Tadd Dameron

Tadley Ewing Peake (Tadd) Dameron (1917 – 1965) was an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. He was the most influential arranger of the bebop era, but also wrote charts for swing and hard bop players. The bands he arranged for included those of Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Jimmie Lunceford, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine, and Sarah Vaughan. He also arranged and played for rhythm and blues star Bull Moose Jackson. Also playing for Jackson at the time was Benny Golson, who also was to become a celebrated jazz composer; Golson has said Dameron was the most important influence on his writing. Dameron composed several bop standards, including "Hot House," "Our Delight," "Good Bait," and "Lady Bird."