"Stride" piano player Ralph Sutton, known for his longtime gig at Eddie Condon's jazz club in New York City in the late 1940s and early 1950s, died Dec. 29 in Evergreen, Colo. He was 79 and had suffered a stroke about 10 years ago.
Missouri-born musician learned the precise, bubbly style as a boy and made his professional debut at 11 in his father's band. He joined the band of the trombonist Jack Teagarden, was drafted into the Army during World War II, then returned to Teagarden until the band broke up.
He made a name for himself in 1947 on the weekly radio show "This Is Jazz." A year later, he started working at Condon's club and was one of the founders of the World's Greatest Jazz Band in 1968.
He made a number of recordings, working in the duo format with players such as Jay McShann, Ruby Braff and Kenny Davern.
He is survived by his wife, Sunnie; three sons and seven grandchildren.
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