Bandleader & pianist born in 1920 who enjoyed several hit jump blues & bawdy swing 78's on the New Jersey based De Luxe & Regal labels in the late 40's & early 50's before returning south to become a key figure in his hometown New Orleans booming late 50's Rock n Roll scene. Beginning a show biz career after his release from the military in 1946, he often worked with vocalist Annie Laurie. He toured extensively with package shows featuring Laurie as well as vocalist Jimmy Scott and musicians like Hank Mobley. Gayten's Orchestra ends up on Columbia's Okeh imprint in 1952 and releases various material before he eventually gets dropped & finds his way into the Chess records fold. ...show more

Bandleader & pianist born in 1920 who enjoyed several hit jump blues & bawdy swing 78's on the New Jersey based De Luxe & Regal labels in the late 40's & early 50's before returning south to become a key figure in his hometown New Orleans booming late 50's Rock n Roll scene. Beginning a show biz career after his release from the military in 1946, he often worked with vocalist Annie Laurie. He toured extensively with package shows featuring Laurie as well as vocalist Jimmy Scott and musicians like Hank Mobley. Gayten's Orchestra ends up on Columbia's Okeh imprint in 1952 and releases various material before he eventually gets dropped & finds his way into the Chess records fold.

The Chess Bros. soon had him moving laterally to the Checker imprint and later Argo. During this period he was a live staple for 6 years running at the busy Brass Rail Club in the Crescent City. By 1956 he had ended up charting high on the Argo offshoot label with the instrumental "Nervous Boogie".

His band at the time included hot players like Earl Palmer on drums, Lee Allen on sax and Edgar Blanchard on guitar. After years of hard touring Gayten eventually curtailed his road & recording efforts and became a Chess A & R man signing Eddie Bo and others. Gayten's most lasting legacy likely occured when he brought Clarence Frogman Henry into the national limelight in late 1956 with the hit "Ain't Got No Home". Gayten helped the frogman score big again with "But I Do" , a tune co-written with Bobby Charles that hit #4 on the pop charts in 1961. ...show less