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Walter Roland Dickerson (April 16, 1928 – May 15, 2008) was an American jazz vibraphone player, most associated with the post-bop idiom.

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Walt Dickerson graduated from Morgan State University in 1953 and after two years in the Army he settled in California. There he started to gain attention by leading a group with Andrew Hill and Andrew Cyrille, but it was Dickerson's later period in New York City when he gained some further notice. For the Prestige label he recorded four albums. In 1962 Down Beat named him the best new artist.

From 1965 to 1975, he took a break from jazz, but later he worked again with Andrew Hill and Sun Ra. After 1975 Dickerson recorded several albums for the Danish Steeplechase label.

He died in May 2008 from a cardiac arrest.

Discography

As leader

Sources:

As arranger

With Elmo Hope

• Sounds from Rikers Island (1963)

References

1. Johnson, David. "Vibes for Walt: Walt Dickerson, R.I.P." Indianapublicmedia.org. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
2. ^ "Walt Dickerson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
3. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 691. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
4. ^ Fitzgerald, Michael. "Walt Dickerson Discography". JazzDiscography. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
5. Feather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (1999). "Dickerson, Walt". The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 182.
6. David Johnson. "Vibes for Walt: Walt Dickerson, R.I.P." Indiana Public Media. Retrieved May 18, 2008.
7. Losin, Peter. "Walt Dickerson Records". PLosin.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
8. "Walt Dickerson discography". JazzLists. Retrieved October 6, 2022.

Further reading

• Blumental, Bob (16 December 1980). "Strong Vibes: With Mallet Aforethought". The Boston Phoenix. 9 (51).

• 1931 births
• 2008 deaths
• American jazz vibraphonists
• Morgan State University alumni
• Jazz musicians from Philadelphia
• Prestige Records artists
• SteepleChase Records artists
• 20th-century American musicians
• Black Saint/Soul Note artists