Al Sears
![Al Sears (left) with Johnny Hodges, 1946](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Johnny_Hodges_and_Al_Sears%2C_Aquarium%2C_New_York%2C_ca._Nov._1946_%28William_P._Gottlieb_04191%29.jpg)
Sears was born in Macomb, Illinois, United States. His first major gig came in 1928 when he replaced Johnny Hodges in Chick Webb's ensemble. Following this he played with Elmer Snowden (1931–32), then led his own groups between 1933 and 1941. In the early 1940s he was with Andy Kirk (1941–42) and Lionel Hampton (1943-44) before he became a member of Duke Ellington's Orchestra in 1944, replacing Ben Webster. He remained with Ellington until 1949, when first Jimmy Forrest and then Paul Gonsalves took over his chair. He played with Johnny Hodges in 1951–52 and recorded the tune "Castle Rock" with him; the tune became a hit but was released under Hodges's name.
Sears was in Alan Freed's band when Freed did live shows, being introduced as "Big Al Sears." He played as a studio musician on R&B albums in the 1950s and recorded two albums for Swingville in 1960. He also owned several record labels, including Arock, Serock, and Gator.
In 1990, he died in St. Albans, New York, at the age of 80. Provided by Wikipedia
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2by Sears, Al, 1910-1990
Published 2008
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3by Sears, Al, 1910-1990Other Authors: “...Sears, Al, 1910-1990...”
Published 1951
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6by Sears, Al, 1910-1990
Published 1951
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7by Sears, Al, 1910-1990
Published 2008
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8by Sears, Al, 1910-1990
Published 1994
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9by Sears, Al, 1910-1990
Published 1994
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10by Sears, Al, 1910-1990
Published 2002
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14Published 1992Other Authors: “...Sears, Al, 1910-1990...”
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16Published 1951Other Authors: “...Sears, Al, 1910-1990...”
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17by Anderson, MildredOther Authors: “...Sears, Al, 1910-1990...”
Published 2008
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18by Anderson, MildredOther Authors: “...Sears, Al, 1910-1990...”
Published 2008
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19Published 2002Other Authors: “...Sears, Al, 1910-1990...”
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20by Jordan, Taft, 1914-1981Other Authors: “...Sears, Al, 1910-1990...”
Published 1999
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