Eddie Chamblee was a good, sometimes inspirational player who made contributions in both big-band and small-combo settings as well as early R&B.
Chamblee studied law at Chicago State University, then played with several Army bands from 1941 to 1946. He headed a small group in Chicago from 1946 until the mid-'50s, then worked for two years with
Lionel Hampton, recording and touring in Europe in 1956.
Chamblee went back to small combos, and backed vocalist
Dinah Washington on many superb dates in 1957, 1958, and 1963. (He and
Washington were also briefly married.)
Chamblee worked with
Milt Buckner and
Hampton in the '70s, returning with them to Europe in 1976, 1977, and 1978. He also recorded with each musician, and did some sessions with his own band in 1976.
Chamblee played for a short period in
Count Basie's orchestra in 1982. ~ Ron Wynn