Lloyd Trotman

b. 25 May 1923, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Lloyd and elder brother Ernie learned music at school and went on to more advanced studies at both New England Conservatory and their father’s own Music Lovers’ School of Music. Lloyd played the double bass and, inspired by Slam Stewart and Jimmy Blanton, began touring with a jazz band in 1941. He went on to play with Blanche Calloway, Billie Holiday, Stuff Smith, Eddie Heywood, Hazel Scott, Duke Ellington, Pete Brown and other artists. His most famous period was as bass player with the Johnny Hodges - Al Sears breakaway group from the early 50s on such recordings as ‘Castle Rock.’ He subsequently joined Alan Freed’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Orchestra. In the 40s and 50s, Trotman was a popular session musician, his bass forming the dance foundation for many jazz and R&B sessions from Viola Watkins, Cousin Joe and Champion Jack Dupree to Lucky Millinder, Mickey And Sylvia, Ray Charles and Ben E. King (he plays the distinctive bass on ‘Stand By Me’). He made some quartet recordings with Oscar Pettiford (who named Lloyd as his favourite bass player) in 1950 for Mercer Records and had a couple of singles released under his own name on Tuxedo and Brunswick Records. Today he lives on Long Island, New York, but has retired from the music business.