EDDIE “CLEANHEAD” VINSON (saxophonist, composer, vocalist) was born on December 18, 1917 in Houston, Texas and passed away on July 2, 1988 in Los Angeles, California. The versatile alto saxophonist, who alternated between jump blues and jazz, also used a playful “blues shouter” vocals to great effect on the 1940s hits“Cherry Red” and his signature “Kidney Stew Blues”. His active career, spanning five decades, included playing with Milton Larkin, Cootie Williams and Jay McShann as well as his own ensembles, one of which included a young John Coltrane.