Theodore Leroy "Teddy" Bunn was an American blues and jazz guitarist, vocalist, and composer.
Background
Bunn was born in Freeport, New New York Bunn"s father played accordion and harmonica. His mother played organ in a church.
Bunn was given a guitar by his father, who also gave him some basic instruction.
Apart from this, Bunn was self-taught.
Career
He had two brothers, Kenneth and Jimmy. He never learned to read music, so played by ear. In 1929 Bunn began recording with Duke Ellington as a guest performer.
From 1929 to 1931, Bunn played with The Washboard Serenaders.
He recorded with the Spirits of Rhythm from 1932 to 1937 and again from 1939 to 1941. Bunn recorded with such musicians as Sidney Bechet, Hadda Brooks, Johnny Dodds, J.C. Higginbotham, Lionel Hampton and Jimmie Noone.
Bunn played electric guitar from 1940. He recorded solo numbers for Blue Note Records in 1940.
After this, his popularity apparently declined.
By the 1970s Bunn played electric guitar almost exclusively in Rhythm & Blues bands. He suffered a stroke after joining Louis Jordan"s band and was unwell for more than a decade following lieutenant He died on July 20, 1978 in Lancaster Hospital, California.
Bunn"s playing was "predominantly melodic rather than chordal".
He did not use a pick. He used "mostly my thumb, that"s how I figured it when I first had that first guitar.".