Herman Autrey
- December 4, 1904
- June 14, 1980
- 75 years
About Herman Autrey
Herman Autrey, 75, American jazz trumpeter.
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Full Biography
|Herman Autrey (December 4, 1904 – June 14, 1980) was an American jazz trumpeter.
Career
Autrey was born into a musical family in Evergreen, Alabama, United States. He played alto horn before taking up trumpet as a teenager and performing locally in Pittsburgh and Florida. After some time in Florida he worked in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City, where he played with Charlie Johnson in 1933. He became well known through Fats Waller, who hired him in 1934 after signing a contract with Victor Records. He played with the drummer Harry Dial, guitarist Al Casey, and reedist Gene Sedric. Autrey went on to record extensively with Waller, Fletcher Henderson, and Claude Hopkins.
Autrey worked as a sideman into the 1940s with Stuff Smith, Sammy Price, and Una Mae Carlisle. He ensembles which sometimes included pianist Herbie Nichols. Early in the 1950s Autrey was hurt in a car crash, sidelining his career for one year. He played with Saints & Sinners in the 1960s, including on their 1968/69 tours of Europe. In 1969, he played with Buzzy Drootin's Jazz Family, which included Benny Morton, Herb Hall, pianist Sonny Drootin, bassist Eddie Gibbs and. In the 1970s, he began to lose his playing capacity and spent more time as a vocalist.
Herman Autrey died in June 1980 in New York, at the age of 75.
Discography
- Buster Bailey, All About Memphis (Felsted, 1958)
- Bud Freeman, All Star Swing Sessions (Prestige, 2003)
- Saints & Sinners, The Saints and Sinners (77 Records, 1964)
- Fats Waller, The Joint Is Jumpin (Bluebird, 1987)
- George Wettling, George Wettling and His Windy City Seven (Stere-o-craft, 1958)
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Autrey
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Herman Autrey's archived record and the sources above.
1.With which band did Herman Autrey tour Europe during 1968 and 1969?
- A.Saints & Sinnerscorrect
- B.The All Star Swing Session Band
- C.The Jazz Family
- D.The Windy City Seven
Herman Autrey played with Saints & Sinners in the 1960s, including on their 1968/69 tours of Europe.
Source: Career section
2.Who was a member of Buzzy Drootin's Jazz Family when Herman Autrey played with them in 1969?
- A.Benny Mortoncorrect
- B.Una Mae Carlisle
- C.Sammy Price
- D.Stuff Smith
In 1969, Herman Autrey played with Buzzy Drootin's Jazz Family, which included Benny Morton.
Source: Career section
3.What role did Herman Autrey increasingly take on in the 1970s as his playing capacity declined?
- A.Bandleader
- B.Music teacher
- C.Composer
- D.Vocalistcorrect
In the 1970s, Herman Autrey began to lose his playing capacity and spent more time as a vocalist.
Source: Career section
4.In which city did Herman Autrey die?
- A.New Yorkcorrect
- B.Philadelphia
- C.Pittsburgh
- D.Evergreen
Herman Autrey died in June 1980 in New York, at the age of 75.
Source: Career section
5.How old was Herman Autrey when he passed away?
- A.78
- B.75correct
- C.80
- D.72
Herman Autrey died in June 1980 in New York, at the age of 75.
Source: Career section
6.Herman Autrey recorded with which of these artists?
- A.Al Casey
- B.Herbie Nichols
- C.Harry Dial
- D.Buster Baileycorrect
Buster Bailey's album All About Memphis features Herman Autrey as noted in the discography.
Source: Discography section
7.Which of these musicians did Herman Autrey work with as a sideman in the 1940s?
- A.Charlie Johnson
- B.Claude Hopkins
- C.Stuff Smithcorrect
- D.Fletcher Henderson
Herman Autrey worked as a sideman into the 1940s with Stuff Smith, Sammy Price, and Una Mae Carlisle.
Source: Career section
8.In 1969, Herman Autrey performed with a group that included which bassist?
- A.Buzzy Drootin
- B.Eddie Gibbscorrect
- C.Sonny Drootin
- D.Herb Hall
In 1969, Herman Autrey played with Buzzy Drootin's Jazz Family, which included bassist Eddie Gibbs.
Source: Career section
9.Which recording by Fats Waller features Herman Autrey according to the discography?
- A.George Wettling and His Windy City Seven
- B.The Joint Is Jumpincorrect
- C.All About Memphis
- D.All Star Swing Sessions
The Fats Waller album The Joint Is Jumpin is listed in the discography of Herman Autrey.
Source: Discography section
10.Herman Autrey performed locally in which two places as a teenager?
- A.Washington, D.C. and Alabama
- B.New York and Philadelphia
- C.Pittsburgh and Floridacorrect
- D.Evergreen and Pittsburgh
Herman Autrey played alto horn before taking up trumpet as a teenager and performing locally in Pittsburgh and Florida.
Source: Career section
11.Which reedist did Herman Autrey play with during his time associated with Fats Waller?
- A.Harry Dial
- B.Herbie Nichols
- C.Gene Sedriccorrect
- D.Al Casey
While working with Fats Waller, Herman Autrey played with the drummer Harry Dial, guitarist Al Casey, and reedist Gene Sedric.
Source: Career section
12.In what city was Herman Autrey born?
- A.New York City, New York
- B.Evergreen, Alabamacorrect
- C.Washington, D.C.
- D.Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Herman Autrey was born into a musical family in Evergreen, Alabama, United States.
Source: Career section
13.Which instrument did Herman Autrey play before taking up the trumpet as a teenager?
- A.Trombone
- B.Alto saxophone
- C.Piano
- D.Alto horncorrect
Herman Autrey played alto horn before taking up trumpet as a teenager.
Source: Career section
14.In what year did Herman Autrey start playing with Fats Waller?
- A.1930
- B.1940
- C.1933
- D.1934correct
Herman Autrey became well known through Fats Waller, who hired him in 1934 after signing a contract with Victor Records.
Source: Career section
15.Which musician did Herman Autrey play with in 1933 before joining Fats Waller?
- A.Charlie Johnsoncorrect
- B.Fletcher Henderson
- C.Claude Hopkins
- D.Stuff Smith
Herman Autrey worked in cities like New York City, where he played with Charlie Johnson in 1933.
Source: Career section
16.What event sidelined the career of Herman Autrey for one year in the early 1950s?
- A.A car crashcorrect
- B.Military service
- C.A strike of recording artists
- D.A severe illness
Early in the 1950s Herman Autrey was hurt in a car crash, sidelining his career for one year.
Source: Career section
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