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Terry Waldo Biography

terry-waldo
  • Born: in Ironton, OH
  • Years Active: 1970s-2000s
  • Genre: Jazz

One of the finest trad jazz pianists from the 1970s to the present and an interpreter who really brings new life to classic jazz and ragtime, Terry Waldo has often labored in near-anonymity yet has recorded quite a few highly enjoyable records. He took three years of classical piano lessons starting at age six before discovering ragtime and Dixieland. He also learned to play trumpet, tuba, banjo, cello, and bass to various degrees, and led a group (the Fungus Five) on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour in 1962. In Ohio, Waldo played with Gene Mayl's Dixieland Rhythm Kings, he spent time freelancing on various instruments in New Orleans and San Francisco, graduated from Ohio State, and played tuba during his military service. He taught a history of jazz, blues, and ragtime class at Denison University during 1971-1978, hosted in 1972 a series for National Public Radio called This Is Ragtime, and in 1976 wrote a definitive book on ragtime that used the same name. In the 1980s, Waldo led the Gotham City Stompers, worked with the show One Mo' Time, toured with Leon Redbone, and worked with Woody Allen. Terry Waldo has recorded for several labels including GHB (in 1969), Fat Cat Records, Stomp Off (with his Gutbucket Syncopators), and the Musical Heritage Society. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi

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