J. C. Heard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
J. C. Heard (1917 - 1988) was a United States swing, bop, and blues drummer.
He obtained his first important professional job with Teddy Wilson in 1939 and continued performing into the 1980s. He also played with Coleman Hawkins, Dexter Gordon, Benny Carter, Cab Calloway, Erroll Garner, Jazz at the Philharmonic, Pete Johnson, Charlie Parker, Sir Charles Thompson and Roy Eldridge besides leading his own groups. From 1966 on he worked as a bandleader in Detroit. J. C. Heard, a.k.a. James Charles Heard was born August 10, 1917 in Dayton, OH and died on September 27, 1988 in Royal Oak, MI J.C. Heard was a very supportive drummer versatile enough to fit comfortably into swing, bop and blues settings. 1946-47 recorded with top bop musicians, led his own band at Cafe Society was a member of Erroll Garner's trio and toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic. 1953-57 he spent time in Japan and Australia, 1957-66 he freelanced in New York during (including playing with the Coleman Hawkins-Roy Eldridge Quintet and in 1961 with Teddy Wilson's trio) and then in 1966 J.C. Heard moved to Detroit where he worked as a bandleader and a mentor to younger musicians into the mid-'80s. He was survived by wife Hiroko, son Eric, grand daughters Samantha and Erica Heard.
