Wynton Kelly

Wynton Charles Kelly was an American jazz pianist and composer. He is known for his lively, blues-based playing and as one of the finest accompanists in jazz. He began playing professionally at the age of 12 and was pianist on a No. 1 R&B hit at the age of 16. His recording debut as a leader occurred three years later, around the time he started to become better known as an accompanist to singer Dinah Washington, and as a member of trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie's band. This progress was interrupted by two years in the United States Army, after which Kelly worked again with Washington and Gillespie, and played with other leaders. Over the next few years, these included instrumentalists Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Wes Montgomery, and Sonny Rollins, and vocalists Betty Carter, Billie Holiday, and Abbey Lincoln.

2 December 1931

Born on the same birth date (2 December 1931): Edwin Meese • Gareth Wigan • Masaaki Hatsumi • Nigel Calder

Born on the same birth day (2 December): Charlie Puth • Claudiu Keșerü • David Hackett Fischer • Elisa Godínez Gómez de Batista • Gianni Versace • Iakovos Kambanellis • Joseph Graetz • Mary Creagh • Masafumi Gotoh • Rick Savage • Stephen McGinn • T. C. Boyle • Tanya Plibersek • Zach Cunningham

Born in the same month (December 1931): Bill Thompson (television host) • Edwin Meese • Gareth Wigan • Gerald Finnerman • Peter Baker (footballer, born 1931) • Ray Bryant • Scotty Moore