Wade Legge
Wade Legge (February 4, 1934, Huntington, West Virginia – August 29, 1963, Buffalo, New York) was an American jazz pianist and bassist.
Wade Legge
- Born
- 1934 · Huntington.
- Died
- 1963 · Buffalo.
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- pianist · musician
- Fields
- jazz
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Wade Legge (February 4, 1934, Huntington, West Virginia – August 29, 1963, Buffalo, New York) was an American jazz pianist and bassist.
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wikidata · Q1498035 · wikipedia · Wade Legge
In this article
About
About
Wade Legge was born in Huntington, West Virginia, but soon thereafter moved to Buffalo, New York with his parents, both of whom were musicians. Legge played more bass than piano in his early years, and it was with the bass that he was first noticed by Milt Jackson, who recommended him to Dizzy Gillespie. Gillespie hired him and shortly thereafter moved him to piano; he remained a member of Gillespie's ensemble until 1954, and during that time recorded a date in France as a trio session leader recorded by Vogue and leased to Blue Note. Following his tenure with Gillespie, Legge moved to New York City and freelanced there. He played in Johnny Richards's orchestra, and appeared on sessions with Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Joe Roland, Bill Hardman, Pepper Adams, Jimmy Knepper, and Jimmy Cleveland. Legge was one of three pianists who recorded with Gryce/Byrd Jazz Lab Quintets during 1957 and appeared on more than 50 recordings before returning to Buffalo in 1959. In August 1963, Wade Legge died of a bleeding stomach ulcer. He was 29 years old.
As leader
As leader
• Wade Legge Trio (Blue Note BLP 5031, 1953, possibly issued 1954) (leased from French Vogue)
As sideman
As sideman
With Jimmy Cleveland • Introducing Jimmy Cleveland and His All Stars (EmArcy, 1955) With Dizzy Gillespie • The Great Blue Star Sessions 1952-1953 (EmArcy, 1952-53 [2004]) • Afro (Norgran, 1954) • Dizzy and Strings (Norgran, 1954) • Jazz Recital (Norgran, 1955) With Gigi Gryce • Jazz Lab (Columbia, 1957) – with Donald Byrd • Gigi Gryce and the Jazz Lab Quintet (Riverside, 1957) With Milt Jackson • Meet Milt Jackson (Savoy, 1956) • Roll 'Em Bags (Savoy, 1956) With Jackie McLean • Alto Madness (Prestige, 1957) – with John Jenkins With Charles Mingus • The Clown (Atlantic, 1957) • Tonight at Noon (Atlantic, 1957-1961) With Joe Roland • Joltin' Joe Roland (Savoy, 1955) With Sonny Rollins • Rollins Plays for Bird (Prestige, 1956) • Sonny Boy (Prestige, 1956 [1961])
Identity
Identity
Wade Legge is recorded with the occupation jazz musician. Recorded as a citizen of United States. Classed in the genre jazz.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1963
Wade Legge died on 15 August 1963.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Huntington.
Birth place
Buffalo.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1498035: Wade Legge
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Wade Legge”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Citations
References
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authority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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