Joe Houston, American jazz and R&B saxophonist, Died at 89

  Music

Joe Houston was born on July 11, 1926, in Bastrop, Austin, Texas and died on December 28, 2015.

He was an American tenor saxophonist who played jazz and rhythm and blues.

Joe attended trumpet in school and changed to saxophone later.

During his younger years, he was emulating a touring band by buying a red suit with white pants.

During the year 1941 a saxophone player did not show for a gig with the band and Houston took his place.

He toured with King Kolax’s band through Kansas City and Chicago and throughout the Mid-West, between 1943 and 1946.

After World War II he went back to Texas, and began to recorded with the pianist Amos Milburn and singer Big Joe Turner.

Later he formed his own band The Rockets, and moved to Los Angeles in 1952.

He scored his only two chart hit singles in the year 1952, with “Worry, Worry, Worry”, and “Hard Time Baby” both of which peaked at #10 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart.

He recorded for many record labels, including Modern and Crown, and contributed vocals as well as saxophone on some of his records.

Houston was based in Los Angeles throughout most of his career.

The Defrosterz began to tour, the band consist of; the bassist Mark St. John, who acted as his bassist and manager for almost 20 years, plus the keyboardist Mike Malone.

The band toured North America and recorded throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

He and the band was signed to the Shattered Records label.

Joe’s musical career ended after he suffered a stroke in 2005.

Joe Houston passed away at 89 yrs old on December 28, 2015 in Long Beach, California, due to a series of strokes.