I-435 West KC-KS in Kansas City in Wyandotte County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Lester Young

Alto Saxophonist

— Kansas City Jazz —

Lester Young Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jason Voigt, May 26, 2022

1. Lester Young Marker

Inscription. Alto saxophonist Lester Young was born August 27, 1909 in Woodville, Mississippi. His musically inclined father taught Young and his siblings to play a number of instruments. In 1927, he played with Art Bronson's Bostonians. By 1933, with Kansas City as his base, he took the stage with jazz greats like Bennie Moten, George E. Lee, Clarence Love, King Oliver and Coleman Hawkins. Young rose to national fame after joining and touring with Count Basie. He recorded with Billie Holiday who nicknamed him "The Prez."

Erected by Legends Outlets.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is August 27, 1909.

Location. 39° 7.622′ N, 94° 49.633′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Kansas, in Wyandotte County. It is in I-435 West KC-KS. Marker can be reached from Village West Parkway. Marker is on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets shopping/entertainment complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1865 Village West Pkwy, Kansas City KS 66109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Joe Sanders (here, next to this marker); Wilt Chamberlain (a few steps from this marker); Barry Sanders (within shouting distance of this marker); Tom S. Watson

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Mary Lou Williams (within shouting distance of this marker); Ralph Houk (within shouting distance of this marker); Adolph F. Rupp (within shouting distance of this marker); Wilbur "Buck" Clayton (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.

Regarding Lester Young. This is one of several sidewalk plaques placed on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets shopping/entertainment complex, which highlight notable people and inventions that came from the state of Kansas.

Also see . . . Lester Young on Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 8, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed By Jason Voigt, May 26, 2022

2. Lester Young Marker

Marker is on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets complex.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 77 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 8, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.