Alvin Tyler

Who was Alvin Tyler?

Alvin "Red" Tyler was an American R&B and neo-bop jazz saxophonist and arranger.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Tyler grew up listening to the city's marching bands. He began playing saxophone when in the US Navy and by 1950 had joined Dave Bartholomew’s R&B band. He also played jazz in club jam sessions. He made his recording debut on Fats Domino’s “The Fat Man” and went on to play on sessions for Little Richard, Lloyd Price, Aaron Neville, Lee Dorsey, Dr. John, and numerous other rhythm and blues artists.

From the mid-1960s he worked as a liquor salesman. He also began leading his own jazz band in clubs and hotel residencies in New Orleans. While the baritone saxophone had been his primary instrument during his years as a studio musician, his jazz playing gradually came to rely much more on tenor saxophone. In the mid-1980s he recorded two jazz albums, Graciously and Heritage, with vocals by Johnny Adams and Germaine Bazzle, for Rounder Records.

At the age of 65, he had a daughter Tajara Brieanne Simms, who currently lives in Temple Hills, Maryland.

Tyler died at age 72 in New Orleans.