Clarence Shaw

Clarence Shaw
Birth name	Clarence Eugene Shaw
Also known as	Gene Shaw
Born	(1926-06-16)June 16, 1926 Detroit, Michigan, US
Died	August 17, 1973(1973-08-17) (aged 47) Los Angeles, California, US
Genres	Jazz
Instrument	Trumpet

Clarence Eugene Shaw, sometimes credited as Gene Shaw (June 16, 1926 in Detroit – August 17, 1973 in Los Angeles) was an American jazz trumpeter.

Shaw played piano and trombone as a child. He began playing trumpet around 1946 after hearing Dizzy Gillespie's Hot House while recovering from injuries sustained in the Army. He attended the Detroit Institute of Music and studied under Barry Harris, and played locally with Lester Young, Wardell Gray, and Lucky Thompson.

He moved to New York City in 1956 and soon after began playing with Charles Mingus's Jazz Workshop in 1957. Among his credits with Mingus is Tijuana Moods. Later that year he destroyed his instrument and quit music over a fight with Mingus. He did not return to playing until 1962, after which time he formed his own ensemble. He retired again in 1964 and returned to music once more in 1968.

"Marj", The third track on his solo debut album Break Through was written for his wife Marjorie Belle Wilson of Kentucky. He is survived by children Keven Jean Shaw, Stacey Leah Shaw, and Lion Shaw.

Discography as leader

• Breakthrough (Argo Records, 1962)
• Debut in Blue (Argo, 1963)
• Carnival Sketches (Argo, 1964)

References

• Gary W. Kennedy, "Clarence Shaw". New Grove Dictionary of Jazz online.