Ralph Sutton

Ralph Earl Sutton (November 4, 1922  December 30, 2001) was an American jazz pianist born in Hamburg, Missouri. He was a stride pianist in the tradition of James P. Johnson and Fats Waller.

Sutton had a stint as a session musician with Jack Teagarden's band before joining the US Army during World War II. After the war, he played at various venues in Missouri, eventually ending up at Eddie Condon's club in Greenwich Village. In 1956, he relocated to San Francisco, California, where he recorded several albums with Bob Scobey's dixieland band. From the 1960s onward, he worked mostly on his own.

He died in 2001 and was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame the following year. Sutton died in Evergreen, Colorado.

Discography

As leader

• Piano Solos In The Classic Jazz Tradition (Riverside Records, 1949 & 1952)
• Wondrous Piano, The Private Family Recordings, (Arbors Records, 1961)*Ralph Sutton at St. George Church, England (Arbors Records, 1992)
• Ralph Sutton "off the cuff" Audiophile AP-163 Recorded April 17, 1976

As sideman

With Johnny Varro

• A Pair of Kings (Arbors Records)

With Ruby Braff

• Remembered (Arbors Records)

With Dick Cary

• Rendezvous at Sunnie's 1969 (Arbors Records)

External links

• BBC Radio 2
• Ralph Sutton at All Music Guide