With the passing of Wild Bill Davison in 1989, Ernie Carson has come the closest of anyone to filling the gap left by the colorful and highly expressive cornetist. Carson began playing trumpet while in grammar school and was working in theater bands by the time he was a junior in high school. A member of the Castle Jazz Band during 1954-1956 before spending two years in the Marines, Carson played with such groups in the Los Angeles area as those led by banjoist Dave Wierbach, Jig Adams, and Ray Bauduc before joining Turk Murphy (1961-1962). Carson has appeared in countless settings (including with singer Pat Yankee) and has often led his own groups, including the Capital City Jazz Band (since 1972) and his own Castle Jazz Band (starting in 1992). Carson, who doubles effectively on piano and is also an exuberant and humorous singer, lived in Atlanta during 1972-1995 and is based out of Oregon. He has recorded as a leader for Pearl (1964), Jazzology, GHB, Fat Cat's Jazz, and Stomp Off, and is considered one of the top classic jazz cornetists. ~ Scott Yanow