TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Harry "Sweets" Edison was a jazz trumpeter best known as the Count Basie Orchestra member. He was recognized for his muted trumpet work, accompanying legendary singers like Frank Sinatra.
Edison was born in Columbus, Ohio, and spent his early childhood in Louisville, Kentucky, being introduced to music by an uncle. After moving back to Columbus at the age of twelve, the young Edison began playing the trumpet with local bands.
He joined the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra in Cleveland, paving the way for exciting opportunities with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. His journey took a thrilling turn when he moved to New York and became a member of the Count Basie Orchestra, collaborating with jazz greats like Buck Clayton and Lester Young. Young’s playful teasing about Edison’s playing style earned him the nickname "Sweets.”
This has been Rapp On Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible in part by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.