Leon Vaughn

Trumpet, vocals.

Born in Topeka, Kansas, Vaughn played with drummer Jo Jones as a young man and formed his own small band that played around Kansas City clubs, sometimes with bassist Adolphus Alsbrook, with whom he toured in the Eli Rice band. In 1940, Vaughn worked as a waiter on the Great Northern Empire Builder railroad, which ran from Chicago to Tacoma. Enchanted that roses were blooming in Seattle in December, Vaughn decided to move to Seattle in 1942. He played trumpet and sang with Bud Storm then joined the Al Pierre band around 1943, playing with him throughout the latter half of the ’40s. Vaughn then formed his own band that played the Basin Street, using Alsbrook and ex-Pierre alto man William Joseph. In 1948 Vaughn got a job as a site engineer at Boeing, but continued to play jazz with Pierre, Terry Cruise and Joe Gauff and his own group composed of other Boeing employees during the 1950s.

Jackson Street After Hours (print). No known online llnks.