Richard B. Boone

Richard Bently Boone (February 24, 1930 – February 8, 1999) was an American jazz musician and scat singer.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Richard Boone sang in his Baptist church choir as a boy, then began playing the trombone at the age of twelve. He served with the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1953 where he played trombone in a military band. Out of the Army, he returned to Little Rock to study music at Philander Smith College. In 1956 Boone moved to Los Angeles where he played venues with other jazz musicians such as Dolo Coker, Sonny Criss, and Dexter Gordon.

Boone worked in the backup band for Della Reese between 1962 and 1966 then became a member of the Count Basie band. In 1970 he followed other African-American jazz musicians such as pianist Kenny Drew and saxophonist Ben Webster, and moved permanently to Copenhagen, Denmark.

In 1973 Boone was hired to play with the Danish Radio Big Band where he performed until 1986. Using Denmark as a home base, Boone was able to tour Europe.

In 1998 Boone issued his final album called "Tribute to Love." It was backed by two other American transplants along with a Danish vocalist and musicians.

"A Tribute to Love" Album credits:

• Richard Boone - Vocals
• Carsten Dahl - Piano
• Niels Præstholm - Bass
• Jonas Johansen - Drums
• Ed Thigpen - Drums
• Bob Rockwell - Tenor saxophone
• Bent Jædig - Tenor saxophone
• Finn Ziegler - Violin
• Katrine Madsen - Vocals

On his death in 1999, Richard Boone was interred in Assistens Kirkegård in Copenhagen.

Richard Boone has a street named after him in southern Copenhagen, "Richard Boones Vej" (eng. Richard Boone St.).

Boone's collection of private memorabilia is in the Jazz collections at the University Library of Southern Denmark.

Discography

With Count Basie

• Broadway Basie's...Way (Command, 1966)
• Hollywood...Basie's Way (Command, 1967)
• Basie's Beat (Verve, 1967)
• Basie's in the Bag (Brunswick, 1967)
• The Happiest Millionaire (Coliseum, 1967)
• Half a Sixpence (Dot, 1967)
• The Board of Directors (Dot, 1967)
• Manufacturers of Soul (Brunswick, 1968) with Jackie Wilson
• The Board of Directors Annual Report (Dot, 1968) with The Mills Brothers
• Basie Straight Ahead (Dot, 1968)
• How About This (Paramount, 1968) with Kay Starr
• Standing Ovation (Dot, 1969)

References

• Richard Bently Boone Find a Grave. Accessed February 18, 2007.
• The Jazz collections at the University Library of Southern Denmark