Al Casey is well-known for his long collaborations with Fats Waller. He has a powerful presence and a subtle power that thrived in intimate musical settings. Casey was born September 15, 1915 in Louisville, KY. He was a child prodigy and first took up the violin. After a while, he switched to the ukulele, before settling on the guitar which he learned at New York’s DeWitt Clinton high school. Waller recommended Casey to his legendary pianist while he was in his twenties. Waller met him while on tour with the Southern Singers’ gospel group. Waller demanded that Casey continue his education and get his diploma before he could join Waller full-time. However, the guitarist was an integral part of the recording sessions and often accompanied Waller on extended vacations. Casey was with the group through Waller’s death in 1943. He appeared on over 200 swing sides. The famous blues song “Buck Jumpin'” came about after Casey showed up late for a gig. Waller invited him to perform a solo and singled him out. It was captured later in the studio because it was so thrilling. Casey recorded with Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton. He even joined the latter’s brief-lived big band in 1939. After Waller’s death, Casey played with Clarence Profit’s piano trio and then he formed his own trio. They headlined New York’s Onyx club for nearly a year before moving on to the Down Beat. Casey began to play the electric guitar around this time. In 1944 and 1945, he was named the top instrument player in Esquire’s annual jazz poll. He spent most of the decade as a gun-for hire, which culminated in a four year collaboration with R.
