Who was Sy Oliver?
Q: Who was Sy Oliver?
A: Sy Oliver was a jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer, and band leader.
Q: Where was he born?
A: He was born in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Q: What instrument did his father play?
A: His father played the saxophone.
Q: What bands did Sy Oliver play with early in his career?
A: Early in his career he played with Zack Whyte and his Chocolate Beau Brummels and Alphonse Trent.
Q: What song is Sy Oliver most famous for writing?
A: He is most famous for co-writing the song "T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)" with Trummy Young.
Q: When did Sy join Jimmie Lunceford's band?
A: He joined Jimmie Lunceford's band in 1933.
Q: When did he become one of the first African Americans to have a prominent role in a white band?
A: In 1939 he became one of the first African Americans to have a prominent role in a white band when he joined Tommy Dorsey as an arranger.
