For a brief period of time, Dan Minor was the main trombone soloist with Count Basie's Orchestra but he was eventually overshadowed by stronger players; ironically, he is still best known for his period with Basie. Minor started out playing professionally in 1926 with the Blue Moon Chasers in Dallas. Minor worked in the Midwest with Walter Page's Blue Devils (1927-29), Ben Smith's Blue Syncopators, Earl Dykes, Gene Coy's Black Aces, Lloyd Hunter's Serenaders, Alphonso Trent (1931) and Bennie Moten's final orchestra (1931-34). Minor joined Basie's big band in Kansas City in 1936 and stayed for five years, through Basie's successes in New York. Minor was eventually underfeatured due to the presence of Benny Morton, Dicky Wells and Vic Dickenson at various times in the trombone section. After leaving Basie, Minor was with the orchestras of Buddy Johnson (1941-44), Mercer Ellington, Lucky Millinder and Willie Bryant (1946). He retired from full-time playing when the swing era ended, but played on a part-time basis throughout the remainder of his life. In addition to Basie, Minor recorded with Walter Page (1929), Bennie Moten (including on his classic session in 1932), Sidney Bechet (1938) and Buddy Johnson, but never led his own record date. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi