Trivia

Outstanding swing-era trumpeter, a great stylist, who first gained international recognition with Gene Krupa and His Orchestra (the only African-American member of the band, often exposing him to racist attacks), featuring on many classic solos, including "Rockin' Chair", "After You've Gone" and "Let Me Off Uptown" (with Anita O'Day). Fronted the band after Krupa was jailed in 1943 (even, on occasion, playing the drums), later leading several big bands under his own name in Chicago (Three Deuces Club) and New York (Savoy Ballroom, Famous Door, Arcadia Ballroom, etc).

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1985.

Jazz trumpeter.

Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 184-185. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 272-274. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.

Encountered much racism while with the orchestras of Gene Krupa and Artie Shaw. In 1938 he contemplated quitting as a performer, briefly going on to study radio engineering.

The contrast between his short physical stature and his energetic playing prompted Duke Ellington saxophonist Otto Hardwick to bestow upon him the sobriquet of "'Little Jazz".

Led his first band at the age of 20, billed as Roy Elliott and his Palais Royal Orchestra.

Parents are: Alexander Eldridge, and Blanche Eldridge.

Brother of Joseph Eldridge.

Has daughter: Carol.