b. 4 December 1915, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, d. 2 January 1989, North Miami, Florida, USA. Heywood received his first piano lessons from his father, also named Eddie, who was a well-known bandleader in the 20s. Heywood joined his father, playing piano in the pit band at an Atlanta theatre. He also accompanied singers, including Bessie Smith, and thereafter worked in various small jazz groups, including those led by Wayman Carver, Benny Carter and Don Redman. His gift for accompanying singers was displayed by his recordings with Billie Holiday and Alberta Hunter. In 1943 he took a sextet into the Cafe Society Downtown, being billed as the "Biggest Little Band in the Land". The type of music they played, and their billing, placed them in direct competition with John Kirby but, thanks to the presence of Doc Cheatham and Vic Dickenson, they held their own.

Listen to Eddie Heywood at Finetune.

• (2005)  Eddie Heywood

• Tenderly
• Old Fashioned Walk
• Soft Summer Breeze
• Heywood's Bounce
• Let's Fall In Love

• Dizzy Gillespie's Big Four
• George Shearing
• Steely Dan
• The Temptations
• Bill Evans
• Bud Powell
• Buddy Rich Quartet
• Gerry Mulligan
• Hampton Hawes
• Herbie Hancock
• Miles Davis
• Thelonious Monk
• Dave Brubeck
• Dexter Gordon
• Lee Morgan
• Conley Graves Trio
• Good Time Blues: The Ultimate Tenor Sax Collection
• Christopher Cross
• Fleetwood Mac
• Air Supply

• eddielin11