Rozelle Ivory Gayle (February 24, 1919 – December 6, 1986) was an American jazz pianist, comic entertainer and actor.
Biography Born in Chicago, he studied at the American Conservatory of Music before working as a pianist with Roy Eldridge's band, recording with them in 1943.Bob Eagle, Eric LeBlanc, Blues: A Regional Experience, ABC-CIO, 2013, p.65"West Coast Hails Pianist-Singer Called The 'New Fats Waller'", Jet, 3 September 1953, pp.56-57 A follower of Art Tatum, he moved to southern California in 1948, and started performing as a solo act in clubs. In 1953, he had a residency in Santa Ana, California. A review in Jet magazine described his "boogie-to-Bach repertoire" and claimed he was being hailed as "the new Fats Waller". He recorded several tracks for the Combo label in the mid-1950s, including some using the name Paul Preston.
In 1958, he recorded the album Like, Be My Guest – An Evening With Rozelle Gayle for Mercury Records. The album combined jazz with hipster comedy."Like, Be My Guest – An Evening With Rozelle Gayle", DustyGroove.com. Retrieved September 16, 2015 He also recorded with Benny Carter in 1964. He released a second album, Sex Cracks on the Dooto label in 1967; the album was promoted as "America's maddest album yet", containing "super sidesplitting sex-humor galore!" Billboard, 13 May 1967, p.20 Gayle also acted in many movies, including The Devil's Daughter (1973), Coast to Coast, The Man with Bogart's Face (both 1980), and Honkytonk Man (1982).To Zelle Gayle also did television appearances. Gayle appeared in Barnaby Jones; episode titled,"The Lonely Victims"(01/08/1976). Rozelle Gayle, IMdB.com. Retrieved September 16, 2015
He died of cancer in Los Angeles in 1986, aged 67."Service Set Today for Entertainer Rozelle Gayle", LA Times, 11 December 1986. Retrieved September 16, 2015
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1949 The Joint is Jumpin' Himself 1973 The Devil's Daughter Fedora TV movie1973 Blood, Black and White 1975 The Jeffersons Bill Simpson Episode: "Mr. Piano Man"1975 Let's Do It Again Exhibition Boxing Match Announcer Uncredited1975 ‘’Good Times’’ Annoying barfly Episode: "Florida’s Rich Cousin"1976 Starsky & Hutch Toby Episode: "Losing Streak"1976 Sanford and Son Sgt. Perkins / Dan 2 episodes1978 ‘’Good Times’’ FrazeeEpisode: "The Boarder"1976–1978 Barnaby Jones Rambo / Alf Wortman 2 episodes1980 The Man with Bogart's Face Mastodon 1980 Coast to Coast Orderly 1982 Honkytonk Man Club Manager
Discography Like, Be My Guest (Mercury, 1958) Sex Cracks (Dooto, 1967)
References 7. Demetria Fulton previewed Rozelle Gayle in Barnaby Jones; episode titled, "The Lonely Victims"(01/08/1976).