Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden (August 20, 1905–January 15, 1964) was an influential jazz trombonist and vocalist. One of the classic giants of jazz, Jack Teagarden was not only the top pre-bop trombonist (playing his instrument with the ease of a trumpeter) but one of the best jazz singers too. He was such a fine musician that younger brother Charlie (an excellent trumpeter) was always overshadowed.
Jack started on piano at age five (his mother Helen was a ragtime pianist), switched to baritone horn, and finally took up trombone when he was ten. By 1920 when he turned 15, he was performing with his mother in local theaters. Teagarden played throughout the South for the next eight years. Among the many groups that he worked with were Peck Kelley’s Bad Boys (1921-23), Doc Ross’ Jazz Bandits (1925-27) and Johnny Johnson’s Staler Pennsylvanians.
He made his recording debut (two obscure titles) with the latter in late 1927 when they came to New York. Staying in New York, Teagarden worked with Wingy Manone’s group for a week, toured with a variety show, and performed with Billy Lustig’s Scranton Sirens at the Roseland Ballroom in Feb. 1928. Word quickly spread about the exciting young trombonist. He was on a record date with songwriter Willard Robison but really gained attention for his playing on two versions of “She’s A Great Great Girl” with Roger Wolfe Kahn’s orchestra. His virtuosic statements showed what the trombone was capable of.
After working with trumpeter Tommy Gott for two months, Teagarden joined the Ben Pollack Orchestra, a major jazz band also featuring a 19-year old clarinetist (Benny Goodman) and cornetist Jimmy McPartland. the late-1920s "Mr. T." recorded frequently with many groups including units headed by Eddie Condon, Red Nichols, and Louis Armstrong ("Knockin' a Jug").
His versions of "Basin Street Blues" and "Beale Street Blues" (songs that would remain in his repertoire for the remainder of his career) were definitive. Teagarden, who was greatly admired by Tommy Dorsey, would have been a logical candidate for fame in the swing era but he made a strategic error. In late 1933, when it looked as if jazz would never catch on commercially, he signed a five-year
In 1939, Jack Teagarden was finally "free" and he soon put together a big band that would last until 1946. However, it was rather late to be organizing a new orchestra (the competition was fierce) and, although there were some good musical moments, none of the sidemen became famous, the arrangements lacked their own musical personality, and by the time it broke up Teagarden was facing bankruptcy. The trombonist, however, was still a big name (he had fared quite well in the 1940 Bing Crosby film The Birth of the Blues) and he had many friends.
Crosby helped Teagarden straighten out his financial problems, and from 1947-1951 he was a star sideman with Louis Armstrong's All-Stars; their collaborations on "Rocking Chair" are classic. After leaving Armstrong, Teagarden stayed active during his last 13 years. Highpoints included recordings with Bobby Hackett, a 1955 reunion with Paul Whiteman, an album with Bud Freeman, singing “Rockin’ Chair” with Louis Armstrong in the 1958 film Jazz On A Summer’s Day, an extensive tour of Asia during 1958-59, his appearance on the television special Chicago And All That Jazz with Eddie Condon in 1961, and his 1962 album of wistful Willard Robison pieces called Think Well Of Me.
With Don Goldie as his trumpeter, Teagarden had a strong Dixieland group for a few years in the 1960s, but his decades of excessive drinking and a general world weariness (which had made him perfect for the Willard Robison album) were taking its toll. There would be one more highpoint. At the Monterey Jazz Festival on Sept. 20-21, 1963, Teagarden was featured on two sets. While the first had him in a hot group with clarinetist Pee Wee Russell, baritonist Gerry Mulligan, pianist Joe Sullivan and trumpeter Charlie Teagarden, it was the second appearance that was most poignant. Jack was joined not only by Charlie but his mother Helen (for two songs) on piano and sister Norma. Fortunately the family reunion was recorded and it was released by the Memphis Archives label as A Hundred Years From Today.
Less than four months later, on Jan. 15, 1964, Jack Teagarden died in a New Orleans motel from a heart attack at the age of 58 years old and had reportedly been suffering from pneumonia. After all these years he is still remembered as being one of the greatest of all jazz trombonists, a fine singer and a lovable personality.
(Edited from AllMusic & Syncopated Times)