In 1933, he became a member of the Jeter-Pillar Orchestra in Cleveland, and after a year moved to New York and joined the Count Basie Orchestra. His colleagues included Buck Clayton, Lester Young (who named him "Sweets"), Buddy Tate, Freddie Green, Jo Jones and other original members of that famous band.
"Sweets" Edison came to prominence as a soloist with the Basie Band and as an occasional composer/arranger for the band. He also appeared in the 1944 film 'Jammin' The Blues'.
When the Basie Band temporarily disbanded in 1950, Edison pursued a varied career as leader of his own groups, traveling with Jazz at the Philharmonic and freelancing with other orchestras. In the early 1950s, he settled on the West Coast and became a highly sought-after studio musician, making important contributions to recordings by such artists as Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
According to the "Encyclopedia of Jazz in the '70's", Edison in the 1960s and 1970s continued to work in many orchestras on TV shows, including 'Hollywood Palace' and 'Leslie Uggams Show', specials with Frank Sinatra; prominently featured on the sound track and in the sound track album of the film, 'Lady Sings the Blues'. From 1973 Edison acted as Musical Director for Redd Foxx on theatre dates, at concerts and in Las Vegas. For the past two decades he appeared frequently in Europe and Japan until shortly before his demise. As LAJI's first Tribute Honoree, "Sweets" will always have a special place in our hearts.
Sweets Edison was the Los Angeles Jazz Society's Tribute Honoree twice - in 1983 and in 1992.