Al Norris spent almost his entire career as a rhythm guitarist with Jimmie Lunceford's Orchestra. He started off professionally in 1927 as a banjoist in upstate New York. Five years later he joined Lunceford, switching within a year from banjo to guitar (although he occasionally played violin). Other than a period in the military, Norris was with Lunceford from 1932-49, staying two years after the leader's death as it operated as a struggling ghost band. After its breakup, he gigged and recorded with Eddie Wilcox (Lunceford's pianist) in a short-lived group and then retired from music, working for the post office. Norris took occasional short solos with Lunceford in the 1930s, although he never led his own record date. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi