Al Casey (jazz guitarist)

Al Casey
Al Casey and Eddie Barefield, Cafe Society, New York City, ca. 1947 Photograph by William P. Gottlieb
Background information
Birth name	Albert Aloysius Casey
Born	(1915-09-15)September 15, 1915 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	September 11, 2005(2005-09-11) New York City
Genres	Jazz, swing
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1934 – 2004

Albert Aloysius Casey (September 15, 1915 – September 11, 2005) known professionally as Al Casey, was a jazz guitarist who was a member of Fats Waller's band during the 1930s and early 1940s.

Casey was born in Louisville, Kentucky to Joseph and Maggie B. Johnson Casey. He grew up in New York City and attended DeWitt Clinton High School. He was a child prodigy who started playing violin, then ukulele. He began playing guitar in 1930 and met Fats Waller in 1933. The following year, at the age of eighteen, he became a member of Waller's band. He made many recordings with the band, and he is noted for having played the solo in "Buck Jumpin'". After Waller's death in 1943, he went out on his own and led a trio. For two consecutive years the 1940s, he was voted best guitarist in Esquire magazine.

Beginning in 1957, he was a member of a rhythm and blues band led by King Curtis. Four years later he dropped out of music, though he returned in the 1970s to record with Helen Humes and Jay McShann. Another absence followed until 1981, when he joined the Harlem Jazz and Blues Band and remained with it for the next twenty years. He died of colon cancer on September 11, 2005.

During his career, Casey worked with Louis Armstrong, Chu Berry, Coleman Hawkins, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Billy Kyle, Frankie Newton, Clarence Profit, Art Tatum, and Teddy Wilson.

According to jazz researcher Eric B. Borgman (son of jazz journalist George A. Borgman), Casey's birthdate may be incorrect. While double-checking his birthdate with U.S. census records he found Albert Casey listed as being 2 and 1/2 years old in the 1920 Kentucky census that was recorded on January 9, 1920. Borgman says this shows a 1917 birthdate. He further suggests that September may also be incorrect. This new birthdate information would suggest that Casey was actually about 88 years old when he died.