Willie Akins
- October 2, 2015
- 76 years
- heart failure
About Willie Akins
Willie Akins, 76, American jazz saxophonist, heart failure.
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Full Biography
|Willie Akins (April 10, 1939 – October 2, 2015) was an American jazz musician. After eleven years in New York City, he was active from 1968 to 2015, mainly in the music scene of St. Louis.
Life and career
Akins initially learned the recorder. He attended Douglass High School in his hometown of Webster Groves, Missouri. In 1957, he moved to New York City to work as a musician, but in 1961 produced his first record when he was in Chicago, playing in the band of Bobby Bryant; he also was involved in recording the works of Groove Holmes (Swedish Lullaby, 1984). In 1968, he returned to his hometown, where in the years that followed, he performed with his own quartet and presented two albums under his own name, Alima and the St. Louis Connection. He also taught at the Faculty of Jazz Studies at Webster University. In the field of jazz, Akins was involved 1961-2012 to nine recording sessions. He died on October 2, 2015, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Discography
- Alima (1997)
- The Sound of St. Louis (2000)
- The St. Louis Connection (c. 2012), with Montez Coleman
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Akins
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Willie Akins's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Willie Akins born?
- A.October 2, 2015
- B.March 15, 1945
- C.January 20, 1930
- D.April 10, 1939correct
Willie Akins was born on April 10, 1939.
Source: biographical introduction
2.In which city did Willie Akins die?
- A.Webster Groves, Missouri
- B.St. Louis, Missouricorrect
- C.Chicago, Illinois
- D.New York City, New York
Willie Akins died on October 2, 2015, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Source: life and career section
3.What was the first instrument that Willie Akins learned to play?
- A.Trumpet
- B.Piano
- C.Recordercorrect
- D.Saxophone
Willie Akins initially learned to play the recorder.
Source: life and career section
4.Which high school did Willie Akins attend?
- A.Douglass High Schoolcorrect
- B.New York Performing Arts High
- C.St. Louis Central High
- D.Webster Groves High
Willie Akins attended Douglass High School in his hometown of Webster Groves, Missouri.
Source: life and career section
5.In what year did Willie Akins move to New York City?
- A.1984
- B.1957correct
- C.1968
- D.1961
Willie Akins moved to New York City in 1957 to work as a musician.
Source: life and career section
6.Willie Akins produced his first record while living in which city in 1961?
- A.Webster Groves
- B.St. Louis
- C.New York City
- D.Chicagocorrect
Willie Akins produced his first record in 1961 while he was in Chicago.
Source: life and career section
7.With which musician did Willie Akins play in a band during his time in Chicago?
- A.Bobby Bryantcorrect
- B.Miles Davis
- C.Montez Coleman
- D.Groove Holmes
Willie Akins played in the band of Bobby Bryant while he was in Chicago.
Source: life and career section
8.What is the title of the work by Groove Holmes that involved Willie Akins?
- A.Swedish Lullabycorrect
- B.Alima
- C.The St. Louis Connection
- D.The Sound of St. Louis
Willie Akins was involved in recording the works of Groove Holmes, specifically Swedish Lullaby in 1984.
Source: life and career section
9.In what year did Willie Akins return to his hometown?
- A.1957
- B.2015
- C.1968correct
- D.1961
Willie Akins returned to his hometown in 1968.
Source: life and career section
10.At which institution did Willie Akins teach jazz studies?
- A.New York Jazz Institute
- B.St. Louis Conservatory
- C.University of Missouri
- D.Webster Universitycorrect
Willie Akins taught at the Faculty of Jazz Studies at Webster University.
Source: life and career section
11.How many recording sessions was Willie Akins involved in between 1961 and 2012?
- A.Ninecorrect
- B.Five
- C.Seven
- D.Eleven
In the field of jazz, Willie Akins was involved in nine recording sessions between 1961 and 2012.
Source: life and career section
12.Which of the following albums was presented by Willie Akins?
- A.New York Nights
- B.Jazz Improvisations
- C.Blue Notes
- D.Alimacorrect
Willie Akins presented two albums under his own name, Alima and the St. Louis Connection.
Source: life and career section
13.What was the cause of death of Willie Akins?
- A.Stroke
- B.Cancer
- C.Heart failurecorrect
- D.Pneumonia
Willie Akins died from heart failure.
Source: biographical introduction
14.Who was featured on the album The St. Louis Connection?
- A.Bobby Bryant
- B.Groove Holmes
- C.Willie Akins' quartet
- D.Montez Colemancorrect
The album The St. Louis Connection was released with Montez Coleman.
Source: discography section
15.In what year was the album Alima released?
- A.2000
- B.1984
- C.1997correct
- D.2012
The album Alima was released in 1997.
Source: discography section
16.For how many years did Willie Akins live in New York City?
- A.Seven
- B.Five
- C.Elevencorrect
- D.Nine
Willie Akins spent eleven years in New York City.
Source: biographical introduction
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