Terry Pollard

Terry Pollard (August 15, 1931 – December 16, 2009) was an American jazz pianist and vibraphonist active in the Detroit jazz scene of the 1940s and 1950s. She has been described as a "major player who was inexplicably overlooked."

Pollard began her career by collaborating with other Detroit musicians, such as Billy Mitchell (and Elvin Jones, in the house band at the Blue Bird Inn), Johnny Hill, and the Emmitt Slay Trio. She was discovered by Terry Gibbs and toured with him in the early 1950s, playing piano and vibraphone. They recorded several albums, including Terry Gibbs Quartet - Featuring Terry Pollard. Pollard appeared with Gibbs on an episode of The Tonight Show hosted by Steve Allen. Her collaborations with Gibbs from 1953 to 1957 marked the height of her career.

Pollard also performed with John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.

Pollard recorded a self-titled solo album for Bethlehem Records in 1955 and won DownBeat magazine's New Artist award in 1956. Pollard retired from her full-time music career shortly thereafter in order to raise a family, but she continued to play locally in Detroit and performed with artists including Diana Ross and the Supremes. She was inducted into the Michigan Jazz Hall of Fame.

Her contributions to the mid-century Detroit jazz scene were recognized in the book Before Motown: A History of Jazz in Detroit 1920-1960, by Lars Bjorn and Jim Gallert.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 15, 1931 (Detroit), Died December 16, 2009 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1953 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, vibraphone

= 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 85177 9/8/1953 Blue moon Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano, vibraphone  
Decca 85178 9/8/1953 I've found a new baby Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano, vibraphone  
Decca 85179 9/8/1953 My friend Tiny Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano, vibraphone  
Decca 85180 9/8/1953 Exactly like you Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano, vibraphone  
Decca 85183 9/9/1953 Terry's blues Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano, vibraphone  
Decca 85183[a] 9/9/1953 Wednesday at two Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano, vibraphone  
Decca 85184 9/9/1953 Vernerdi Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano, vibraphone  
Decca 85185 9/9/1953 That feller McKeller Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano, vibraphone  
Decca 85186 9/9/1953 Tea for two Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano, vibraphone  
Decca 86139 4/2/1954 Where are you? Terry Gibbs instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86140 4/2/1954 That feeling Terry Gibbs instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86141 4/2/1954 Love is just around the corner Terry Gibbs instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86142 4/2/1954 Fabulous figs Terry Gibbs instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86751 9/7/1954 Temporary Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86752 9/7/1954 Tremendez Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86753 9/7/1954 Old man Newman Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86754 9/7/1954 What ho Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86755 9/7/1954 Fatty Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86756 9/7/1954 Baby doll Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86757 9/7/1954 Peaches Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86758 9/7/1954 Jazzbo mambo Terry Gibbs Quartet instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Pollard, Terry," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/208044.

Pollard, Terry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/208044.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/208044

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