Ken Kersey

Kersey was born in Harrow, Ontario, on April 3, 1916.[1] His family was musical and he studied piano and trumpet while attending the Detroit Institute of Musical Arts.[2]

In 1936, Kersey moved to New York City, where he played with Lucky Millinder, Billy Hicks, Frankie Newton, Billie Holiday, Roy Eldridge, Red Allen, and Cootie Williams.[2]

In 1942 he replaced Mary Lou Williams as Andy Kirk's pianist; Kirk recorded his composition "Boogie Woogie Cocktail".[2] He was in the Army from 1943 to 1945, where he sometimes played trumpet in military bands, then played from 1946 to 1949 with the Jazz at the Philharmonic touring ensembles.[2] He continued to play with noted musicians in the 1950s, including Eldridge and Allen again, as well as Buck Clayton, Edmond Hall, Sol Yaged, and Charlie Shavers.[2]

Kersey retired from music late in the 1950s, because of medical problems that have described as a "bone ailment"[2] or "a stroke and related cardiovascular problems".[1] He recorded twelve tunes as a bandleader: four for Savoy Records in 1946, two for Clef Records in 1949, two for Circle Records in 1950, and four for Foxy Records in 1951 which featured Hot Lips Page and Paul Quinichette as sidemen.[2] Kersey died in New York City on April 1, 1983.[1]