Sil Austin born 17 September 1929

                         

Sylvester Austin (September 17, 1929 – September 1, 2001) was an American jazz saxophonist. He had his biggest success in an overtly commercial rather than jazz vein, but he regarded Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and Sonny Stitt as his major influences.

Though jazz remained his first love, tenor saxophonist Sil Austin recorded in a variety of genres over the course of his long career, including R&B, jump blues, country, pop, and even (on one occasion) disco-ish funk.

Sil Austin was born in Dunnellon, Florida, United States, and taught himself to play as a 12-year-old. He won the Ted Mack Amateur Hour in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1945, playing "Danny Boy". His performance brought him a recording contract with Mercury Records, and he moved to New York, where he studied for a time at the Juilliard School of Music.

His biggest breaks came in 1949, when he joined up first with Roy Eldridge and then with Cootie Williams' Birdland house band, where he stayed for three years. After spending 1953-1954 with Tiny Bradshaw (who helped him write the song that Ella Fitzgerald later turned into his nickname, "Ping Pong"), he set up his own successful touring group.

                                

He recorded over 30 albums for Mercury, and had a number of Top 40 hits with pop tunes like "Danny Boy" (his signature tune), "Slow Walk" and "My Mother's Eyes". "Slow Walk" peaked the highest at Number 17. "Birthday Party" was another big hit, and in 1959, he released his most popular and controversial album, Sil Austin Plays Pretty for the People, which produced a small hit in Austin's return to "Danny Boy," but was criticized by jazz purists for its orchestral pop sound.

Austin described the sound of his 1950s singles during an interview:

"Exciting horn, honking horn, gutbucket horn is what kids wanted to hear, so I made sure I played more of that. They called it rock 'n' roll but Mercury had Clyde Otis, and David Carroll and these guys got together and decided, ‘This guy’s got such great tone, suppose we put strings and voices behind him.’   Man, it changed my sound.  They had strings from the New York Philharmonic, the Ray Charles Singers, and low and behold the sound sold.  Thats’ when they stopped concentrating on the ‘Slow Walk’ sound and on singles.  I started doing theme albums–Sil  Austin Plays Pretty Melodies From Around the World, Sil Austin Plays Folk Tunes … I didn’t mind the change, because the albums were selling.  All the honkers weren’t getting’ much and I was gettin’ paid pretty good.   So, I played what sold.”

Austin remained with Mercury for 12 years and performed all over Europe and Asia usually traveling with his wife, the Rev. Vernice Austin, assistant minister at Union City United Methodist Church."He was with me in the church as I was with him in the jazz field," said Vernice Austin.

 He moved from New York to College Park, Georgia in 1973 where he owned a successful car wash and continued to perform and record for small independent labels (including SSS, owned by Shelby Singleton and Rounder records) off and on, all the way through the mid-'90s. He had also released a few records in Japan where he found a sizable audience. Besides performing regularly at his church, Mr. Austin frequently played at the Sambuca Jazz Cafe in Buckhead and Manny's BarBeQue in Union City. 

Austin lost a four-year battle with prostate cancer on September 1, 2001 at Portsbridge Hospice in Riverdale, Georgia at the age of 71. He was survived by his wife of 52 years, the Rev. Vernice Austin, two daughters, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

(Edited from Wikipedia & AllMusic)