Boyd Lee Dunlop
- June 20, 1926
- December 27, 2013
- 87 years
About Boyd Lee Dunlop
Boyd Lee Dunlop, 87, American jazz pianist.
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Full Biography
|Boyd Lee Dunlop (June 20, 1926 – December 27, 2013) was an American jazz pianist.
Early life
Dunlop was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. As a young child, music brought him to Buffalo, New York, and he lived and worked in Buffalo for the rest of his life. His family followed his aunt who had taken a job as a violinist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Dunlop found his first piano outside his house on the corner, discarded with only half the keys working.
Dunlop gave his younger brother, Frankie Dunlop, his first drum lesson. Dunlop recalls, “We used the thin wood from the back of a chair as our sticks.” Younger brother Frankie went on to find fame as a drummer, playing with Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Big Jay McNeely, Lionel Hampton, and many other jazz greats, recording nearly one hundred sides during his career.
Dunlop's trajectory followed a different course. Until 2011, he can be found only on one record, a blowsy rhythm and blues session from the late 1950s by Big Jay McNeely. For years Dunlop worked in Buffalo's steel mills and rail yards, yet his calling was the piano, and he played in the clubs around Buffalo, including the Colored Musicians Club, of which he had become a member in 1934.
Career
On December 10, 2011, Dunlop released his debut album, Boyd's Blues produced by photojournalist, Brendan Bannon and music producer, Allen Farmelo. Boyd's Blues includes Dunlop on piano, backed by Sabu Adeyola on bass and Virgil Day on drums. The album debuted as the #1 jazz album on iTunes, and #28 on Billboard's Heatseeker chart.
The Boyd Lee Dunlop Trio held a CD release performance at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center on December 10, 2011, to a packed house. as pictured in The Buffalo News.
Recognition
Dunlop was profiled by Dan Barry (Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter) in The New York Times on December 9, 2011, with a short film ("An Unexpected Debut" ) by Todd Heisler (an Emmy and Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer) and Nick Harbaugh. Dunlop was also profiled by Scott Simon on NPR Weekend Edition on December 10, 2011. Dunlop was also profiled by writer Geoff Kelly for Buffalo, NY's Artvoice.
On October 4, 2012 - Dunlop and his brother Frankie were inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of fame. Dunlop played a concert that evening in front of fellow inductees past and present. President's Award: The Dunlop Brothers- Piano player Boyd Lee is enjoying a career resurgence after being "rediscovered" in a Buffalo nursing home at age 85. Brother Frankie is an influential jazz drummer who has played with Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Lionel Hampton, Lena Horne, Charles Mingus and more. He has played on over one hundred albums. [1] Archived 2017-11-13 at the Wayback Machine
Death
Dunlop died in Buffalo, aged 87.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyd_Lee_Dunlop
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Boyd Lee Dunlop's archived record and the sources above.
1.In which city was Boyd Lee Dunlop born?
- A.Winston-Salem, North Carolinacorrect
- B.Chicago, Illinois
- C.New York City, New York
- D.Buffalo, New York
Boyd Lee Dunlop was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Source: Early life section
2.What profession did the aunt of Boyd Lee Dunlop have that brought the family to Buffalo?
- A.Drummer
- B.Violinistcorrect
- C.Steel mill worker
- D.Jazz pianist
The family followed the aunt of Boyd Lee Dunlop who worked as a violinist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Source: Early life section
3.What was the condition of the first piano Boyd Lee Dunlop found as a child?
- A.Discarded with half the keys workingcorrect
- B.Brand new and tuned
- C.An electric digital piano
- D.A pristine antique piano
Boyd Lee Dunlop found his first piano discarded outside his house with only half the keys working.
Source: Early life section
4.Who was the brother that Boyd Lee Dunlop gave his first drum lesson to?
- A.Frankie Dunlopcorrect
- B.Brendan Bannon
- C.Allen Farmelo
- D.Todd Heisler
Boyd Lee Dunlop gave his younger brother, Frankie Dunlop, his first drum lesson.
Source: Early life section
5.Before his late career debut, what was one of the jobs Boyd Lee Dunlop held in Buffalo?
- A.Recording engineer
- B.Music teacher
- C.Steel mill workercorrect
- D.Journalist
For years, Boyd Lee Dunlop worked in Buffalo's steel mills and rail yards.
Source: Early life section
6.When did Boyd Lee Dunlop become a member of the Colored Musicians Club?
- A.1926
- B.2013
- C.1934correct
- D.2011
Boyd Lee Dunlop had been a member of the Colored Musicians Club since 1934.
Source: Early life section
7.What is the name of the debut album released by Boyd Lee Dunlop?
- A.The Buffalo Sessions
- B.Steel Mill Piano
- C.Boyd's Bluescorrect
- D.Unexpected Debut
On December 10, 2011, Boyd Lee Dunlop released his debut album, Boyd's Blues.
Source: Career section
8.Who produced the album Boyd's Blues?
- A.Brendan Bannon and Allen Farmelocorrect
- B.Scott Simon and Geoff Kelly
- C.Frankie Dunlop and Sabu Adeyola
- D.Dan Barry and Todd Heisler
The album Boyd's Blues was produced by photojournalist Brendan Bannon and music producer Allen Farmelo.
Source: Career section
9.On what chart did Boyd's Blues reach the number 28 position?
- A.Billboard Top 100
- B.iTunes Jazz Chart
- C.The Buffalo News Music Chart
- D.Billboard's Heatseeker chartcorrect
Boyd's Blues debuted as the number 1 jazz album on iTunes and reached number 28 on Billboard's Heatseeker chart.
Source: Career section
10.Which reporter profiled Boyd Lee Dunlop for The New York Times on December 9, 2011?
- A.Dan Barrycorrect
- B.Geoff Kelly
- C.Nick Harbaugh
- D.Scott Simon
Boyd Lee Dunlop was profiled by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Dan Barry in The New York Times.
Source: Recognition section
11.Who created the short film titled An Unexpected Debut about Boyd Lee Dunlop?
- A.Scott Simon and Geoff Kelly
- B.Brendan Bannon and Allen Farmelo
- C.Frankie Dunlop and Dan Barry
- D.Todd Heisler and Nick Harbaughcorrect
The short film An Unexpected Debut was created by Todd Heisler and Nick Harbaugh.
Source: Recognition section
12.In what year were Boyd Lee Dunlop and Frankie Dunlop inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame?
- A.1934
- B.2011
- C.2012correct
- D.2013
Boyd Lee Dunlop and Frankie Dunlop were inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame on October 4, 2012.
Source: Recognition section
13.Where was Boyd Lee Dunlop living when he was rediscovered at age 85?
- A.A nursing homecorrect
- B.A steel mill
- C.A rail yard
- D.The Colored Musicians Club
Boyd Lee Dunlop was rediscovered in a Buffalo nursing home at age 85.
Source: Recognition section
14.At what age did Boyd Lee Dunlop pass away?
- A.86
- B.88
- C.87correct
- D.85
Boyd Lee Dunlop died in Buffalo, aged 87.
Source: Death section
15.Which instrument did Frankie Dunlop play throughout his successful jazz career?
- A.Violin
- B.Drumscorrect
- C.Piano
- D.Trumpet
Frankie Dunlop was an influential jazz drummer who played with many jazz greats.
Source: Early life section
16.Where was the CD release performance held for Boyd's Blues on December 10, 2011?
- A.The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame
- B.A local nursing home
- C.Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Centercorrect
- D.The Colored Musicians Club
The Boyd Lee Dunlop Trio held a CD release performance at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center.
Source: Career section
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