An excellent guitarist influenced after 1939 by
Charlie Christian,
Oscar Moore was an invaluable part of
the Nat King Cole Trio during 1937-1947, appearing on virtually all of
Cole's records during the period. He also recorded with
Lionel Hampton,
Art Tatum (1941), the Capitol Jazzmen, and
Lester Young. Unfortunately,
Moore's post-
Cole career was not that successful. He played with his brother
Johnny Moore in
the Three Blazers from 1947 to the mid-'50s (the group declined in popularity after pianist/singer
Charles Brown left) and he recorded three records for Verve and Tampa during 1953-1954, but then was largely outside of music with the exception of a 1965
Cole tribute album.
–
Scott Yanow, Rovi