Wilkerson, Don

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Wilkerson, Don

Wilkerson, Don, jazz tenor saxophonist; b. Moreauville, La., 1932; d. Houston, Tex., July 18, 1986.

The family moved to Houston, Tex., when he was a youngster. He taught himself to play and began playing tenor sax on gigs while still in high school. He played with Amos Milburn (1948) and Charles Brown (1948-49), and then returned to Houston for local work (1950-54). Wilkerson toured and recorded with Ray Charles through the balance of the 1950s and was featured on his hits, “I Got a Woman/7 “Come Back Baby,” and “Hallelujah, I Love Her So.” He joined Blue Note in the early 1960s during their soul/jazz years, oftenworking with guitarist Grant Green.

Discography

Texas Twister (1960); Elder Don (1962); Preach, Brother! (1962); Shoutin (1963).

— Music Master Jazz and Blues Catalogue/Lewis Porter

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