Guy, Joe [Joseph Luke] (Birmingham, AL, 20 Sept 1920 - Birmingham, 1962)

Trumpeter

He joined Teddy Hill's orchestra in the late 1930s, and from 1939 to 1940 was a principal soloist with Coleman Hawkins's big band. In 1941 he worked at Minton's Playhouse as leader of the house band, which included Thelonious Monk and Kenny Clarke; a number of private recordings of this group's performances were made. Guy joined Cootie Williams in 1942, and brought several tunes by Monk to the band's repertory, including 'Round about Midnight and Epistrophy (composed with Clarke and recorded by Williams as Fly Right). From 1945 to 1947 he was Billie Holiday's lover and manager and performed on some of her recordings, but thereafter he ceased to be prominent in New York's musical life. Guy was an agile trumpeter whose full tone was influenced by the playing of Roy Eldridge; he is best remembered for his role in the creation of the bop style.

 Scott DeVeaux

The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, © Macmillan Reference Ltd 1988