Sil Austin, 1929-2001

Atlanta tenor saxophonist Sil Austin died Sept. 1 from prostate cancer. He was 71.

Born Silvester Austin in Dunellon, Fla., Sept. 17, 1929, Austin's passion for music was apparent early on. By age 12, he had his first saxophone. "Love at first sight!" he would say later.

Soon, Austin moved to New York to study music. Captivated by the music of Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and others, Austin landed a gig, while still a teen, with bandleader Roy "Little Jazz" Eldridge. Later, he joined Cootie Williams' house band at Birdland, which enabled him to work with the likes of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Max Roach and Dizzy Gillespie.

Austin signed with Mercury Records in the mid-'50s and scored his own Top 10 hits with "Slow Walk" and "Birthday Party." Over 12 years, Austin recorded in musical settings ranging from full orchestral accompaniment to Nashville-based country/western. He later recorded for independent labels, including the 1991 TriSaxual Soul Champs release on Black Top Records, which also featured Atlanta saxophonist Grady "Fats" Jackson. Austin released more than 30 albums in all.

"I've always thought of music as an all-around art form," Austin said. "I like all types of music — jazz, country, blues — and I've played it all and recorded it all. I don't like to be pigeonholed."

In 1973, Austin moved to Atlanta with his wife, the Rev. Vernice Austin, an Atlanta native. In the last years of his life, Austin played frequently at Sambuca Jazz Cafe, first with Chris Chandler's band and then with his own group, Sil Austin and Friends. His last appearance was at Manny's in Union City in July.

He had planned to record a gospel album and write an autobiography. However, Austin, who survived a bout with prostate cancer in 1997 and a heart attack and stroke in 1999, learned in July that his cancer had returned. He died at Portsbridge Hospice in Riverdale.

A gracious, soft-spoken, charming man, Austin is survived by his wife of 52 years, two daughters, two brothers, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.??