Saturday, January 7, 2012

Happy Birthday, Sam Woodyard (Jan. 7, 1925 - Sept. 20, 1988)

Here is my annual birthday tribute to my father, Sam Woodyard, drummer for the legendary Duke Ellington band.  A year before he died I visited Sam in Paris, he was very in very poor heath at the time.  His many wonderful friends there shared many warm memories with me.  They also give me these albums Sam played on as a sideman while in Paris.  I will treasure these always.  My special thanks to Gwen Persiany-Workman and Andre' Persiany (his album is shown below) who welcomed me into their home and treated me like family.  My thank to everyone.

  Happy birthday, Sam.