Rex William Stewart (22 February 1907 – 7 September 1967) was an American jazz cornetist best remembered for his work with the Duke Ellington orchestra.After stints with Elmer Snowden, Fletcher Henderson, Horace Henderson, McKinney's Cotton Pickers, and Luis Russell, Stewart joined the Ellington band in 1934, replacing Freddie Jenkins. Ellington arranged many of his pieces to showcase Stewart's half-valve effects, muted sound, and forceful style.Stewart co-wrote "Boy Meets Horn" and "Morning Glory" while with Ellington, and frequently supervised outside recording sessions by members of the Ellington band. After eleven years Stewart left to lead his own groups - " little swing bands, that were a perfect setting for his solo playing." He also toured Europe and Australia with Jazz at the Philharmonic from 1947 to 1951. From the early 1950s on he worked in radio and television and published highly regarded jazz criticism. The book Jazz Masters of the Thirties is a selection of his criticism.Rex also wrote for Playboy, Down Beat and several other publications during his life. He lived in upstate New York after purchasing a 100+ year old farmhouse. He hosted a jazz radio program in Troy, New York and owned a small restaurant for a very short time near a drag racing stadium in Vermont. While living in France, he attended the Cordon Bleu school of cooking and dedicated his life to being a fine cook.Stewart moved to Los Angeles, California to be near his three children - Rex Jr., Helena and Regina. His other son Paul Albert Hardy lived in New York City. While in Los Angeles he re-connected to many of the Ellington side-men who lived there and played a lot of "jam" sessions in clubs in the Los Angeles area. Rex was also one of the regular studio musicians seen on the Steve Allen TV show. He hosted and coproduced (with George Cole) two radio shows about jazz music from his era, Dixieland Doings and Things Aint What They Used To Be.
Cornet player, a master of the half valve style. Later in life, became a disc jockey (station WROW in Albany, New York) and teacher of jazz history. Prominent member of the famous Duke Ellington Orchestra from 1934 to 1945, subsequently led own groups as well as prolific output as a soloist.
2
Cornetist.
3
Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1994.
4
Jazz musician.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Syncopation
1942
King Jeffers (uncredited)
Hellzapoppin'
1941
Trumpet Specialty (uncredited)
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rendez-vous de juillet
1949
musician: trumpet
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Notebook
2004
performer: "Diga Diga Doo" - uncredited
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Whole Scene Going
1966
TV Series
Himself
The Seven Lively Arts
1957
TV Series
Himself - Trumpeter with Red Allen
Rendez-vous de juillet
1949
Himself
Jam Session
1942
Short
Himself - Trumpet
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Great Day in Harlem
1994
Documentary
Himself (uncredited)
Known for movies
Jam Session (1942) as Himself - Trumpet
Rendez-vous de juillet (1949) as Music Department
The Notebook (2004) as Soundtrack
The Seven Lively Arts (1957) as Himself - Trumpeter with Red Allen
$4 Million
