Spotlight for October 05, 2007

SPOTLIGHT
for OCTOBER 5TH…

BIRTHDAYS

1915 Bob Astor, leader/trumpet/drums
b. New Orleans, LA, USA. né: Robert E. Dade. After working w/local groups in New Orleans and East Texas Oil Fields, he formed his first band in Los Angeles, CA, USA.- where he also worked as a DJ, night club manager and MC. In the early 1940s, he led an important band in New York City which though it never recorded, employed sidemen who would subsequently achieve fame. Among these men were trumpeters Neil Hefti; and Les Elgart; Tenor saxmen Illinois Jacquet, Zoot Sims and Corky Corcoran; on drums were Irv Kluger, Teddy Charles, Shelly Manne; Pianists Marty Napoleon, George Williams, and Lee DeLyon. After disbanding, he became a booking agent for a New York agency.

1918 Jimmy Blanton, Bass
b. Chattanooga, TN, USA.
d. July 30, 1942, Los Angeles, CA, USA
(age 21, tuberculosis).
Perhaps best recalled for his work with the 'Duke Ellington Orchestra'. As a child, Blanton first studied the violin, but switched to the Double Bass while attending Tennessee State Co. Early on, Blanton had played with the Jeter-Pillars and the Fate Marable bands in St. Louis When the Duke was in St. Louis, he heard Blanton, and immediately hired him (1939).
Speaking of Blanton, famed critic Leonard Feather has said: "From the fall of 1939 until two years later (1941), when he contracted Tuberculosis and left to spend the rest of his brief life in California, Blanton exercised an incalculable influence in transforming the use of the string bass in jazz. Before his day, it had rarely been used for anything but quarter-notes in ensemble or solos.
Blanton improvised as if the bass were a horn, phrasing fluently with frequent eithth- and sixteenth-note runs, using harmonic and melodic ideas that were unheard of on the instrument. The clarity of his tone, the definition and timing of his notes, made earlier exponents seem like amateurs." At times, Blanton recorded as the other half of the "Blanton-Webster band." Ben Webster, one of the finest swing tenor sax players ever, and Jimmy Blanton, bassist extraordinaire. Some musicologists have pointed out the curious and tragic symmetry between the lives of Bassist Jimmy Blanton and Guitarist Charlie Christian (b. Dallas, TX, and grew up in Oklahoma City, OK, USA). In the fall of 1939, both "string" players became members of a major Big Band (Christian joined Benny Goodman's band). Both men completely re-wrote the vocabularies of their instruments, both never led recording sessions of their own, both played at birth-of-Bop jam sessions at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem, and both died in their twenties (Christian was 25) from the same illness (tuberculosis) in the same year.
BBC Bio:
www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/jazz...lanton.shtml

1908 Kalle Engstrom
Clarinet/Saxophone/Arranger
b. Oslo, Norway, d. July 17, 1955.

1893 Frank Guarente, Trumpet
Born: Montemilleto, Southern Italy
5th October 1893, died: U.S.A., 21st July 1942
Began on trumpet during childhood. Emigrated to the U,S.A. in 1910 to join his brother in Allentown, Pennsylvania; played with local bands, then moved to New Orleans in 1914. Worked in a bank for a while, then became professional musician-swapped lessons with King Oliver. Played residencies at Kolb Restaurant, Tom Anderson's, Triangle Theatre Orchestra, and worked with the Mars Brass Band. Left New Orleans (c. 1916), did solo act in Texas, then played with Alabama Five prior to serving in the U.S. Army during World War 1. Returned to Texas (c. 1919), then played with Charlie Kerr's Band in Philadelphia. Joined Paul Specht in 1921 and directed the orchestra's small group The Georgians.

Visited Europe in 1922, then rejoined Specht until May 1924 (including residency in London-June-August 1923). Visited Europe in May 1924, from September 1924 led The New Georgians in Europe until joining pianist Carroll Gibbon's Savoy Orpheans in London (January 1927). Played with various leaders in London, then returned to U.S.A. in 1928 and rejoined Paul Specht for two years. Did studio work throughout the 1930s; worked with Victor Young's Orchestra, the Dorsey Brothers, Harry Salter's Orchestra, etc., etc. Illness forced retirement from playing in the early 1940s.

1912 Ernst Hollerhagen
Clarinet/Saxophone
b. Wuppertal, Germany
d. July 11, 1956

1905
Lebert Lombardo
trumpet
b: London-Ontario, Canada
d. June 16, 1993, Ft. Myers, FL, USA.
One of the Lombardo brothers.

Bio:
www.dotydocs.com/Archives/...lebert.htm
Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
www.redhotjazz.com/lombardo.html

1890 Rev. F.W. McGee
(Country gospel) vocals
b. Winchester, TN, USA.
né Ford Washington McGee.
Initially, McGee and His Jubilee Chorus, preached and sang in the "revival" tents. In 1925, he built a congregation in Oklahoma City, -with the assistance of the noted sanctified (born blind) singer/pianist Arizona Dranes. ("Juanita" Arizona Dranes b. Dallas, TX, USA, ca 1905. She is believed to have been of Mexican and African-American heritage). Fort Worth-based minister, Samuel Crouch, suggested to an Okeh Records talent scout Richard M. Jones that Dranes be given a recording test.
Blues singer Sara Martin agreed to travel to Fort Worth and help the blind Dranes make it to Chicago for her test on June 17, 1926. It was very successful, and Dranes subsequently 'cut' a half dozen more records for Okeh before returning home. On November 15, 1926, Dranes returned to Chicago, and this time partnered with "Rev. Ford Washington McGee and His Jubilee Choir". The four numbers recorded that day were the first of thirteen recording sessions for McGee. As the 'Rev. F.W. McGee', he would become a popular recording artist for Victor. In the 1940s, McGee may have recorded with the Library of Congress, an honor he owed to Dranes, who originally set up the date with Okeh.

1915
Ala Mae Miller
piano, GA, USA.

1910
Fred Norman
Arranger/composer
b. Leesburg, FL, USA.
d. Feb. 19, 1993
Verve Bio:
www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx


1933 Billy Lee Riley
harmonica/guitar
b. Pocahontas, AR, USA.
Born to a sharecropper family, during the great 1930s economic depression, Billy's carear has spanned 5 decades. In the 1950s, he was working at Sun Studios in Memphis, TN. with a trio of himself, Roland James and J.M. Van Eaton. They called themselves 'The Little Green Men', -the name of Riley's first hit. In the 1960s, Billy Lee was working in Las Angeles, CA as a session man in the studios. There he worked with such stars as Herb Alpert, Sammy Davis Jr., The Beach Boys, Pearl Bailey, and many more. The 1970s found him touring Europe to various Rock and Roll festivals. In the 1980s, he did continue to tour Europe, and also worked at Newport, RI festivals. During this time he found a new career playing the music he grew up with, -'Gut Bucket' Blues, or Delta Blues In the 1990s, the Smithsonian interviewed him for their archives. In 1992, Billy also released his first all Blues CD "Blue Collar Blues". He remains active (2000).
RAB Hall of Fame: Billy Lee Riley
www.rockabillyhall.com/BLR.html
Billy Lee Riley - Home Page
www.rockabilly.net/billyleeriley/
Billy Lee Riley
www.deltaboogie.com/deltamusicians/

1914
Dick Todd, vocalist
b: Montreal, Canada.
d. May, 1973.

Often called the "King of the Jukebox", and the "Canadian Crosby", he was heard regularly on Canadian radio before relocating to the U.S. in 1938. Worked in the Larry Clinton band, then went "solo", and was heard on a great many different radio programs, as well as recording for Victor and their Bluebird label. Had his own radio series in the 1940s. In 1945, he was featured with singer Dinah Shore on the popular Lucky Strike sponsored "Your Hit Parade" show. Apparently, Todd (a red-haired Irishman) told a lot of tales about his background. He claimed to be born in Alberta, but he was born in Montreal. He claimed to attend McGill University in Montreal, but no record exists that he was ever there. He was married, but essentially abandoned his family when he became popular in the US. However, he was popular, but went into obscurity after WWII. According to his biographer, he ended up as a side-show barker, a circus roustabout, and a stage-hand for the early Ed Sullivan Show, but then disappeared. He did hang around lower Manhattan for awhile, but no one could remember what happened to him.
Bio:
www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/in...cfm
Hasmick Info:
www.hasmick.demon.co.uk/jascd-...33.html

1905 Irvine "Pinky" Vidacovich, clarinet
b: New Orleans, LA, USA.
Played with "The New Orleans Owls", "The Princeton Revelers" and "The WWL Dawn Busters". 1905 Arthur Whetsol, Trumpet, b: Punta Gorda, FL, USA. d: 1940. Good Friend of Duke Ellington and member of band from inception till 1937 (illness forced him to leave). Featured 1920s records incl: Dicty Glide; Stevedore Stomp; Black Beauty; Big House Blues; Rocky Mountain Blues; Misty Morning.
Arthur Whetsol, one of the original members in Duke Ellington's Washingtonians, had an attractive tone, impressive technique, and a very lyrical style that set a standard for Ellington; in future years Harold "Shorty" Baker filled a similar role with Duke.
A childhood friend of Ellington, Whetsol came to New York with Duke to join Elmer Snowden's group in 1923 but left a year later to study medicine at Howard University. He eventually returned to music and was a fixture in Duke's orchestra during 1928-1936 until a brain disorder forced him to permanently retire. Featured prominently in Ellington's 1929 film short Black and Tan, Whetsol took many fine solos in the late '20s when his melodic style was a contrast to that of Bubber Miley and (a little later) Cootie Williams, most notably on "Mood Indigo," "Black and Tan Fantasy," and "Black Beauty"; his role became less prominent in the 1930s.
~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Notable Events
on this date include:

1971.
Tommy Magness
fiddler for Roy Acuff,
and Bill Monroe, died.
Age: 54

1981.
Al Cooper
tenor sax, died in NY. USA.
Age: 70. (and The Savoy Sultans)

1986. Manny Sayle
guitar/banjo
died in New Orleans, LA. USA.
Age: 79

1989.
Skeets Marsh, drums
died in Philadelphia, PA. USA.
Age: 62.
Worked with Sammy Price, and Count Basie

Songs Recorded/Released
on this date include:

1916
"Don't Leave Me, Daddy"
~Marion Harris
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/ha...daddy.ram

1920
"Dottie Dimples"
~All Star Trio
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/al...mples.ram

1920
"12th Street Rag"
~All Star Trio
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/al...thrag.ram

1921
"The Memphis Blues"
~Esther Bigeou
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/bi...blues.ram

1921
"The St. Louis Blues"
~Esther Bigeou
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/bi...blues.ram

1923
"I've Got A Cross Eyed Papa"
~Marion Harris
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/ha...dpapa.ram

1927
"Have Mercy"
~Blythe's Owls
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/bl...mercy.ram

1927
"Hot Stuff"
~Blythe's Owls
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/bl...stuff.ram

1927
"Poutin' Papa"
~Blythe's Owls
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/bl...npapa.ram

1927
"Weary Way Blues"
~Blythe's Owls
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/bl...blues.ram

1927
"At The Jazz Band Ball"
~Bix Beiderbecke and his Gang
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/bi...ejazz.ram

1927
"Jazz Me Blues"
~Bix Beiderbecke and his Gang
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/bi...blues.ram

1927
"Royal Garden Blues"
~Bix Beiderbecke and his Gang
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/bix/rgblues.ram

1939 "Can I Help It"
Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights (recording date) on Columbia

1944 "Together "
Dick Haymes voc.
1944 "Dance With A Dolly (With A Hole In Her Stocking)"
voc: Evelyn Knight

Currently listening : Bix Beiderbecke, Vol. 2: At the Jazz Band Ball By Bix Beiderbecke