Pianist/vocalist. At 16 years old released 1950 single “Bernice” b/w “She Drinks Too Much Wine” (Melford 256). He met up with sax great Ed Wiley, Jr. and toured as a member of his band in the early ’50s as well as on and off for the decades to follow. With Wiley they released the 1951 single “So Glad I’m Free” b/w “Deep Moaning Blues” (Atlantic 959). Wardell was also a member of the Ray Chambers Trio, and Gene Smith’s Four Notes in the ’50s. In 1953 he released the single “Lost My Woman” (Rockin’ 508).
He later moved to LA and went on to become a highly regarded be-bop jazz player. While performing with Dexter Gordon in 1960, saxophonist Cannonball Adderly ‘discovered’ him, signed to his Riverside record label where he released his only jazz LP as a leader “The Revelation.”
Musically active for almost 5 decades, Wardell died in 1999.
1950 Melford 256 Bernice / She Drinks Too Much Wine
