Born: December 13, 1930 Primary Instrument: Bass, acoustic
A native of Tennessee, Tucker by the age of twelve, began to develop his musical interest first on trumpet and later on the bass and quickly made a name for himself in Nashville. Following a stint in the Air Force, Ben settled in California, playing with Art Pepper and Shorty Rogers, among others, and was an integral participant in the legendary “Jazz of Two Cities.”
By the early 1960's, he was regularly performing and recording with such greats as Herbie Mann, Billy Taylor, Dexter Gordon, Buddy Rich, Quincy Jones, Marian McPartland, and Mel Torme. A prodigious composer (many of his songs are jazz standards) of over 300 titles, Tucker's “Comin' Home Baby” was a blockbuster hit for Herbie Mann, “Devilette” and “The Message,” both recorded by Dexter Gordon and “ Right Here, Right Now” by Billy Taylor are just a few of the many title songs that Ben has written and published.
Ben has been rewarded and nationally celebrated by his appointment to the Advisory Committee of the Kennedy Center for the Arts by President Jimmy Carter. Today, Ben Tucker maintains an extremely busy career as artist and businessman, playing regularly in Savannah where he has been active in the city's artistic, cultural, and economic scene, and has been a major factor in business and other matters affecting the interest of Savannah's minority community and making the national and international festival scene with the excellent Ben Tucker Trio.
