Buck Washington

• Born: October 16, 1903, Louisville, KY
• Died: January 31, 1955, New York, NY
• Genres: Jazz
• Instrument: Vocals, Piano

Biography

Part of the famous team of Buck & Bubbles, Buck Washington (a fine pianist and occasional singer) worked with singer-dancer John W. Sublett (Bubbles) for decades. Both Buck and Bubbles were orphans and they first started teaming up as teenagers around 1917, performing in theatres and vaudeville as a team. They toured Europe several times in the 1930's and appeared in a few films (including Cabin In The Sky and A Song Is Born). Washington recorded on piano with Louis Armstrong (including a trumpet-piano duet version of "Dear Old Southland" in 1930), Bessie Smith in 1933 (her final session) and Coleman Hawkins (1934 in Europe). Buck & Bubbles team also recorded a few numbers as duets in 1933 and 1936 and four songs with a band in 1936. The team finally broke up in 1953, Buck Washington worked for a little while with Jonah Jones as they accompanied comedian Timmie Rogers, and he passed away a couple years later at the age of 51. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide