Sam Simmons

Jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, piano and organ player, born c. 1915 in Charleston, South Carolina. Worked with Fats Waller and Hot Lips Page before joining Al Cooper And His Savoy Sultans in 1939. With Ella Fitzgerald's orchestra 1940-1941, formed own band in Hawaii in 1945, then own band at Pershing Lounge in Chicago from 1946. Ran own restaurant in Chicago during 1960s, playing piano and organ,