Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson: Folks Called Him Mr. Cleanhead

TWO YEARS ago Eddie Vinson took part in a sax summit show at the Music Machine in West Los Angeles. In the artist's lounge before the show, the participants – Red Holloway, Plas Johnson, Big Jay McNeely and Vinson – chowed down on a soul food buffet. Holloway balanced a plastic plate on his stomach and made an idle comment between mouthfuls. "You know," he said, "what would really set these greens off? A big piece of cornbread and some hot sauce."