Quick Facts

NAME: Lester Young
OCCUPATION: Saxophonist
BIRTH DATE: August 27, 1909
DEATH DATE: March 15, 1959
PLACE OF BIRTH: Woodville, Mississippi
PLACE OF DEATH: New York, New York

Best Known For

Lester Young was a saxophonist who introduced an approach to improvisation that provided much of the basis for modern jazz solo conception.

Lester Young biography

Profile

The impact of Lester Young’s style was so broad that he has been cited as a favorite by such diverse modern jazz figures as Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, and John Coltrane. Much of the West Coast “cool” style was a product of Lester Young's approach. He was so important that singer Billie Holiday called him president of tenor saxophonists, and he was known thereafter as Prez.

How to Cite this Page:

Lester Young

APA Style

Lester Young. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 02:50, May 24, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/lester-young-9539541.

Harvard Style

Lester Young. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/lester-young-9539541 [Accessed 24 May 2013].

MLA Style

"Lester Young." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 24 2013, 02:50 http://www.biography.com/people/lester-young-9539541.

MHRA Style

"Lester Young," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/lester-young-9539541 [accessed May 24, 2013].

Chicago Style

"Lester Young," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/lester-young-9539541 (accessed May 24, 2013).

CBE/CSE Style

Lester Young [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 24] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/lester-young-9539541.

Bluebook Style

Lester Young, http://www.biography.com/people/lester-young-9539541 (last visited May 24, 2013).

AMA Style

Lester Young. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/lester-young-9539541. Accessed May 24, 2013.