TRANSCRIPT:
I'm Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Gus Aiken was born Augustus Aiken on July 26, 1902, in Charleston, South Carolina. This talented trumpeter’s early musical education took place at the Jenkins Orphanage. He honed his skills alongside his younger brother there, which led to touring extensively with the orphanage band during the 1910s. By 17, Aiken was already making his mark, recording with notable artists like Mamie Smith.
In 1921, he relocated to New York City and joined Fletcher Henderson's band, performing with legends like Ethel Waters. Throughout the 1920s, Aiken collaborated with significant figures such as Louis Armstrong and Perry Bradford.
His career spanned decades and was marked by work with bands like the Mills Blue Rhythm Band and the Washingtonians, solidifying his legacy in the jazz community.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina