The 3-Minute Interview: Benny Poole

Home City News The 3-Minute Interview: Benny Poole

Poole is an 83-year-old saxophone player who can be found playing most weekends at Johnny T’s Bistro in Hillsdale, Mich.

 

What led you to playing the saxophone?

For one, my mother was a piano player, and I used to sit and watch her play. I just had a love for music. Then I fell in love with the saxophone because of two different people. A gentlemen came from Detroit, and he married a Jackson lady. He was one of the finest players that you would ever want to listen to, and his name was Wardell Gray. He became a worldwide known saxophonist. A lot of jazz saxophonists copied his style of playing, and I was with Wardell quite a bit. I started playing well in my late teens and early twenties. I didn’t have a home because we were too poor to have a home. So I bought a saxophone book, and I studied the book from the first page through to the very last. Through that I taught myself how to read music, and so when I did get a horn, it was pretty easy for me then. I started a big band. I had up to a 14-piece orchestra, and that was one of my first ones.

 

How is it that you came to play at Johnny T’s Bistro?

I really like this area, especially Hillsdale, because my wife and I love the people here. Just talking to people, they are so nice and I enjoy that, which is why I am here all of the time. And Johnny T’s is like my home base. I am here when I am not anywhere else. I like the people of Hillsdale. These are good people.

 

Where else have you performed?

I do take off and do other jobs around Michigan. One of my main jobs is playing at the Soaring Eagle Casino, and I have been there for 15 years. I have played music on cruise ships some even in Acapulco, Mexico, which was just beautiful. The people there were so invested in their families and just wonderful. I have also played in Florida, Phoenix, all around Michigan. Just to name a few places.

 

Who have you performed with?

I played in several bands. I had one of the world’s greatest and famous jazz drummers, Alvin Jones — Jackie Wilson as well. I also played with Gene Harris and Eddie Russ. I also performed with Anna Marie Wooldridge, but her stage name was Abby Lincoln. She was a jazz singer and made several movies. I played with Richard “Groove” Holmes who was a jazz organist who is a recording artist and has several records. Grant Greene, and several others. I also worked alongside Claire Fischer who was a songwriter and top notch musician, who went to michigan state, and I had him in my band to help him get through school. And I even had a guy from Jackson. His name was Bob Hammer who was also at Michigan State. He was one of the greatest arrangers and writers. He wrote for just about any main big band you can name. I also played with one of Nat King Cole’s brothers, Ike Cole, who played and sang just like his brother.

        -Compiled by Leslie Reyes