Bio

Lester Young, also nicknamed ‘Pres’, was born in Woodville, Mississippi in 1909. He would gain early experience in music through his family, who had a travelling family band. The band would primarily tour around the Jim Crow south, which would turn into a point of contention with Lester Young’s father, ultimately resulting in his departure from the family band. In 1933 Lester Young came to Kansas City, and began his first stint as first tenor in the Count Basie Band. This would be a relatively short period, as he would move to New York soon after to replace Coleman Hawkins in Fletcher Henderson’s orchestra. Lester Young’s style varied greatly from Coleman Hawkins who was thought of as the top tenor player of the day. Young’s style was much more relaxed, sparse, light and airy. He was an extremely lyrical and melodic player, whose style would go on to inspire everyone from Stan Getz to Charlie Parker. Lester Young played with a countless number of incredible musicians, but a few of whom are Joe Jones, Count Basie, Walter Page, Buck Clayton, Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson, and Nat King Cole.