Joe Sullivan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Joe Sullivan | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Michael Sullivan |
| Born | November 04, 1906 Chicago |
| Died | October 13, 1971 San Francisco |
| Genre(s) | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
Joseph Michael "Joe" Sullivan (November 4, 1906 - October 13, 1971) was an American jazz pianist.
[edit] Biography
Sullivan was the ninth child of Irish immigrant parents. He graduated from the Chicago Conservatory and was an important contributor to the Chicago jazz scene of the 1920s. Sullivan's recording career began late in 1927 when he joined McKenzie and Condon's Chicagoans. Other musicians included Jimmy McPartland, Frank Teschemacher, Bud Freeman, Jim Lanigan and Gene Krupa. In 1933, he joined Bing Crosby as his accompanist, recording and making many radio broadcasts. After suffering for two years with tuberculosis, he briefly rejoined Bing Crosby in 1938 and the Bob Crosby Orchestra in 1939.
By the 1950s, Sullivan was largely forgotten, playing solo in San Francisco. Marital difficulties and excessive drinking caused Sullivan to become increasingly unreliable and unable to keep a steady job, either as band member or soloist.
