Billy Maxted

An excellent pianist and a skillful arranger, Billy Maxted is basically forgotten today because his recordings were mainly for tiny brands. Maxted began playing and organizing for the Crimson Nichols big music group during 1937-1940. He proved helpful briefly with Ben Pollack and Teddy Powell, and used Will Bradley (1941-1942), seated in the seat formerly kept by Freddie Slack. After portion in the Navy, he supplied agreements for Benny Goodman and Claude Thornhill and co-led a music group with Ray Eberle (1947-1948). In the past due ’40s Maxted come up with his very own Dixieland group (the Manhattan Jazz Music group) offering his Bob Zurke-inspired stride and boogie-woogie piano and his inventive agreements. Maxted worked often as the resident pianist at Nick’s during 1949-1960. In the 1950s he documented for MGM, Brunswick (a uncommon trio day), Cadence, and Seeco. His sidemen included trumpeter Chuck Forsyth, trombonist Lee Gifford, either Sol Speed or Dan Tracey on clarinet, and (by 1958) bass saxophonist Johnny Dengler. During 1961-1963, Maxted documented three albums for the neglected K&H label, but his best-known albums are two rather uncharacteristically industrial models for Liberty in 1966. Furthermore, he made an appearance on information by Pee Wee Erwin, Bob Crosby, and Crimson Nichols. Very little was heard through the pianist following the past due ’60s; Maxted got shifted to Florida previous in the 10 years, and he passed away in Fort Lauderdale on Oct 11, 2001.