George Jenkins

George Jenkins was a celebrated jazz artist of the 1940s--1960s as well as a recording star of the 1950s. He recorded two albums on the VSOP label entitled, "Drum Magic" and" Classical Christmas-Santa's Players." He was also instrumental, and performed with many of the jazz luminaries such as, Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter, Erroll Garner, Lionel Hampton and many more. Towards the end of the forties he played percussion for the Charlie Barnet band. In the 1950's Jenkins relocated from New York to California and was featured alongside of "Television's Singing Troubadour"- Jimmie Jackson, Jazz Violinist recording great, Stuffy Smith and Guitar legend Jimmy Bryant as part of the "Downtown Orchestra" on television's "The Downtown Show." During the '60s, Jenkins headed his own jazz ensembles working around Hollywood and Las Vegas. Jenkins returned to the Metropole in New York City where he performed until 1967 when he died after returning to San Francisco.