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 New York City (most populous city in the United States), Died January 24, 2009 (New York City (most populous city in the United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1949 - 1952

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
Columbia CO42740 10-in. 2/1/1950 Where are you, blue eyes? Janie Mickens ; Hot Lips Page Jazz/dance band, with vocal duet instrumentalist, string bass  
Columbia CO42741 10-in. 2/1/1950 There ain't no flies on me Janie Mickens ; Hot Lips Page Jazz/dance band, with vocal duet instrumentalist, string bass  
Columbia CO42742 10-in. 2/1/1950 Miss Larceny blues Hot Lips Page Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Columbia CO42743 10-in. 2/1/1950 You stole my wife, you horse thief Hot Lips Page Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Atlantic 244 10-in. 7/20/1949 Flamingo Erroll Garner instrumentalist, string bass  
Atlantic 248 10-in. 7/20/1949 Twilight Erroll Garner instrumentalist, string bass  
Atlantic 291 10-in. 9/18/1949 I'll get along somehow Ruth Brown ; Budd Johnson's Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Atlantic 293 10-in. 9/18/1949 Rocking blues Ruth Brown ; Budd Johnson's Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Atlantic 786 10-in. 1/20/1952 I'll never stop loving you Joe Turner ; Harry Van Walls instrumentalist, string bass  
Atlantic 787 10-in. 1/20/1952 Sweet sixteen Joe Turner ; Harry Van Walls instrumentalist, string bass  
Atlantic 791 10-in. 2/7/1952 Alarm clock boogie Jesse Stone Orchestra ; Odelle Turner instrumentalist, string bass  
Atlantic 792 10-in. 2/7/1952 Draggin' hours Jesse Stone Orchestra ; Odelle Turner instrumentalist, string bass  
Mercury 2950 10-in. 8/23/1949 Remember Erroll Garner Trio ; Johnny Hartman instrumentalist, string bass  
Mercury 2951 10-in. 8/23/1949 Easy to remember Erroll Garner ; Johnny Hartman instrumentalist, string bass  
Mercury 2952 10-in. 8/23/1949 September in the rain Erroll Garner Trio ; Johnny Hartman instrumentalist, string bass  
Mercury 2953 10-in. 8/23/1949 Home Erroll Garner ; Johnny Hartman instrumentalist, string bass  
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 January 19, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/317175.

Gaskin, Leonard. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 19, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/317175.

"Gaskin, Leonard." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 19 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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