Oliver Todd

Who was Oliver Todd?

Oliver C. Todd was an American Jazz band leader, organ, piano, and trumpet player. He was born in Kansas City, United States. He was one of the city's most famous band leaders and led a band known as the Hottentots which included, at various times, the following musicians Tiny Davies formerly with The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Gene Ramey, Winston Williams, Bill Graham later with Count Basie and Ellington, Clifford Love, Eddie McClelland & Clayborn Graves. In 1992, he won the KC Jazz jazz Heritage Award. He was also a friend of Charlie Parker. After his death, he was for some time was interred in an unmarked grave until The Coda Jazz Fund paid for a headstone for him.