Representative Albums: "Mundell Lowe Quartet", "T.V. Action Jazz!, Vol. 2", "Satan in High Heels
Representative Songs: "Body and Soul", "A Lad Named Charlie", "Will You Still Be Mine?
Biography
A reliable cool-toned guitarist who was on many sessions through the years despite never becoming a household name, Mundell Lowe picked up early experience during 1936-1940 playing Dixieland in New Orleans and country music in Nashville. He toured with Jan Savitt (1942), Ray McKinley (1945-1947), Mary Lou Williams (1947-1949), Red Norvo, and Ellis Larkins. In 1950, he became a staff musician at NBC, although he always played jazz on the side. Lowe was with the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra (1952-1953), worked with Benny Goodman on an occasional basis, and recorded as a leader for RCA, Riverside, Camden, and Charlie Parker Records. In 1965, Lowe moved to California and worked as a composer for films and television, teaching film composition during 1979-1985. He played locally in Los Angeles, often with Richie Kamuca and Benny Carter. Mundell Lowe (who is married to singer Betty Bennett) recorded sets for Famous Door (1974), Dobre (1976), and Jazz Alliance (1992). ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
In 1998, he was inducted into the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame, and in 1999, Millsaps College in Jackson, conferred an honorary Doctorate of Arts on Mr. Lowe in recognition of his lifetime of outstanding musical accomplishments.
On July 17, 2009, Mundell Lowe returned home to Laurel, the city he ran away from in 1938. In recognition of a lifetime of musical achievement he was given a key to the city and honored by the Mayor, Melvin Mack, who proclaimed July 18, 2009, Mundell Lowe Day in Laurel. Mundell Lowe, Lloyd Wells, and Jim Ferguson presented a matinee show and an evening show at The Laurel Little Theatre to large enthusiastic audiences. Mississippi artists, Bill Clark (who produced the show), The Cee Jay's, Bob Saxton, and Stacy Stringer also honored him through musical presentations.
