Billy Root

[Claude Schlouch]

The great tenor sax Billy Root died.

R.I.P.

[John L]

RIP

I had no idea that he was still alive.

[Claude Schlouch]

I must add that he played also clarinet, flute, other horns and above all baritone sax. Wonderful!

R.I.P.

[JohnS]

Sad news, he made some good music, think his bari on Dizzy Atmosphere.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I didn't know he was still alive, either. His work - with Jug - on Bennie Green's 'Soul stirring' was soul stirring.

RIP

MG

[AllenLowe]

since I'm too lazy to get up and check -

1) isn't he on a Clifford Brown thing, recorded just before Brownie's death? (an old LP as I recall)

2) I believe I recently saw his name on a live at Birdland thing from the '50s

3) there's also an old Cadence interview with him

Edited August 1, 2013 by AllenLowe

[John Tapscott]

Some Root from 1999 - a nice date.

And Billy plays some fine baritone on the CD re-issue of

Not sure, but that may be Billy at the far left of the cover photo, standing and soloing on baritone

[Swinging Swede]

1) isn't he on a Clifford Brown thing, recorded just before Brownie's death? (an old LP as I recall)

That's what it was purported to be, but it has since been established that the recording in question was made over a year earlier. 7th June 1955 is the latest word, if I remember correctly. It could not have been from the night Brownie died, as previously was claimed, since Billy Root was on tour with Stan Kenton then.

Brownie did play at the same location just hours before he died, but that occasion seems to have gone unrecorded.

[BeBop]

Billy Root and Ziggy Vines. The name pairing always stuck with me. Good playing too.

[king ubu]

2) I believe I recently saw his name on a live at Birdland thing from the '50s

yep:

First heard him on the Bennie Green disc ... not that easy a task to stand one's own next to Gene Ammons, but he does it!

r.i.p.

[Hardbopjazz]

RIP Bill.

[clifford_thornton]

Shame. RIP.

[Peter Friedman]

A few other small group recordings with Billy Root that I enjoy.

Bennie Green - Soul Stirrin' - Blue Note

Red Rodney - Red Returns - Argo

Lee Morgan, Wynton Kelly, etc - Dizzy Atmosphere - Specialty

[Justin V]

I've never really warmed up to the album as a whole, but I do enjoy Root's playing on the Kenton Tropicana album. RIP.

[danasgoodstuff]

Cadence interview is well worth reading: choice nuggets on Ziggy Vines and Vegas, among other subjects.

[jeffcrom]

Cadence interview is well worth reading: choice nuggets on Ziggy Vines and Vegas, among other subjects.

I don't have access to that interview - does Root talk about his first (and almost only) recording as leader, a 78 on the Roost label? I just found a copy of the record, but can't find any info - personnel, recording date, location, etc.

[jazzbo]

I think he had a good life. I'm going to celebrate it by playing some Billy Root.

[J.A.W.]

Sorry to hear this.

http://www.jazzwax.com/2013/08/billy-root-1934-2013.html

[danasgoodstuff]

Cadence interview is well worth reading: choice nuggets on Ziggy Vines and Vegas, among other subjects.

I don't have access to that interview - does Root talk about his first (and almost only) recording as leader, a 78 on the Roost label? I just found a copy of the record, but can't find any info - personnel, recording date, location, etc.

If I still have it I don't know where it is, hopefully someone else with better filing or memory can answer this...

[eroot64]

Hi my name is Eric Root. Billy Roots son. I found these posts and want to thank everyone for the kind words. Im sure dad would be happy to know he was fondly remembered. I was also happy to see that someone found a copy of dads last recording date Live at Cappozzolis, I did the photography for that show, Dad was already showing signs of dementia and was really not at his best, he was disappointed by that and never really picked up the horn after .On the recording was also Vinnie Tanno (in my opinion) one of the greatest trumpet players of all time and dads friend since the age of 6 . Vinnie died not long after this date. A few years before this recording Vinni was playing at a casino in Las Vegas with a group called sorta dixy jazz band. I didn't know he was playing when I came in but from across the house I heard a trumpet blasting , cutting the rest of the band to shreds. I thought "damn that sounds like Vinnie" ,,,and it was when he saw me he beamed a smile , hes is one of the kindest men I ever met and I miss them both.(Vinnie is also known for his work with KC and the sunshine band)

If anyone would care to read it Billys elegy along with some photos and a discography it can be found at http://therootsolutions.com/billroot.html , .Also a video of his memorial concert is on you tube Memorial concert

Thank you all

[eroot64]

I have been trying to personally contact anyone who expressed an interest In Billy (Dad)on line before and after his death. He gave up the road and the music he loved to move to Vegas and play the steady gigs in the showrooms and support the family.I always felt a bit guilty about that so about 15 years ago on fathers day I did a google search and found many posts about dad on the Bluenote site. I asked that they send comments and best wishes to pop . He was very happy to know that he was still thought of , so I have continued to do so.

I sent each of you a message of thanks please forgive any duplicates.it seams there are many Funkenstein's with doctorates on this site, lol

[jlhoots]

Hi my name is Eric Root. Billy Roots son. I found these posts and want to thank everyone for the kind words. Im sure dad would be happy to know he was fondly remembered. I was also happy to see that someone found a copy of dads last recording date Live at Cappozzolis, I did the photography for that show, Dad was already showing signs of dementia and was really not at his best, he was disappointed by that and never really picked up the horn after .On the recording was also Vinnie Tanno (in my opinion) one of the greatest trumpet players of all time and dads friend since the age of 6 . Vinnie died not long after this date. A few years before this recording Vinni was playing at a casino in Las Vegas with a group called sorta dixy jazz band. I didn't know he was playing when I came in but from across the house I heard a trumpet blasting , cutting the rest of the band to shreds. I thought "damn that sounds like Vinnie" ,,,and it was when he saw me he beamed a smile , hes is one of the kindest men I ever met and I miss them both.(Vinnie is also known for his work with KC and the sunshine band)

If anyone would care to read it Billys elegy along with some photos and a discography it can be found at http://therootsolutions.com/billroot.html , .Also a video of his memorial concert is on you tube Memorial concert

Thank you all

Thanks for posting this. Great info.!!

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Hi my name is Eric Root. Billy Roots son. I found these posts and want to thank everyone for the kind words. Im sure dad would be happy to know he was fondly remembered. I was also happy to see that someone found a copy of dads last recording date Live at Cappozzolis, I did the photography for that show, Dad was already showing signs of dementia and was really not at his best, he was disappointed by that and never really picked up the horn after .On the recording was also Vinnie Tanno (in my opinion) one of the greatest trumpet players of all time and dads friend since the age of 6 . Vinnie died not long after this date. A few years before this recording Vinni was playing at a casino in Las Vegas with a group called sorta dixy jazz band. I didn't know he was playing when I came in but from across the house I heard a trumpet blasting , cutting the rest of the band to shreds. I thought "damn that sounds like Vinnie" ,,,and it was when he saw me he beamed a smile , hes is one of the kindest men I ever met and I miss them both.(Vinnie is also known for his work with KC and the sunshine band)

If anyone would care to read it Billys elegy along with some photos and a discography it can be found at http://therootsolutions.com/billroot.html , .Also a video of his memorial concert is on you tube Memorial concert

Thank you all

Thanks for stopping by. I seem to remember you at the old Blue Note bulletin board. Also, thanks for the link to the memorial at your website. I learned some things about your Dad that I never would have know otherwise. It's refreshing to read your personal recollections without any sugarcoating. He sounded a lot like my Dad.

Edited April 24, 2014 by Kevin Bresnahan

[eroot64]

Pop was a real character, growing up listening to his stories I know the best times of his life were spent on the road. We really hoped to write a book about it , but the dementia took him so quickly it never happened. He wanted to call it "sitting at the back of the bus". He was often the only white member of the bands he toured with during the 50s and 60s. His band mates got great pleasure making him sit in the back . I think that started with Dizzy Gillespie, a man he truly loved.

[king ubu]

Thanks for passing by and sharing, Eric!

Wish I had that Capozzoli's disc ... got to look for it, grabbed three of them by others (Bill Perkins, Don Menza, Gabe Baltazar/Eddie Bert) from the bins many years ago. Guess the Root/Tanno wasn't there as I'm quite sure I was hip to Root by then.