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Teddy Hill, born December 7, 1909 in Birmingham, Alabama, was an American big band leader and musician. He played various instruments including drums, clarinet, soprano and tenor saxophone. In the 1920s, Hill performed with Luis Russell's orchestra before forming his own band in 1934. His band found steady work over the NBC radio network and featured notable musicians such as Roy Eldridge, Bill Coleman, Frankie Newton, and Dizzy Gillespie. They played regularly at the Savoy Ballroom and toured Europe in 1937. Hill's recording career began in 1935 with a session for ARC, followed by sessions for Vocalion in 1936 and Bluebird in 1937. Notable recordings include "(Lookie, Lookie, Lookie) Here Comes Cookie" and "Uptown Rhapsody". After leaving the band business, Hill managed Minton's Playhouse from 1940 to 1969, a seminal jazz club that became a hub for the bebop style. He passed away on May 19, 1978 in Cleveland, Ohio.
