Lester Young
Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist. Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most influential players on his instrument. In contrast to many of his hard-driving peers, Young played with a relaxed, cool tone and used sophisticated harmonies, using what one critic called "a free-floating style, wheeling and diving like a gull, banking with low, funky riffs that pleased dancers and listeners alike". Known for his hip, introverted style, he invented or popularized much of the hipster jargon which came to be associated with the music. |
Birth and Death Data: Born August 27, 1909 (Woodville), Died March 15, 1959 (New York City)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1949
Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, clarinet, saxophone
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | BS-062747 | 10-in. | 3/10/1941 | Blitzkrieg baby | Una Mae Carlisle ; Les Young Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
| Victor | BS-062748 | 10-in. | 3/10/1941 | Beautiful eyes | Una Mae Carlisle ; Les Young Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
| Victor | BS-062749 | 10-in. | 3/10/1941 | There'll be some changes made | Una Mae Carlisle ; Les Young Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
| Victor | BS-062750 | 10-in. | 3/10/1941 | It's sad but true | Una Mae Carlisle ; Les Young Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
| Columbia | W26341 | 10-in. | 12/13/1939 | Night and day | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Columbia | W26342 | 10-in. | 12/13/1939 | The man I love | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Columbia | W26343 | 10-in. | 12/13/1939 | You're just a no account | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Columbia | W26344 | 10-in. | 12/13/1939 | You're a lucky guy | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Columbia | W26900 | 10-in. | 6/07/1940 | I'm pulling through | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Columbia | W26901 | 10-in. | 6/07/1940 | Tell me more and more (and then some) | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Columbia | W26902 | 10-in. | 6/07/1940 | Laughing at life | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Columbia | W26903 | 10-in. | 6/07/1940 | Time on my hands | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Columbia | 29987 | 10-in. | 3/21/1941 | Let's do it | Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Columbia | 29988 | 10-in. | 3/21/1941 | Georgia on my mind | Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Columbia | 29989 | 10-in. | 3/21/1941 | Romance in the dark | Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Columbia | 29990 | 10-in. | 3/21/1941 | All of me | Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B20568 | 10-in. | 1/25/1937 | He ain't got rhythm | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B20569 | 10-in. | 1/25/1937 | This year's kisses | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B20570 | 10-in. | 1/25/1937 | Why was I born? | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B20571 | 10-in. | 1/25/1937 | I must have that man | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B21117 | 10-in. | 5/11/1937 | Sun showers | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B21118 | 10-in. | 5/11/1937 | Yours and mine | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B21119 | 10-in. | 5/11/1937 | I'll get by | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B21120 | 10-in. | 5/11/1937 | Mean to me | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B21217 | 10-in. | 6/01/1937 | Foolin' myself | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B21218 | 10-in. | 6/01/1937 | Easy living | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B21219 | 10-in. | 6/01/1937 | I'll never be the same | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B22192 | 10-in. | 1/06/1938 | My first impression of you | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B22194 | 10-in. | 1/06/1938 | When you're smiling | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B22195 | 10-in. | 1/06/1938 | I can't believe that you're in love with me | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B22255 | 10-in. | 1/06/1938 | If dreams come true | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B23642 | 10-in. | 10/31/1938 | Everybody's laughing | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B23643 | 10-in. | 10/31/1938 | Here it is tomorrow again | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B23687 | 10-in. | 11/09/1938 | Say it with a kiss | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B23688 | 10-in. | 11/09/1938 | April in my heart | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B23689 | 10-in. | 11/09/1938 | I'll never fail you | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Brunswick | B23690 | 10-in. | 11/09/1938 | They say | Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Philo | P1000A | 12-in. | July 1942 | Body and soul | Lester Young Trio | Instrumental trio | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Philo | P1000B | 12-in. | July 1942 | Indiana | Lester Young Trio | Instrumental trio | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Philo | P1001A | 12-in. | July 1942 | Tea for two | Lester Young Trio | Instrumental trio | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Philo | P1001B | 12-in. | July 1942 | I can't get started | Lester Young Trio | Instrumental trio | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 21249 | 10-in. | 6/15/1937 | Me, myself and I (are all in love with you) | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 21250 | 10-in. | 6/15/1937 | A sailboat in the moonlight | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 21251 | 10-in. | 6/15/1937 | Born to love | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 21252 | 10-in. | 6/15/1937 | Without your love | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 21686 | 10-in. | 9/13/1937 | Getting some fun out of life | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 21687 | 10-in. | 9/13/1937 | Who wants love? | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 21688 | 10-in. | 9/13/1937 | Trav'lin' all alone | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 21689 | 10-in. | 9/13/1937 | He's funny that way | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 22281 | 10-in. | 1/12/1938 | Now they call it swing | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 22282 | 10-in. | 1/12/1938 | On the sentimental side | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 22283 | 10-in. | 1/12/1938 | Back in your own backyard | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 22284 | 10-in. | 1/12/1938 | When a woman loves a man | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 23467 | 10-in. | 9/15/1938 | The very thought of you | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 23468 | 10-in. | 9/15/1938 | I can't get started | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 23469 | 10-in. | 9/15/1938 | I've got a date with a dream | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | |
| Vocalion | 23470 | 10-in. | 9/15/1938 | You can't be mine (and someone else's too) | Billie Holiday | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | |
| Decca | 61542 | 10-in. | 1/21/1937 | Honeysuckle rose | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 61543 | 10-in. | 1/21/1937 | Pennies from heaven | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 61544 | 10-in. | 1/21/1937 | Swinging at the Daisy Chain | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 61545 | 10-in. | 1/21/1937 | Roseland shuffle | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 62078 | 10-in. | 3/26/1937 | Exactly like you | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62079 | 10-in. | 3/26/1937 | Boo-Hoo | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62080 | 10-in. | 3/26/1937 | The glory of love | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62081 | 10-in. | 3/26/1937 | Boogie woogie (I may be wrong) | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62331 | 10-in. | 7/7/1937 | Smarty | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62332 | 10-in. | 7/7/1937 | One o'clock jump | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62333 | 10-in. | 7/7/1937 | Listen my children (and you shall hear) | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62334 | 10-in. | 7/7/1937 | John's idea | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62511 | 10-in. | 8/9/1937 | Good morning blues | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62512 | 10-in. | 8/9/1937 | Our love was meant to be | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62513 | 10-in. | 8/9/1937 | Time out | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62514 | 10-in. | 8/9/1937 | Topsy | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62682 | 10-in. | 10/13/1937 | I keep remembering | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62683 | 10-in. | 10/13/1937 | Out the window | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62684 | 10-in. | 10/13/1937 | Don't you miss your baby? | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62685 | 10-in. | 10/13/1937 | Let me dream | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63122 | 10-in. | 1/3/1938 | Georgianna | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63123 | 10-in. | 1/3/1938 | Blues in the dark | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63286 | 10-in. | 2/16/1938 | Sent for you yesterday (and here you come today) | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63287 | 10-in. | 2/16/1938 | Every tub | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63288 | 10-in. | 2/16/1938 | Now will you be good? | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63289 | 10-in. | 2/16/1938 | Swingin' the blues | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63918 | 10-in. | 6/6/1938 | Mama don't want no peas' n' rice' n' cocoanut oil | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63919 | 10-in. | 6/6/1938 | Blue and sentimental | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63920 | 10-in. | 6/6/1938 | Doggin' around | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64471 | 10-in. | 8/22/1938 | Stop beatin' round the mulberry bush | Count Basie Orchestra ; Jimmy Rushing | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 64472 | 10-in. | 8/22/1938 | London bridge is falling down | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 64473 | 10-in. | 8/19/1938 | Texas shuffle | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 64474 | 10-in. | 8/19/1938 | Jumpin' at the Woodside | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64746 | 10-in. | 11/16/1938 | Dark rapture | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64747 | 10-in. | 11/16/1938 | Shorty George | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64748 | 10-in. | 11/16/1938 | The blues I like to hear | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64749 | 10-in. | 11/16/1938 | Do you wanna jump, children? | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64750 | 10-in. | 11/16/1938 | Panassie stomp | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64851 | 10-in. | 1/5/1939 | My heart belongs to Daddy | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64852 | 10-in. | 1/5/1939 | Sing for your supper | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64978 | 10-in. | 2/2/1939 | You can depend on me | Count Basie Sextet | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64979 | 10-in. | 2/3/1939 | Cherokee, part 1 | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64980 | 10-in. | 2/3/1939 | Cherokee, part 2 | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64981 | 10-in. | 2/3/1939 | Blame it on my last affair | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64982 | 10-in. | 2/4/1939 | Jive at five | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64983 | 10-in. | 2/4/1939 | Thursday-1 | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64984 | 10-in. | 2/4/1939 | Evil blues-1 | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 64985 | 10-in. | 2/4/1939 | Oh, Lady be good-1 | Count Basie Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 68920 | 10-in. | 4/3/1941 | The goon drag | Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 68921 | 10-in. | 4/3/1941 | Things 'bout coming my way | Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 68922 | 10-in. | 4/3/1941 | Lead me Daddy straight to the bar | Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 68923 | 10-in. | 4/3/1941 | Just jivin' around | Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Decca | 75147 | 8/17/1949 | 'Tain't nobody's business if I do | Billie Holiday | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
| Decca | 75148 | 8/17/1949 | Baby get lost | Billie Holiday | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
| Signature | T-1919 | 10-in. | 12/21/1943 | Linger awhile | Dicky Wells Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Signature | T-1920 | 10-in. | 12/21/1943 | Hello babe | Dicky Wells Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Signature | T-19003 | 12-in. | 12/21/1943 | I got rhythm | Dicky Wells Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Signature | T-19004 | 12-in. | 12/21/1943 | I'm fer it too | Dicky Wells Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Young, Lester," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/211293.
Young, Lester. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/211293.
"Young, Lester." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Lester Young
Discogs: Lester Young
Allmusic: Lester Young
Grove: Lester Young
IMDb: Lester Young
Britannica: Lester Young
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Young, Lester, 1909-1959 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81023212
Wikidata: Lester Young - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q110714
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/46948203
MusicBrainz: Lester Young - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d613e4ae-093a-49a1-b06a-579480f7f7e8
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
Feedback
Send the Editors a message about this record.