Eddie Layton, master organist

Many Yankee fans viewed Eddie Layton as the benevolent grandfather of Yankee Stadium. He was always there, and his organ music seemed like a throwback to another era. But there was much more to Eddie Layton than some fun pre-game organ music and a rockin’ rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Layton was a pioneer of one of my favorite jazz instruments — the Hammond Organ — in his own right. For a great piece on Layton, his time at Yankee Stadium, his contribution to the organ field and 33 very rare MP3s of Layton’s organ work, check out this excellent piece at WFMU’s music blog.