The Resume

(January 17, 1934-August 19, 2013)
Born in Dallas, Texas
Jazz musician
'Hard bop' pianist
Member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1961-64)
Recorded the solo albums 'Cedar!' (1967), 'Spectrum' (1968), 'The Electric Boogaloo' (1969), 'Soul Cycle' (1969), 'Breakthrough!' (with Hank Mobley, 1972), 'Mobius' (1975), 'First Set' (1977), 'Second Set' (1977), 'Third Set' (1977), 'Soundscapes' (1980), 'Among Friends' (1982), 'Bluesville Time' (1985), 'Manhattan Afternoon' (1992), 'Latin Tinge' (2001), 'One Flight Down' (2006) and 'The Bouncer' (2011)
Compositions include 'Bolivia,' 'Cedar's Blues,' 'Firm Roots,' 'Mosaic,' 'Ojos de Rojo,' 'Promised Land' and 'Ugetsu'

Why he might be annoying:

He played glockenspiel in his high school marching band.
During his time in college, he spent his nights playing in local clubs rather than studying: 'I would try to fake my way through, but it was obvious I hadn't looked at the books.'
He was content to be in the background until Art Blakey pushed him up front: 'I didn't have that ambition, but he insisted, 'You must be a leader.'
The cover of his first solo album is a picture of a plank of wood (cedar, presumably), with just a small head shot of him.

Why he might not be annoying:

He performed in concert or on record with nearly every other big name in jazz, noting 'I just refused to rule anybody out with any style.'
Interviewers always noted his gracious manner and sly sense of humor.
The Chicago Tribune praised his piano playing as 'striking for its subtlety and understatement.'
He was named a NEA Jazz Master (2010).

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 49]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [January] (Ranked: 1171934)
• College Drop Outs
• I Attended University of Denver
• I Covered 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'
• I Died in 2013 (Ranked: 79)
• I Recorded 'Summertime'
• Jazz Artists
• Profiles 34501-34750 (Ranked: 34740)
• Tree Names

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 82 Votes: 67.07% Annoying