Quick Facts
Biography
Peter Michael "Pete" Yellin (July 18, 1941 – April 13, 2016) was an American jazz saxophonist and educator. He lived most of his life in New York and later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he had lived since 2006.
Early years and education
Yellin is the son of a former NBC studio pianist, and he learned his first musical lessons from his father. He began playing in the late 1950s after hearing the alto saxophonist Art Pepper. He turned down an athletic scholarship at the University of Denver and came back home to New York to study at Juilliard under Joseph Allard (saxophone), Augustine Duques (clarinet) and Harold Bennett (flute). After graduation from Juilliard he started to work in the New York area. He went on to earn a Master's degree in saxophone at Brooklyn College.
Professional career
During the 1960s he went on to work with Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, and Tito Puente; he also worked with Joe Henderson's band from 1970 to 1973. Later in the 1970s he would go on to play with Mario Bauza, Hampton again, Maynard Ferguson, Sam Jones, Charles Earland, and The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. In 1974 he formed his own band and was featured at the Newport Jazz Festival.
As a sideman, Yellin has worked extensively with Bob Mintzer, Eddie Palmieri, George Benson, Machito, Chick Corea, to include many others.
As educator
He founded the jazz program at Long Island University in 1984, he was coordinator for the studio there until the end of the 1990s.
Stroke
In the Spring of 2011, Pete had a major stroke that left him paralyzed on one side and unable to speak due to aphasia. He passed on April 13, 2016 due to complications from the 2011 stroke.
Discography as leader
- Dance of Allegra (Mainstream Records], 1973)
- It's the Right Thing (Mainstream, 1973)
- European Connection: Live! (Jazz4Ever, 1995)
- It's You or No One (Mons Records, 1996)
- Mellow Soul (Metropolitan Records, 1999)
- How Long Has This Been Going On? (Jazzed Media, 2009)