In 1936, Kersey moved to New York City, where he played with
Lucky Millinder,
Billy Hicks,
Frankie Newton,
Billie Holiday,
Roy Eldridge,
Red Allen, and
Cootie Williams. In 1942, he replaced
Mary Lou Williams as
Andy Kirk's pianist; Kirk recorded his composition "Boogie Woogie Cocktail". He was in the
Army from 1943 to 1945, where he sometimes played trumpet in military bands, then played from 1946 to 1949 with the
Jazz at the Philharmonic touring ensembles. He continued to perform with such musicians as Eldridge and Allen, as well as
Buck Clayton,
Edmond Hall,
Sol Yaged, and
Charlie Shavers. Kersey retired from music in the late 1950s, because of medical problems that have described as a "bone ailment" or "a stroke and related cardiovascular problems". He recorded twelve tunes as a bandleader: four for
Savoy Records in 1946, two for
Clef Records in 1949, two for
Circle Records in 1950, and four for Foxy Records in 1951 which featured
Hot Lips Page and
Paul Quinichette as sidemen. Kersey died in New York City on April 1, 1983. ==Discography==