Representative Albums: "The Rocking Tenor Sax of Eddie Chamblee," "Doodlin'," "Chamblee Music"
Representative Songs: "Back Street," "The Honeydripper," "Champin'"
Biography
Eddie Chamblee was a good, sometimes inspirational player who made contribution in both big band and small combo setting as well as early R&B. Chamblee studied law at Chicago State University, then played with several army bands from 1941 to 1946. He headed a small group in Chicago from 1946 until the mid-'50s, then worked for two years with Lionel Hampton, recording and touring in Europe in 1956. Chamblee went back to small combos, and backed vocalist Dinah Washington on many superb dates in 1957, 1958 and 1963. (He and Washington were also briefly married.) Chamblee worked with Milt Buckner and Hampton in the '70s, returning with them to Europe in 1976, 1977 and 1978. He also recorded with each musician, and did some sessions with his own band in '76. Chamblee played for a short period in Count Basie's orchestra in 1982. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
