Charles Covington

Charles Covington Jazz organist and pianist, was one of the trailblazers playing Jazz on the Hammond b3 organ back in the early 60's and has influenced and inspired most of the leading jazz organists during that period including Lou Bennett, Jimmy Smith, Larry Young Jr., Richard Groove Holmes, Don Patterson and many others. Because he refused to record under his own name during that period, he remained largely unknown except in the Jazz organ circle until recently when he has been rediscovered again. Covington has recorded and/ or performed with many Jazz greats such as Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Eddie Harris, Milt Jackson, Clark Terry, Eddie Clean head Vincent, Zook Simms, George Benson, and many others including comedians Redd Fox, Pigmeat Markham, Slappy White, Flip Wilson, also vocalists such as Abbey Lincoln, Eartha Kitt, Shirley Horne, Ethel Ennis among others. Charles Covington recently retired from Howard University after 23 years there and also retired from Peabody Conservatory back in 1999 after 20 years there. At 74 Covington is still in top form and in a class by himself at the Hammond b3 organ. Some of his recent performances can be heard online - charles covington yesterdays, and charles covington tribute to art tatum.

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