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Biography
Al Grey (June 6, 1925 - March 24, 2000) was a Jazz Trombonist who is most remembered for his association with the Count Basie orchestra. Grey is known for his plunger mute (music) technique (comparable only to Tricky Sam Nanton and Wycliffe Gordon), who also wrote an instructional book called "Plunger Techniques".
Al Grey was born in Aldie, Virginia and grew up in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. During World War II he served in the Navy where he started playing the trombone. Soon after his discharge he joined Benny Carter's band and later the trombone section of Lionel Hampton. After some solo work Grey joined Dizzy Gillespie's big band in 1956. In October 1957 Count Basie urgently needed a fill-in for his European tour and Al Grey luckily was in the right place at the right time.
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