Byas, Carlos Wesley 'Don' 21.oct.1912-24.aug.1972 USA Oklahoma, Muskogee - Netherlands, Amsterdam
jazz saxophonist, of African descent, studied classical music, violin, clarinet and saxophone, played in the orchestras of Lucky Millinder, 1935 Lionel Hampton, 1936 Buck Clayton, 1939-1941 Andy Kirk, Benny Carter, Hot Lips Page, 1941-1943 Count Basie, Erroll Garner, 1943 Coleman Hawkins, 1946 toured Europe with Don Redman and never returned to the US except once to play at the Newport Jazz Festival 1970, 1948 settled in France, 1955 in The Netherlands ; son of jeweler Walter Wesley Byas (Missouri 1.may.1882-1950 Muskogee) and amateur pianist Dottie M (Texas 1891-) ; 1951 in Amsterdam he met and 1955 married Johanna 'Jopie' Eksteen (Amsterdam 5.jun.1928-11.oct.2004 Amsterdam)