LESTER YOUNG

TENOR SAXOPHONE/CLARINET
By Clara Park

LESTER YOUNG WAS BORN ON AUGUST 27, 1909 IN WOODVILLE, MISSISSIPPI

5 Songs Lester Young Was Known For

* GHOST OF A CHANCE * BLUE LESTER * TEA FOR TWO * THEY CANT TAKE AWAY FROM ME *MEAN TO ME

5 INTERESTING FACTS

Young got his nickname Pres or Prez from Billie Holiday. Young played in Count Basies Band. Young refused to play on Friday the 13th due to superstitious reasons.

Billie Holiday and Lester Young had a good relationship. He was the one who popularized the word Cool and Bread meaning money.

DEATH
*Around 1951, became heavy drinker. His playing showed reduced creativity, originality and trouble keeping time. *He started eating less and drinking more. *Suffered from liver disease and malnutrition. *At the end of his European tour he drank himself to death. * Died March 15, 1959 in New York.