* En anglais uniquement
Everett Greene is a late bloomer who did not record his first album (At Last) until he was already 60. He started singing doo wop professionally in the early '50s.
Greene served in the Marines during the Korean War, and after his discharge he settled in Indianapolis. He became interested in jazz when he heard such local musicians as
Wes Montgomery,
Freddie Hubbard, and David Baker. But
Greene did not pursue his love of jazz for many years. He had a day job as a machinist, and his singing was largely confined to gospel. After
Greene retired and became a full-time performer, at first he was a stage actor in several touring shows. But he eventually became interested in jazz again. He has a deep baritone voice that hints at
Billy Eckstine and
Arthur Prysock, without copying them. In 1994
Greene made his first record. Since then he has issued two additional albums (including
My Foolish Heart for the Savant label) and has recorded as a guest soloist on a set of
Hoagy Carmichael songs with
the Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra.
Everett Greene has worked with such musicians as pianists
Junior Mance and
Gerald Wiggins; organists
Groove Holmes and
Melvin Rhyne; and saxophonists
Houston Person,
Lou Donaldson, and
David "Fathead" Newman. ~ Scott Yanow