Teddy Hill

Teddy Hill (December 7, 1909 in Birmingham, Alabama – May 19, 1978 in Cleveland, Ohio)[1] was an American big band leader and the manager of Minton's Playhouse, a seminal jazz club in Harlem.

After moving to New York City, Hill had early gigs with the Whitman Sisters, George Howe and Luis Russell's orchestra in the 1920s,[1] later forming his own band in 1934, which found steady work over the NBC radio network.

Over several years it featured such major young musicians as Roy Eldridge, Bill Coleman, Frankie Newton and Dizzy Gillespie.

[1] After leaving the band business, Hill began to manage Minton's Playhouse in 1940, which became a hub for the bebop style, featuring such major musicians as Thelonious Monk and Kenny Clarke.

[1] Hill left Minton's in 1969, long after its musical significance had declined; he then became the manager of Baron's Lounge.

(From left) Thelonious Monk , Howard McGhee , Roy Eldridge , Teddy Hill, Minton's Playhouse , New York, N.Y., ca. September 1947
Photograph by William P. Gottlieb .