Jackie Gleason

Jackie Gleason is interred in the Our Lady Of Mercy Cemetery, Miami Beach, Florida. Gordon was 6 foot 5 inches tall and consequently known as Long Tall Dex. There was even a report that Richard Nixon took Gleason to view the remains of aliens killed in the crash of a flying saucer, but as this particular report first appeared in the pages of the National Enquirer, it is dubious at best. Gordon is a member of the Jazz Hall of Fame and was voted musician of the year by Down Beat magazine in 1978 and 1980. Gleason apparently believed in UFOs, and claimed to have seen them himself. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for the role. Justice in the Smokey and the Bandit series of fims. In 1986, he starred in the movie 'Round Midnight, in which he played the role of a musician much like himself; some have suggested the role is thinly-veiled autobiography.

Later in life, Jackie Gleason gained fame for his portrayal of Sheriff Buford T. After this appearance he would release several more albums that proved he was as good if not better than before his years in Europe and finally gained appreciation as one of the great jazz tenors. In his early life he was known for his fatness, but later he slimmed down. Gordon finally returned to the United States for good in 1976, and appeared in the Village Vanguard, NY for a gig that was dubbed as his "homecoming". His trademark phrase was "How sweet it is!" during the applause when he first opened his comedy act. He also visited the States occasionally for recording dates, resulting in several albums being released under his name. In the 1960s he had his own show entitled The Jackie Gleason Show. He concerted regularly with fellow ex-pat jazzmen like Bud Powell, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Kenny Drew, Horace Parlan and Billy Higgins.

Later it was recast. After that, he spent 15 years playing and living in Europe, mostly in Paris and Copenhaegen. In the late 1940s he played Chester Riley in the The Life of Riley situation comedy in its first incarnation. He was composer, musician, and actor in the play The Connection in 1960. Ralph, his buddy Ed Norton, and their wives Alice Kramden and Trixie Norton were later transplanted into the stone age as The Flintstones, the entire show being a transparent tribute to The Honeymooners. He portrayed an inmate playing in the prison band in Unchained, though the soundtrack was later overdubbed. Herbert John (Jackie) Gleason The Great One-(February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) was a Brooklyn-born comedian famous for brash humor and fast ad-libs who immortalized his Brooklyn neighborhood in The Honeymooners, playing bus driver Ralph Kramden. The first movie appearance occurred, oddly enough, while in prison for possession of heroin.

Gordon notably made two appearances in cinema during his life. He was also known for his habit of reciting the lyrics of all ballads before performing them. While never considered as revolutionary as Charlie Parker or John Coltrane, his influence can still be heard in many jazz saxophonists. One of his major influences was Lester Young.

Gordon's sound has been characterized as "large" and his tendency to play behind the beat has often been emphasized. He was particularly noted for his titanic saxophone duels with fellow tenorman Wardell Gray, a popular live attraction that also produced several albums between 1947 and 1952. for a few weeks in 1947. He also played with the Fletcher Henderson band in L.A.

From 1940 to 1980, he played with such jazz greats as Lionel Hampton, Tadd Dameron, Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong and Billy Eckstine. He is considered the first important hard bop tenor player. Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 - April 25, 1990) was an American tenor saxophone musician.