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Henry Glover
Henry Glover
American songwriter, arranger, record producer and trumpet player
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Lucky Millinder
Lucky Millinder
American rhythm and blues and swing bandleader
2
Lonzo and Oscar
Lonzo and Oscar
3
Melvin Endsley
Melvin Endsley
American musician
4
Bill Doggett
Bill Doggett
American jazz and rhythm and blues pianist and organist
5
Wynonie Harris
Wynonie Harris
American blues shouter and rhythm and blues singer
6
Annisteen Allen
Annisteen Allen
singer
7
Panama Francis
Panama Francis
American musician
8
Bull Moose Jackson
Bull Moose Jackson
American blues and rhythm-and-blues singer and saxophonist
9
Jesse Stone
Jesse Stone
American rhythm and blues musician and songwriter
10
Wild Bill Davis
Wild Bill Davis
American jazz pianist, organist, and arranger
11
Charles Brown
Charles Brown
American recording artist; songwriter, blues singer and pianist
12
The Browns
The Browns
American country and folk music vocal trio
13
J. J. Jackson
J. J. Jackson
American singer
14
Billy Butler
Billy Butler
American musician
15
Billy Eckstine
Billy Eckstine
American musician
16
The Jordanaires
The Jordanaires
American vocal group; back-up singers for Elvis Presley
17
Grady Martin
Grady Martin
American musician
18
Johnnie Taylor
Johnnie Taylor
American soul-blues and pop singer
19
Percy Faith
Percy Faith
Canadian bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of pop and Christmas standards (1908-1976)
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Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
American big band leader and musician
21
Rudy Powell
Rudy Powell
American jazz musician
22
Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed
American recording artist; country music singer, actor (1937-2008)
23
Bobby Donaldson
Bobby Donaldson
American musician
24
Larry Bunker
Larry Bunker
American musician
25
Lou Monte
Lou Monte
American singer
26
Charlie Shavers
Charlie Shavers
jazz trumpeter
27
Lou Stein
Lou Stein
American musician
28
Larry Elgart
Larry Elgart
American jazz bandleader (1922-2017)
29
Junior Parker
Junior Parker
American Memphis blues singer and musician
30
Kay Starr
Kay Starr
American singer
31
Ernie Royal
Ernie Royal
American jazz trumpeter
32
Jerome Richardson
Jerome Richardson
American jazz multi-instrumentalist
33
Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka
American musician
34
Herb Geller
Herb Geller
American saxophonist (1928-2013)
35
Jesse Belvin
Jesse Belvin
American singer
36
Money Johnson
Money Johnson
American musician
37
Skeeter Davis
Skeeter Davis
American singer-songwriter
38
Charlie Rich
Charlie Rich
American country music singer and musician
39
Victor Feldman
Victor Feldman
English recording artist; jazz musician, vibraphonist
40
Frank Rosolino
Frank Rosolino
American jazz trombonist
41
Kings of Rhythm
Kings of Rhythm
American musical group; R&B/Soul band led by Ike Turner
42
Jimmy Rowles
Jimmy Rowles
American jazz pianist
43
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Sonny Boy Williamson II
American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter
44
The Du Droppers
The Du Droppers
American doo-wop group
45
The Searchers
The Searchers
English band
46
Jimmy McGriff
Jimmy McGriff
American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader (1936-2008)
47
Urbie Green
Urbie Green
American jazz trombonist
48
Bill Jennings
Bill Jennings
musical artist
49
Arbee Stidham
Arbee Stidham
American blues singer and multi-instrumentalist
50
Don Byas
Don Byas
American musician
51
Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith
American jazz musician
52
Spike Jones
Spike Jones
American musician and band leader (1911-1965)
53
Howard Roberts
Howard Roberts
American guitarist
54
Brenton Wood
Brenton Wood
American singer
55
George Jackson
George Jackson
American Rhythm & Blues and soul singer and songwriter
56
Connie Smith
Connie Smith
American country music artist
57
Earl Bostic
Earl Bostic
American musician
58
Kai Winding
Kai Winding
Danish-born American jazz musician and trombonist
59
Joe Liggins
Joe Liggins
American R&B, jazz and blues pianist
60
Aaron Bell
Aaron Bell
American musician
61
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
American singer and actress
62
Mitchell Torok
Mitchell Torok
American singer songwriter
Big John Greer
1923-1972, American blues tenor saxophonist and vocalist

Big John Greer

Intro
1923-1972, American blues tenor saxophonist and vocalist
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Record Labels
Music

Big John Greer (November 21, 1923 – May 12, 1972) was an American blues tenor saxophonist and vocalist, best known for his recordings from 1948 to 1956, which included "Got You on My Mind" and "Bottle It Up and Go."

Born John Marshall Greer in Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States, he was a friend of Henry Glover from childhood, and both attended college at Alabama A&M together. Glover was playing in Lucky Millinder's band when Bull Moose Jackson left the group in 1948; Glover suggested that Greer be chosen as Jackson's replacement. Greer played with Bob Shad and appeared on Millinder's RCA recordings until 1950, when Millinder signed to King Records. Greer stayed with RCA and played with Wynonie Harris and Jackson among others. He sang lead vocals on his biggest hit, recorded in October 1951 "Got You On My Mind". In 1953, he switched to Groove Records, but did not make much impact on the American record charts there. In August 1954, he released "We Wanna See Santa Claus Do The Mambo", a Christmas hit to this day. In 1956, he finally signed with King, but only recorded for them for about a year. Greer also worked with Hal Singer and Bill Doggett.

By 1957, Greer had developed extended troubles with alcoholism, and he moved back to his home town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he died in 1972 at age 48.