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Photograph of Carl Sally and Gene Walker. Two of Columbus' well known saxophonist from the 1950s. Carl Sally born in Columbus, Ohio in 1936 was raised on the Westside by his grandmother, Virginia Ingram in Franklinton. At the age of 12, Carl, won six awards in music and was on his way to a bright future as a musician. Carl, at this time, was introduced to the famous, Lionel Hampton, by former Columbus mayor and governor, James A. Rhodes. All this occurred while he attended Starling Junior High School. Carl won a first place trophy in the All Boys Club Talent Contest. It was presented to him by the comedian and actor, Bob Hope. This had a profound effect on him and caused him to create his first band in high school were they performed for his graduating class. After graduating from Central High School a year early in 1954, he entered The Ohio State University in the School of Business. While attending OSU Carl became an outstanding basketball player from 1954 to 1955 under coach, Fred Taylor. He worked in the Radiology Department at Grant Hospital, while attending OSU. Carl started his first professional band know as The Carl Sally Combo in 1956 with a close friend who was also from Columbus, Don Patterson. The band went on to play many venues and engagements around Columbus. Carl seemed to have patterned himself after another talented Columbus saxophonist, Rusty Bryant. He always had band members around him who worked hard to create a great sound. It has been said that it was hard not to get up and dance when Carl Sally’s band played. The summer of 1956 saw Carl Sally going on the road with the great rock ‘n’ roll guitarist, Chuck Berry. During this time Carl recorded and performed with a number of top named groups, the Dells, The Five Keys, The Everly Brothers, Jack Lemmon, Tab Hunter and Al Hibler and made a television appearance on the weekly Arthur Godfrey Show. In 1959, Carl recorded two very well received songs, “Madison Shuffle” and “Midnight Sun.” The records were a big hit in the Midwest and in the New England area. In the early 1960s, he played in New York City at a very upscale venue known as the Montclair Supper Club in Long Island, New York. There he played with many of the Latin jazz greats, Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, the great Machito and a local Columbus singer, Sonny Graver. He also did an appearance at the 1962 World’s Fair. When Carl returned to Columbus during this time, he loved to play at Kitty’s Show Bar. He also, performed many concerts on college campuses throughout the United States, Kenyon College, Dennison University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Yale University, but Ohio State was his first love. He performed for President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. Gene Walker is a world-class jazz saxophonist, composer, bandleader recording studio musician and educator. Since 1956 Gene has toured with The Beatles, King Curtis, Sam Cook, Jackie Wilson, Jimmy McGriff, The Drifters and The Platters. Around Columbus, Gene can be found leading his own jazz group, Gene Walkers Generations which plays traditional and contemporary jazz. See: http://www.jazzartsgroup.org/affiliate-musicians/carl-sally/ http://www.jazzartsgroup.org/affiliate-musicians/gene-walker/ |
