Though jazz remained his first love, tenor saxophonist Sil Austin recorded in a variety of genres over the course of his long career, including R&B, jump blues, country, pop, and even (on one occasion) disco-ish funk. Born Silvester Austin in Dunnellon, FL, on September 17, 1929, Austin began playing around age 12, inspired by swing legends like Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. He moved to New York while still a teenager, and in 1946 won a talent show at the ~Apollo with a rendition of "Danny Boy." His biggest breaks came in 1949, when he joined up first with Roy Eldridge and then with Cootie Williams' ~Birdland house band, where he stayed for three years.
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