Eddie Cleanhead Vinson
| Eddie Vinson | |
|---|---|
Eddie Vinson in May 1980.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Edward L. Vinson Jr. |
| Also known as | Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson |
| Born |
December 18, 1917 Houston, Texas, United States |
| Died | July 2, 1988 (aged 70) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Jump blues,R&B,jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Saxophonist, singer, composer |
| Years active | 1930s–1988 |
| Labels | King Records, Mercury, Black & Blue, ABC-BluesWay, Muse |
| Associated acts | Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson, Etta James |
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (born Edward L. Vinson Jr., December 18, 1917 – July 2, 1988) was an American jump blues, jazz, bebop and R&B alto saxophonist and blues shouter. He was nicknamed Cleanhead after an incident in which his hair was accidentally destroyed by lye contained in a hair straightening product.
Vinson was born in Houston, Texas. He was a member of the horn section in Milton Larkin's orchestra, which he joined in the late 1930s. At various times, he sat next to Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, and Tom Archia, while other members of the band included Cedric Haywood and Wild Bill Davis. After exiting Larkin's employment in 1941, Vinson picked up a few vocal tricks while on tour with bluesman Big Bill Broonzy. He then moved to New York and joined the Cootie Williams Orchestra from 1942 to 1945, recording such tunes as "Cherry Red". Vinson struck out on his own in 1945, forming his own large band, signing with Mercury Records, and enjoying a double-sided hit in 1947 with his R&B chart-topper "Old Maid Boogie", and the song that would prove to be his signature number, "Kidney Stew Blues".
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