Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum
A pianist, singer and tenor saxophonist. A favorite in the St. Louis area jazz circles, he was hailed as one of the best jazz performers by the local music magazine and newspaper reporters. For decades, Peanuts delighted audiences all over St. Louis and the U.S. with his musical performances. Playing with greats such as Count Basie, Leontyne Price, Duke Ellington, and Nat "King" Cole. In 2014 Peanuts was inducted into the St. Louis Jazz Hall of Fame. Kirk Whalum's uncle, he was featured on Kirk's "Gospel According to Jazz" shows. Mac McDonnell took the photo I used as a reference for this portrait. Mac worked with Kirk and Hugh for many years. We lost Hugh in 2019. He was 91 This portrait is a tribute to him and the legacy of music he has left us.