Norman Simmons (musician)

Norman Simmons (October 6, 1929[1][2] – May 13, 2021)[3] was an American musician, arranger, composer, educator, and most prominently a pianist who worked extensively with Helen Humes, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Anita O'Day, and Joe Williams among others.

[4][5] Simmons was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 6, 1929.

[1] During the early 1950s, he was house pianist at the Beehive Lounge on East 55th Street, playing with visiting musicians such as Wardell Gray, Lester Young and with Charlie Parker on his final Chicago performance in February 1955.

[3] In 1966, his arrangement for Ramsey Lewis' hit of "Wade in the Water" became a large commercial success.

[5] With Roy Eldridge With Johnny Griffin With Red Holloway With Etta Jones With Carmen McRae With Betty Carter With Harold Ousley With Anita O'Day With Scott Hamilton and Warren Vaché With Clifford Jordan, Von Freeman, Cy Touff, Victor Sproles, and Wilbur Campbell With Dakota Staton With Joe Williams With Al Grey and Bjarne Nerem With Johnny Griffin With Teri Thornton With Mark Murphy