Photo: Gottlieb, William P., 1917-, photographer. — Public domainSource
Slam Stewart
bandleader · composer · conductor · jazz musician · bassist · musician
- September 21, 1914 · Englewood
- December 10, 1987 · Binghamton
- 73 years
- heart failure
About Slam Stewart
Slam Stewart, 73, American jazz double bass player, heart failure.
Explore other notable deaths in 1987 or deaths in December 1987.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Slam Stewart?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|Leroy Eliot "Slam" Stewart (September 21, 1914 – December 10, 1987) was an American jazz double-bass player whose trademark style was his ability to bow the bass (arco) and simultaneously hum or sing an octave higher. He was a violinist before switching to bass at the age of 20.
Biography
Stewart was born in Englewood, New Jersey, United States, and began playing string bass while attending Dwight Morrow High School. While attending the Boston Conservatory, he heard Ray Perry singing along with his violin. This gave him the inspiration to follow suit with his bass. In 1937, Stewart teamed with Slim Gaillard to form the novelty jazz act Slim & Slam. The duo's biggest hit was "Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy)" in 1938.
Stewart found regular session work throughout the 1940s with Lester Young, Fats Waller, Coleman Hawkins, Erroll Garner, Art Tatum, Johnny Guarnieri, Red Norvo, Don Byas, Benny Goodman, and Beryl Booker. One of the most famous sessions he played on took place in 1945, when Stewart played with Dizzy Gillespie's group (which featured Charlie Parker). Out of those sessions came some of the classics of bebop such as "Groovin' High" and "Dizzy Atmosphere".
Stewart taught at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York, and at Yale University. He died of congestive heart failure on December 10, 1987, in Binghamton, aged 73.
Discography
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Studio albums
- Slam Stewart (1946)
- Slam Bam (1971)
- Slamboree (1972)
- Fish Scales (1975)
- Two Big Mice (1977)
- Dialogue (1978)
- Shut Yo' Mouth! (1981) with Major Holley
- The Cats Are Swingin' (1987)
As sideman
- Benny Goodman Sextet, Slipped Disc, 1945–46 (1990)
- Art Tatum, Art Tatum Live 1951–1953 Volume 6 (2004)
- Joe Turner, Big Joe Turner, Texas Style (Black & Blue, 1971)
Filmography
- Hellzapoppin' (1941)
- Almost Married (1942)
- Boy! What a Girl! (1947)
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Articles & News
Reported coverage of Slam Stewart; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Slam Stewart on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slam_Stewart
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 22, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Slam Stewart's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Slam Stewart born?
- A.New York City
- B.Boston
- C.Binghamton
- D.Englewoodcorrect
Slam Stewart was born in Englewood, New Jersey, United States.
Source: Biography section
2.What instrument did Slam Stewart play before switching to the bass?
- A.Saxophone
- B.Trumpet
- C.Piano
- D.Violincorrect
Slam Stewart was a violinist before switching to bass at the age of 20.
Source: Introductory paragraph
3.What was the name of the novelty jazz act Slam Stewart formed with Slim Gaillard in 1937?
- A.The Jazz Duo
- B.Slim & Slamcorrect
- C.Bass and Strings
- D.The Slam Trio
In 1937, Slam Stewart teamed with Slim Gaillard to form the novelty jazz act Slim & Slam.
Source: Biography section
4.What medical condition caused the death of Slam Stewart?
- A.Pneumonia
- B.Cancer
- C.Stroke
- D.Congestive heart failurecorrect
Slam Stewart died of congestive heart failure on December 10, 1987, in Binghamton.
Source: Biography section
5.Where did Slam Stewart teach during his academic career?
- A.Columbia University
- B.Juilliard School
- C.Binghamton Universitycorrect
- D.Harvard University
Slam Stewart taught at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York, and at Yale University.
Source: Biography section
6.Which musical artist inspired Slam Stewart to sing while playing the bass?
- A.Lester Young
- B.Charlie Parker
- C.Ray Perrycorrect
- D.Art Tatum
While attending the Boston Conservatory, Slam Stewart heard Ray Perry singing along with his violin, which inspired him to follow suit with his bass.
Source: Biography section
7.What is the trademark style associated with Slam Stewart?
- A.Bowing the bass and simultaneously humming an octave highercorrect
- B.Performing entirely in complete silence
- C.Using an electronic pickup on his bass
- D.Playing the piano with his toes
Slam Stewart's trademark style was his ability to bow the bass and simultaneously hum or sing an octave higher.
Source: Introductory paragraph
8.Which of the following songs was a major hit for Slim & Slam in 1938?
- A.Groovin' High
- B.Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy)correct
- C.Dizzy Atmosphere
- D.Slipped Disc
The duo's biggest hit was 'Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy)' in 1938.
Source: Biography section
9.In which city did Slam Stewart die?
- A.New Haven
- B.Binghamtoncorrect
- C.Boston
- D.Newark
Slam Stewart died in Binghamton, New York, on December 10, 1987.
Source: Biography section
10.At what age did Slam Stewart switch to the bass?
- A.22
- B.25
- C.20correct
- D.18
Slam Stewart was a violinist before switching to bass at the age of 20.
Source: Introductory paragraph
11.Which university, besides Binghamton University, did Slam Stewart teach at?
- A.Princeton University
- B.Cornell University
- C.Boston University
- D.Yale Universitycorrect
Slam Stewart taught at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York, and at Yale University.
Source: Biography section
12.Which film featured Slam Stewart in 1941?
- A.Boy! What a Girl!
- B.Almost Married
- C.Hellzapoppin'correct
- D.The Jazz Singer
Hellzapoppin' is listed as one of the films in Slam Stewart's filmography.
Source: Filmography section
13.What is the release year of the album Shut Yo' Mouth! by Slam Stewart and Major Holley?
- A.1978
- B.1972
- C.1981correct
- D.1975
Shut Yo' Mouth! was released in 1981 by Slam Stewart and Major Holley.
Source: Discography section
14.Which of these bebop classics came out of the 1945 sessions Slam Stewart played with Dizzy Gillespie's group?
- A.Dizzy Atmospherecorrect
- B.Flat Foot Floogie
- C.Fish Scales
- D.Two Big Mice
Out of those 1945 sessions came some of the classics of bebop such as 'Groovin' High' and 'Dizzy Atmosphere'.
Source: Biography section
15.Slam Stewart performed with which of the following artists during his session work in the 1940s?
- A.Miles Davis
- B.Fats Wallercorrect
- C.Duke Ellington
- D.Louis Armstrong
Slam Stewart found regular session work throughout the 1940s with Fats Waller, among others.
Source: Biography section
16.Which high school did Slam Stewart attend when he began playing string bass?
- A.New Jersey Central High
- B.Boston High School
- C.Binghamton High School
- D.Dwight Morrow High Schoolcorrect
Slam Stewart began playing string bass while attending Dwight Morrow High School.
Source: Biography section
Explore the archive
People who died on December 10
Related People
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Slam Stewart →Advertisement
