Chauncey Haughton

• Born: February 26, 1909, Chestertown, MD
• Died: July 01, 1989, Tarrytown, NY
• Genres: Jazz
• Instrument: Clarinet

Biography

A relatively overlooked figure, Chauncey Haughton played with some major names through the years. He came from a musical family (his brothers John and Clifton played trombone and trumpet). Haughton started on piano when he was eight, switching to clarinet while in high school. He played clarinet and saxophone in the Morgan College Band and started working professionally in 1927 with Ike Dixon. After periods with Elmer Calloway (Cab's brother) and the White Brothers' band, Haughton moved to New York in 1932. He worked with Blanche Calloway (Cab's sister) during 1932-35 and then with Claude Hopkins, Noble Sissle and Chick Webb; while with the latter, Haughton was featured on clarinet with Webb's Little Chicks opposite the flute of Wayman Carver. Haughton spent a period (1937-40) as a member of Cab Calloway's Orchestra and then returned to Webb's band which at the time (1940-42) was under the direction of Ella Fitzgerald. In the summer of 1942 he was Barney Bigard's replacement with Duke Ellington, staying until he was drafted in Apr. 1943. Discharged in 1945, he did a U.S.O. Tour with singer Frances Brock, visited Europe with Don Redman's Orchestra (1946) and stayed overseas into 1947. After his return home, Chauncey Haughton played briefly with Cab Calloway and then retired from fulltime music although he did record with Calloway again in 1958. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide