Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Obituaries: Connie Kay

Charlie Gillett
Tuesday 20 December 1994 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Like so many musicians whose names are known mainly to jazz fans, Connie Kay spent much of his working week as an uncredited hired hand on non-jazz sessions, writes Charlie Gillett [further to the obituary by Steve Voce, 3 December].

During the early Fifties he was among the pool of peerless musicians based in New York who helped Atlantic Records to become the leading rhythm and blues label of the time. Connie's unique combination of elegance and excitement on Joe Turner's "Boogie Woogie Country Girl", still sounds marvellous. Fifteen years later, he played an equally vital role at the sessions which resulted in Van Morrison's magical masterpiece, Astral Weeks.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in