Norman Simmons (October 6, 1929[1][2] – May 13, 2021)[3] was an American musician, arranger, composer, educator, and most prominently a pianist who worked extensively with Helen Humes, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Anita O'Day, and Joe Williams among others.[4][5]
Simmons was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 6, 1929.[1] During the early 1950s, he was house pianist at the Beehive Lounge on East 55th Street, playing with visiting musicians such as Wardell Gray, Lester Young and with Charlie Parker on his final Chicago performance in February 1955.[3]
In 1966, his arrangement for Ramsey Lewis' hit of "Wade in the Water" became a large commercial success.[1] He was a member of the Ellington Legacy Band from 2002.[5]
With Roy Eldridge
With Johnny Griffin
With Red Holloway
With Etta Jones
With Carmen McRae
With Betty Carter
With Harold Ousley
With Anita O'Day
With Scott Hamilton and Warren Vaché
With Clifford Jordan, Von Freeman, Cy Touff, Victor Sproles, and Wilbur Campbell
With Dakota Staton
With Joe Williams
With Al Grey and Bjarne Nerem
With Johnny Griffin
With Teri Thornton
With Mark Murphy
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