Jack McVea

Jack McVea (1914–2000) was an American swing, blues, and rhythm and blues woodwind player; he played clarinet and tenor and baritone saxophone. His father was the noted banjoist Satchel McVea, and banjo was Jack's first instrument.

After playing jazz in Los Angeles for severl years, he joined Lionel Hampton's orchestra in 1940. From 1944 on he mostly worked as a leader. Perhaps his most impressive performance as a sideman in those years was at the first Jazz at the Philharmonic concert in 1944. From 1966 till his retirement in the 1980s he led a group which played traditional jazz at Disneyland.

His best known record is of "Open the Door, Richard" (which he co-wrote), which was a hit in 1947 and was recorded by many other artists. He is also known for his playing on T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday."