Leonard Gaskin

Leonard Gaskin (August 25, 1920 – January 24, 2009) was an American jazz bassist born in New York City.

Gaskin played on the early bebop scene at Minton's and Monroe's in New York in the early 1940s. In 1944 he took over Oscar Pettiford's spot in Dizzy Gillespie's band, and followed it with stints in bands led by Cootie Williams, Charlie Parker, Don Byas, Eddie South, Charlie Shavers, and Erroll Garner. In the 1950s, he played with Eddie Condon's Dixieland band, and played with Ruby Braff, Bud Freeman, Rex Stewart, Cootie Williams, Billie Holiday, Stan Getz, J.J. Johnson, and Miles Davis.

In the 1960s he became a studio musician, playing on numerous gospel and pop records. In the 1970s and 1980s he returned to jazz, playing with Sy Oliver, Panama Francis, and The International Art of Jazz.

Gaskin became involved in educating young people later in his life. He performed and shared his knowledge with elementary students with the Good Groove Band (Leonard Gaskin, Melissa Lovaglio, Bob Emry, Michael Howell) at Woodstock Elementary School in Woodstock, New York in 2003.

Gaskin died of natural causes on January 24, 2009.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 25, 1920 (New York City), Died January 24, 2009 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass

= 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
Decca 80660 3/8/1951 Blues for sale Doc Pomus instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 80661 3/8/1951 Pool playin' baby Doc Pomus instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 80662 3/8/1951 Too much boogie Doc Pomus instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 80663 3/8/1951 Give it up Doc Pomus instrumentalist, string bass  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gaskin, Leonard," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/317175.

Gaskin, Leonard. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/317175.

"Gaskin, Leonard." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/317175

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