Lester Young

Lester Young (1909-1959) was an American tenor saxophonist, born in Woodville, Mississippi, and one of the main voices of swing-era jazz. Billie Holiday gave him the nickname Pres. He came to prominence in Count Basie's orchestra in the 1930s and is known for his light tone and relaxed phrasing, as well as for his small-group recordings with Holiday. Lester Young settled in Kansas City in 1933 and joined Count Basie, leaving at the end of 1940 and returning for most of 1944.