Lynn Hope

Lynn Hope, also known as El Hajj Abdullah Rasheed Ahmad, (September 26, 1926 – February 24, 1993) was an American jazz and blues tenor saxophonist.

He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. Hope was noted for his instrumental remakes of established pre-rock pop anthems. Hope joined King Kolax's band when he graduated from high school in Birmingham during the 1940s. After converting to Islam, he became noted for wearing a turban or fez.

Hope signed with Miracle Records in 1950, but the contract proved invalid. He moved to Premium Records, where he recorded "Tenderly," a song that was later picked up by Chess Records. Hope recorded often for Aladdin Records between 1951 and 1957, doing such reworked standards as "September Song" and "Summertime." These numbers were often performed with little or no melodic embellishment or improvisation; however the B-sides were often up tempo blues or jump tunes. "Tenderly" earned Hope his only hit in 1950, reaching number eight on the US Billboard R&B chart and number 19 on the pop music chart.

Hope recorded his last sessions for King in 1960, but then seemingly left the music industry.

Hope died in February 1993, at the age of 66, in Collingswood, New Jersey, United States.

Birth and Death Data: Born (Birmingham (city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, United States)), Died February 24, 1993

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1905 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, tenor saxophone, composer

= 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
Chess U7419 10-in. 1950 Star dust Lynn Hope Quintet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Chess U7420 10-in. 1950 More bounce to the ounce Lynn Hope Quintet composer, leader, instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Chess 50-226 10-in. March 1950 Song of the wanderer Lynn Hope Quintet leader  
Chess 50-227 10-in. March 1950 Tenderly Lynn Hope Quintet leader  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hope, Lynn," accessed January 3, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/376256.

Hope, Lynn. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/376256.

"Hope, Lynn." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 3 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/376256

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