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Ray Nance

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Ray Willis Nance (December 10, 1913 Chicago - January 28 1976 in New York City ) was a jazz trumpeter, violinist and singer.

Nance, who played cornet rather than trumpet, is best known for his long association with Duke Ellington through most of the 1940s and 1950s, after he was hired to replace Cootie Williams in 1940. Shortly after joining the band, Nance was given the trumpet solo on the first recorded version of "Take the "A" Train," which became the Ellington theme, a major hit and a jazz standard. Nance's "A Train" solo is one of the most copied and admired trumpet/cornet solos in jazz history. Nance was often featured on violin and was the only violin soloist ever featured in Ellington's orchestra.

Nance made a few recordings as a bandleader, and also recorded or performed with Earl Hines, Rosemary Clooney and others.

Nance is also one of the well-known vocalists from the Ellington orchestra, having sung not the first version (that credit goes to Ivie Anderson), but arguably the definitive version of "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)." It was his contribution to take the previously instrumental horn riff into the lead vocal, which constitute the now infamous, "Doo wha, doo wha, doo wha, doo wha, yeah!" He was often featured as vocalist on "Jump for Joy," "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'" and "Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)". He left the Ellington band in 1963 when Cootie Williams returned.

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Last updated on Friday February 29, 2008 at 01:02:41 PST (GMT -0800)
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