From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Thu Dec 5, 2002  6:20 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Red Tyler
 
ALVIN "RED" TYLER

Born 5 December 1925, New Orleans, Louisiana
Died 3 April 1998, New Orleans, Louisiana

Saxophonist.
Red Tyler's first love was jazz, but rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll paid
the bills better. He is perhaps best known for playing tenor and baritone
saxophone in Cosimo Matassa's studio band, the group used on hundreds
of sessions and which defined the classic 1950's New Orleans sound.
During the fifties Tyler recorded with Little Richard, Fats Domino, Lloyd
Price, Smiley Lewis, Guitar Slim, Shirley and Lee and Bobby Mitchell, to
name but a few. He also acted as a producer, composer, arranger and
photographer for Johnny Vincent's Ace label, overseeing sessions by
Frankie Ford, Jimmy Clanton, and Huey "Piano" Smith.
After WW II, Tyler enrolled in Grunwald's School of Music in New Orleans,
and in 1949 he was invited to join Dave Bartholomew's Orchestra, then the
hottest band in the Crescent City. This led to his prolific studio work, where
Tyler earned a reputation as a humble, talented and dependable musician,
who seemed most comfortable in a support role and took pride in helping
other artists reach their potential.
In 1961 he cut an LP of sax instrumentals ("Rockin' and Rollin'") for Ace,
credited to Alvin "Red" Tyler and the Gyros. The highlight was the storming
"Snake Eyes", which was also released as a single. Tyler didn't get the
chance to promote his records, being too busy in the studio. After leaving
Ace in the early sixties, he helped form AFO Records with Harold Battiste,
moved to the West Coast where he worked with Sam Cooke, returned to
New Orleans in the mid-60s, played in jazz combos and recorded two jazz
LPs for Rounder.
He died at his New Orleans home in 1998 of natural causes. Posthumously,
the New Orleans Jazz Festival organised a Red Tyler tribute concert which
featured many musicians that were influenced and assisted by Tyler during
his long career.

CD: Alvin 'Red' Tyler and the Gyros, Simply 'Red'. Westside WESM 529.
The 1961 album plus six previously unissued alternates.
Further reading: John Broven, Walking To New Orleans (1974).