Zutty Singleton

Zutty Singleton
File:Zutty Singleton, Adele Girard (Gottlieb 07861).jpg Zutty Singleton (with Adele Girard, harp), 1939 Photo: William P. Gottlieb.
Background information
Birth name	Arthur James Singleton
Born	(1898-05-14)May 14, 1898 Bunkie, Louisiana, United States
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana
Died
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Drums
Associated acts	Louis Armstrong, Bubber Miley, Tommy Ladnier, Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Jimmie Noone

Arthur James "Zutty" Singleton (May 14, 1898 – July 14, 1975) was an American jazz drummer.

Singleton was born in Bunkie, Louisiana, and raised in New Orleans. He was working professionally with Steve Lewis by 1915. He served with the United States Navy in World War I. After returning to New Orleans he worked with such bands as those of Papa Celestin, Big Eye Louis Nelson, John Robichaux, and Fate Marable. He left for St. Louis, Missouri, to play in Charlie Creath's band, then moved to Chicago.

In Chicago, Singleton played with Doc Cooke, Dave Peyton, Jimmie Noone, and theater bands, then joined Louis Armstrong's band with Earl Hines. In 1928 and 1929, he performed on landmark recordings with Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five. In 1929 he moved with Armstrong to New York City.

In addition to Armstrong, in New York Singleton played with Bubber Miley, Tommy Ladnier, Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton and Otto Hardwick. He also played in the band backing Bill Robinson. In 1934, Singleton returned to Chicago. He returned to New York in 1937, working with Mezz Mezzrow and Sidney Bechet.

In 1943, he moved to Los Angeles, where he led his own band, played for motion pictures, and was featured on Orson Welles's CBS radio series, The Orson Welles Almanac (1944). Later he worked with such jazz musicians as Slim Gaillard, Wingy Manone, Eddie Condon, Nappy Lamare, Art Hodes, Oran "Hot Lips" Page, and Max Kaminsky.

Singleton appeared in the following films:

• Stormy Weather (1943)
• New Orleans (1947)
• Young Man with a Horn (1950)

Death

Singleton retired after suffering a stroke in 1970. He died in New York City in 1975, aged 77. His wife Margie (sister of Charlie Creath) died in 1982, aged 82.