Theodore Guy Buckner (December 14, 1913, St. Louis, Missouri - April 12, 1976, Detroit, Michigan) was an American jazz saxophonist. He was the brother of Milt Buckner.
Buckner was raised in Detroit, where he played very early in his career before joining McKinney's Cotton Pickers. He was best known for his time spent in the orchestra of Jimmie Lunceford, where he remained from 1937 to 1943. After working with Lunceford, Buckner primarily played locally in Detroit, where he worked into the 1970s. His activities included small jazz combos, work in the Motown studios, and co-leading a big band with Jimmy Wilkins, Ernie Wilkins's brother. He toured Europe in 1975, and also appeared in the New McKinney's Cotton Pickers that decade.
Donald Matthew Redman was an American jazz musician, arranger, bandleader, and composer.
James Melvin Lunceford was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era.
John Jean Goldkette was a jazz pianist and bandleader.
McKinney's Cotton Pickers were an American jazz band, founded in Detroit, Michigan, United States in 1926, and led by William McKinney, who expanded his Synco Septet to ten players. Cuba Austin took over for McKinney on drums, with the latter becoming the band's manager. Between 1927 and 1931, they were one of the most popular African American bands. Many of their records for Victor were bestsellers.
William "Bill" McKinney was an American jazz drummer who led a series of musical groups, most notably McKinney's Cotton Pickers.
Milton Brent Buckner was an American jazz pianist and organist, who in the early 1950s popularized the Hammond organ. He pioneered the parallel chords style that influenced Red Garland, George Shearing, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson. Buckner's brother, Ted Buckner, was a jazz saxophonist.
Gerald Stanley Wilson was an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Mississippi, he was based in Los Angeles from the early 1940s. In addition to being a band leader, Wilson wrote arrangements for Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Julie London, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Nancy Wilson.
Todd Washington Rhodes was an American pianist, bandleader and arranger who was an early influence in jazz and later in R&B.
Edward Emanuel Barefield was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and arranger, most noteworthy for his work with Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington. Barefield's musical career included work as an arranger of the ABC Orchestra and for the "Endorsed by Dorsey: program on WOR. He also appeared in several films. He married performer Connie Harris.
William Melvin Mitchell was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.
Harold Vick was an American jazz saxophonist and flutist.
Cuba Austin (1906–1961) was an American jazz drummer.
Major "Mule" Holley Jr. was an American jazz upright bassist.
David Buckley Wilborn was an American jazz singer and banjoist, best known for his time as a member of McKinney's Cotton Pickers.
Floyd "Candy" Johnson was an American jazz saxophonist.
Edward Inge was an American jazz arranger and reedist.
Alvin Cooper Hayse was an American jazz trombonist.
Theodore "Ted" McCord was an American jazz reedist, principally active in the 1920s and 1930s.
Joseph Eldridge was an American jazz alto saxophonist. He was the brother of Roy Eldridge.
Johnny Trudell was an American jazz and studio musician and composer whose instruments included trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone, and piano. Trudell was active in the Detroit music scene and participated in numerous Motown recordings.