker, lives in Chicago and that a daughter lives in Nashville. I was also told that for the most part the family is not all that enthusiastic about jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felser Posted January 16, 2020 Report Share Posted January 16, 2020 What Booker Little accomplished musically in less than 24 years of living is astounding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrdlu Posted January 16, 2020 Report Share Posted January 16, 2020 I never heard it said that Booker died because of drugs. I doubt that the family has anything to worry about. A fascinating story. Thanks for posting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted January 17, 2020 Report Share Posted January 17, 2020 (edited) 17 hours ago, felser said: What Booker Little accomplished musically in less than 24 years of living is astounding. Agreed! Certainly when I consider trumpeters' outputs from before 1963 (an arbitrary year where I've always felt more jazz started to get especially 'more interesting', even 'thorny')… ...I would have to put Little very near the very top of any top-10 list of notable trumpeters (pre-1963), at least to my tastes and way of thinking. Right up there with Clifford Brown, another incredible talent who left us much too soon. Edited January 17, 2020 by Rooster_Ties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.D. Posted January 17, 2020 Report Share Posted January 17, 2020 4 hours ago, Rooster_Ties said: Agreed! Certainly when I consider trumpeters' outputs from before 1963 (an arbitrary year where I've always felt more jazz started to get especially 'more interesting', even 'thorny')… ...I would have to put Little very near the very top of any top-10 list of notable trumpeters (pre-1963), at least to my tastes and way of thinking. Right up there with Clifford Brown, another incredible talent who left us much too soon. Very strongly +1. And IMO BL would have excelled even more as jazz became more "thorny". 22 hours ago, felser said: What Booker Little accomplished musically in less than 24 years of living is astounding. Word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted January 18, 2020 Report Share Posted January 18, 2020 I think the son Chuck met passed away a few years ago. The relationship to Malcolm is fascinating. I know someone who might have more info. I will check in and report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted January 19, 2020 Report Share Posted January 19, 2020 (edited) Fascinating. I never heard that Malcolm and Booker were related and couldn’t find anything on the web. He was a hero of mine when I was in high school. I think I still have the paper I wrote. Edited January 19, 2020 by Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabio Baglioni Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 Surey this is the only ''one'' Live Video that shows..: Booker Little ,tr,,- The Max Roach Quintet performs a Booker Little composition on a 1958 TV program Personnel: Max Roach, drums; Booker Little, trumpet; George Coleman, tenor sax; Ray Draper, tuba; Art Davis, bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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