Teddy Edwards

Theodore Marcus "Teddy" Edwards (April 26, 1924 – April 20, 2003) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Biography
Edwards was born in Jackson, Mississippi, United States. He learned to play at a very early age, first on alto saxophone and then clarinet.

His uncle sent for him to come to Detroit to live because he felt opportunities were better. Due to illness in the family, he went back to Jackson and ventured to Alexandria, Louisiana. He was persuaded by Ernie Fields to join his band after going to Tampa, Florida. Edwards had planned to go to New York City, but Fields convinced him he could get there by way of Washington, D.C., if he worked with his band. Edwards ended up at the "Club Alabam" on Central Avenue in Los Angeles, which later became his city of residence.

Edwards played with many jazz musicians, including his personal friend Charlie Parker, Roy Milton, Wynonie Harris, Vince Guaraldi, Joe Castro and Ernie Andrews. A 1947 recording with Dexter Gordon, The Duel, was an early challenge to another saxophonist, an approach he maintained whenever possible, including a recording with Houston Person. One such duel took place in the 1980s at London's 100 Club with British tenor Dick Morrissey. In 1964, Edwards played with Benny Goodman at Disneyland, and at the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Edwards performed and recorded with Tom Waits. He toured with him on the Heart Attack and Vine tour, and played to a packed Victoria Apollo in London with Waits and bassist Greg Cohen (the drummer had apparently been left behind after some dispute). The 1991 album, Mississippi Lad, featured two tracks with Waits, and Waits covers the Edwards-written ballad "Little Man" on his Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards collection.

He died in Los Angeles of prostate cancer, with which he had been diagnosed in 1994, at the age of 78.

As sideman
With Frank Butler With Joe Castro With Sonny Criss With Richard "Groove" Holmes With Milt Jackson With King Pleasure With Hank Jones With Julie London With Shelly Manne With Les McCann With Howard McGhee With Freddie Redd With Max Roach and Clifford Brown '''With Jimmy Smith With Leroy Vinnegar With Randy Weston and Melba Liston With Gerald Wilson
 * Wheelin' and Dealin' (Xanadu, 1978)
 * Groove Funk Soul (Atlantic, 1960)
 * Sonny's Dream (Birth of the New Cool) (Prestige, 1968)
 * Get Up & Get It! – includes Pat Martino on guitar (Prestige, 1967)
 * Welcome Home (World Pacific, 1968)
 * That's the Way It Is (Impulse!, 1969)
 * Just the Way It Had to Be (Impulse!, 1969)
 * Memphis Jackson (Impulse!, 1969)
 * Golden Days (HiFi Jazz, 1960; reissued on Original Jazz Classics)
 * Ain't Misbehavin' (Galaxy, 1978)
 * Feeling Good (Liberty, 1965)
 * My Son the Jazz Drummer! (Contemporary, 1962)
 * Les McCann Sings (Pacific Jazz, 1961)
 * McCann/Wilson (Pacific Jazz, 1964) with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra
 * West Coast 1945-1947 (Uptown, 2014)
 * Everybody Loves a Winner (Milestone, 1990)
 * Max Roach and Clifford Brown In Concert (Gene Norman Presents, 1954; reissued on GNP Crescendo)
 * Bluesmith (Verve, 1972)
 * Leroy Walks! – includes Gerald Wilson on trumpet (Contemporary, 1958)
 * Leroy Walks Again!! (Contemporary, 1963)
 * Volcano Blues (Verve, 1993)
 * You Better Believe It! (Pacific Jazz, 1961)
 * Moment of Truth (Pacific Jazz, 1962)
 * ''Portraits (Pacific Jazz, 1964)
 * On Stage (Pacific Jazz, 1965)
 * Feelin' Kinda Blues (Pacific Jazz, 1965)
 * The Golden Sword (Pacific Jazz, 1966)