Complete Oral History List

Oral History and Research Materials: Complete List

This is the table of complete contents for the oral history project of St. Louis are jazz musicians. It is part of the National Ragtime and Jazz Archive which is located in Lovejoy Library at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Musicians available on this page: Claude Abney, Theodore Bibb, Eubie Blake, Gilbert Bowers, Robert Carter, Eddie Johnson, Leon King, Singleton Palmer, Hayes Pillars, Eddie Randle, Vertna Saunders, Leon Smith, Llyod A. Smith, and Ralph Sutton.

If interested in reviewing these materials from the National Ragtime and Jazz Archive, please contact Therese Dickman, Fine Arts Librarian.

Narrator's Name: Claude Abney

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 015-074 Birth, Parents, Musical influence of father

1 a 075-124 Musical memories, Liberty Burlesque House

1 a 125-196 Musical training, father as a professional musician, Banjo

teacher Lee Fowler

1 a 197-226 Bands heard on radio which may have influenced

1 a 227-261 Country-Western groups, KXOK, playing bass-1937

1 a 262-279 Begins big band music

1 a 280-323 Leaves St. Louis for Detroit, 1941, union member

1 a 324-460 Marriage, children, draft status, Ben Young's Band, Oriole

Terrace, hours, pay, band personnel

1 a 461-473 Musicians and show people who came to Detroit

1 a 474-491 Left Young's band, other clubs played

1 a 492-502 Type of music played

1 a 503-555 Casanova Club

1 a 556-587 Jam sessions, after hours clubs

1 a 588-614 Roxy Show Bar, Hank Jones

1 a 615-650 Jazz Bands visiting Detroit

1 a 651-663 Musician friends

1 a 664-678 Count Basie's Band

1 a 679-714 Michigan Theater, Detroit Ballrooms

1 a 715-740 Booking Offices

1 b 002-040 Leaving Detroit, moving back to St. Louis

1 b 041-104 Dixie Five Band, Wyoming Show Bar

1 b 105-163 Call from Pee Wee Hunt's Band

1 b 164-244 Personnel of Hunt Band, jobs in Detroit

1 b 245-307 Travel with Hunt Band, especially Puerto Rico

1 b 308-517 Same

1 b 518-552 Art Moranz

1 b 553-582 Hank Biagini Band

1 b 583-662 Bob-lo Boat

1 b 663-706 Return to St. Louis

1 b 671-731 Conclusion, remarks about project etc., Not Transcribed

1 b 707-713 Musician's Unions

1 b 714-723 Lake Resorts in Michigan

2 a 009-045 Job with Maloney Electric, retirement

2 a 046-132 Current jobs, Joe Wray Trio, City Lights band

2 a 133-179 Big events in St. Louis musical life, Sal Ferrante

2 a 180-228 Russ David

2 a 229-271 Bands that came to St. Louis

2 a 272-297 Jonah Jones

2 a 298-349 Other Detroit Groups played with, Georgia Auld

2 a 350-390 Jonah Jones visit to St. Louis

2 a 391-434 Caliber of jazz musicians in St. Louis and Detroit

2 a 435-449 Hottest jazz musicians

2 a 450-497 Meeting Walter Page-Abney's idol

2 a 498-528 Traveling with Pee Wee Hunt

2 a 529-608 Other musicians making impression on Abney, humorous

incidents

2 a 609-666 Arcadia Ballroom, Casa Loma Ballroom, touring bands

2 a 667-749 Pee Wee Hunt, traveling with, working for, leaving

2 b 002-067 Pee Wee Hunt, leaving, new material

2 b 068-105 Impact of radio and records on musicians

2 b 106-126 Future of Dixieland music

2 b 127-143 Boats of Mississippi River

2 b 144-165 First public performance

2 b 166-196 First paid job, family appearance, musical inclinations

2 b 197-347 Black musicians he and his father worked with and listened to

in St. Louis

2 b 348-364 Detroit

2 b 365-377 Claude's father

2 b 378-428 Black bands and musicians

2 b 429-455 How he would live life over

2 b 456-543 Musician friends, Sal Ferrante, Benny Weber

2 b 544-670 His father's jobs, support of Claude's music

Narrator's Name: Theodore Bibb

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 003-015 Introduction

1 a 016-076 Biographical; Birth, Family

1 a 077-138 First drums; music school, encouragement by father

1 a 139-169 First public appearance- Sunshine Sammy

1 a 170-241 Father's work with Simms Band; conflict between parents;

roadhouses

1 a 242-285 Other Bands

1 a 286-309 Simms Band-instrumentation

1 a 310-343 Father's theater bands

1 a 344-389 Lodge bands, parades, street bands; rehearsals

1 a 390-424 Pay of musicians

1 a 425-501 Playing at a tavern, trio, enlarging band

1 a 502-553 U.S. Army; St. Louis musicians sent to Fort Warren, Wyo.

1 a 554-582 Bandleader- S. Sgt. Smith, dance band, cowboy outfits

1 a 583-619 Military band - 50 men; small dance band - 8men

1 a 620-657 Andrew Chaplain, drummer; drum styles and methods

1 a 658-678 Club in Cheyenne; Jack McVey - Calif. drummer

1 a 679-717 Music writers in Army; Geo. Duvivier; learning from army band

1 a 718-736 Discharge U.S. Army; "gigging" jobs in St. Louis

1 b 003-082 Army Band - 353rd different places played

1 b 083-202 Stars appearing with Army band

1 b 203-260 After Army- bands played with; Clay Lock

1 b 261-285 Tina Nelson; Chuck Robinson

1 b 286-314 George Hudson Band 1950-53; Club Riveria; Showboat Club

1 b 315-365 Personnel of Hudson Band

1 b 366-408 Hudson - IRS trouble

1 b 409-467 Hours, arrangements, shows; Armstrong All-Stars personnel

1 b 468-539 Harriet Bibb talking; Band - Hotel job, Alton, other jobs

1 b 540-621 Cyrus Stoner Trio, jobs played; piano players with trio

1 b 622-689 Dewey Jackson; E. St. Louis & Collinsville jobs; personnel,

types of numbers, Jackson as leader

1 b 690-724 Jackson as ladies' man

1 b 725-739 Bibbs' father playing with Charles Creath and other early bands

2 a 004-105 Break-up of Jackson band; other groups; Jackson's double life

2 a 106-153 First marriage 1938

2 a 154-188 1946 - after army; jam sessions; "Tiger Joe" Smith

2 a 189-200 Noise on tape

2 a 201-224 great drummers

2 a 225-258 Bibb's favorite drummers and where he heard them

2 a 259-293 Max Roach Band - Personnel

2 a 294-348 Local drummers - Shaw; Thigpen, Oldham; Chick Booth

2 a 349-404 St. Louis Bands - Randle Band; George Border; Oliver Cobb

2 a 405-430 Listening to music on Riverboats - Capitol and J.S., late 20's

2 a 431-475 Bibb's father - playing on boat; Sunday band concerts

2 a 476-497 Black schools in St. Louis; father's musical ability

2 a 498-557 Archie Bell; 25th Infantry Band; traveling with band;

Washington State, Hawaii; father's death; father as a musician

2 a 558-579 Not transcribed

2 a 580-600 Peanuts Whalen; syncopation; drum style in father's time

2 a 601-616 Playing drums with records as a child; types of tunes

2 a 617-628 drum styles

2 a 629-683 Tina (La Coste) Nelson piano player

2 a 684-737 Drum solos; timing; fitting solo to time

2 b 003-110 Drum solos cont'd., change of tempo

2 b 111-224 Function of drums in a band

2 b 225-270 Roll of drummer in modern band

2 b 271-340 Harriet Bibb Not transcribed

2 b 341-365 Drums - importance in a band

2 b 366-375 Clubs on Delmar - The Barrel, the Windemere

2 b 376-402 Drumming in hotel bands - Different style

2 b 403-508 The drummer in jazz bands; support of soloists

2 b 509-572 Bibb's hobby as fire buff; interference with drumming

2 b 573-604 Hearing Count Basie Band in New York

2 b 605-618 Improving himself as a musician

2 b 619-628 Harriet

2 b 629-650 Bibb's favorite drummer Shadow Wilson

2 b 651-661 Function of drummer

2 b 662-715 Harriet

2 b 716-736 Harriet talks about Harvey Langford & other musicians

3 a 004-054 Harriet singing - "Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear from Me"

3 a 055-087 Harriet sings "Woke up This Mornin"

3 a 088-158 Harriet's early life, birth, father, Pittsburg

3 a 159-249 Harriet in show business; Lyric Theater, New Orleans

3 a 250-290 First touring job - Susie Sutton Bon Ton Review; Ethel Watters

3 a 291-320 Harriet Bibb sings "Am I Blue"

3 a 321-408 Road show - traveling; Kansas City; Plantation Club; learning

to play drums

Narrator's Name: Eubie Blake

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 015-050 Eubie as a nickname

1 a 051-065 Birth in Baltimore, 1883

1 a 066-104 Parents; as slave; family

1 a 105-114 Music in family

1 a 115-133 Longevity; Eubie's father

1 a 134-175 Eubie's father and the American flag

1 a 176-192 Lee Whipper, Porgy

1 a 193-283 How Eubie started playing the organ

1 a 284-307 First lessons; Margaret Marshall

1 a 308-319 Improvising on the organ

1 a 320-340 Ragtime, origins of

1 a 341-403 Eubie's girlfriend, her lawn party; Edgar Dow

1 a 404-449 Plays "Dream Rag"

1 a 450-480 Jessie Picket, Composer of "Dream Rag"

1 a 481-493 Basil Chase; Eubie age 15-16

1 a 494-508 Dr. Frisbee's medicine show

1 a 509-628 Job at Aggie Shelton's Place

1 a 629-634 Next job

1 a 635-648 Old Kentucky Show

1 a 649-654 Playing cabarets in New York

1 a 655-665 Type of music played in bordellos

1 a 666-702 Plays excerpts of music

1 a 703-709 1905; playing in New York and Atlantic City

1 a 710-712 Goldfield Hotel

1 b 063-095 Rags, classic flavor of

1 b 096-111 Composing of Charleston Rag

1 b 112-144 Learning show music

1 b 145-176 Jim Europe's band

1 b 177-224 Early rags - "Chevy Chase" and "Fizzwater"; publisher's tricks

-no royalties

1 b 225-274 Plays "Charleston Rag"

1 b 275-280 First musical comedy

1 b 281-394 Discrimination against blacks in show business; musicians

salaries; Keith Vaundeville. Dressing facilities for blacks;

Eubie's father on Decoration Day

1 b 395-406 Blank

1 b 407-491 Attitudes of young blacks; feelings of older blacks

1 b 492-504 First show; Shuffle Along

1 b 505-523 Playing in small towns

1 b 524-549 Getting from New Jersey to Washington, D.C.

1 b 550-565 Thomas Brothers and race track incident

1 b 566-580 Getting from Washington, D.C. to New York

1 b 581-592 Minstrel shows; comedians

1 b 593-599 Blank

1 b 600-645 Minstrel shows

1 b 646-668 Continued popularity of "I'm Just Wild about Harry"

1 b 669-704 Partnership with Noble Sissle

1 b 705-724 Josephine Baker

1 b 713-719 Blank

1 b 720-740 One-leg Willie

1 b 725-736 Countries played on tour

1 b 737- End of tape

1 b 740- End of side one

2 a 003-025 USO tours

2 a 026-038 Travels in U.S.; wife acts as agent

2 a 039-056 Recent compositions

2 a 057-105 Plays "Melodic Rag"

2 a 106-141 Present popularity of ragtime; what makes music ragtime

2 a 142- End of tape

Narrator's Name: Gilbert Bowers

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 001-131 Biographical, parents, family, employment

1 a 132-325 Early interest in music, lessons, favorite bands, high school

band, bands played with in teens

1 a 326-339 Friendship with Rod Cless

1 a 340-405 Husk O'Hare's Wolverines visit Des Moines

1 a 406-426 Local bands in Des Moines

1 a 427-518 Move to Chicago, jobs, clubs

1 a 519-648 Listening to Jazz bands in Chicago, clubs, personnel, types of

tunes played

1 a 649-748 Decision to move to New York, getting a job, Mike Speciale

Band, clubs, personnel, tunes

1 b 003-096 Rosemont Ballroom, Bert Stock Orchestra

1 b 097-190 Jefferson Ballroom, Detroit, first recording date

1 b 191-377 Return to New York, joining Ben Pollack

1 b 378-415 Summit House, Baltimore

1 b 416-490 Hollywood Restaurant, Cleveland

1 b 491-554 Band personnel and arrangers

1 b 555-567 Radio broadcasting

1 b 568-600 Playing with Pollack, hours, pay Pollack as a leader

1 b 601-626 Special Friends in band

1 b 627-659 First recording job with Pollack band

1 b 660-722 Interim jobs in New York

1 b 723-752 Mastbaum Theater, Philadelphia

2 a 003-055 Mastbaum Theater, cont'd

2 a 003-124 Forest Club, New Orleans

2 a 125-173 Ray Bauduc

2 a 174-208 Other musicians in New Orleans

2 a 209-242 Review of Pollack Band personnel

2 a 243-264 Lowry Hotel, St. Paul, MN

2 a 265-295 Chez Paree, Chicago

2 a 374-399 K-9, after-hours club

2 a 400-405 Hines Band

2 a 406-419 Other names that band worked under

2 a 420-476 Creations of Dick Morgan

2 a 477-504 Other bands in Chicago

2 a 505-532 Shows and musicians at Chez Paree

2 a 533-572 Sophie Tucker

2 a 573-604 Other acts at Chez Paree

2 a 605-636 Playing through Long Beach, Calif. earthquake

2 a 637-648 Recreation outside of music

2 a 649-661 Leaving Chicago, new personnel in band

2 a 662-730 Style of Pollack band, arrangements, solos, capabilities,

individual musicians- Spivak, Rodin, Miller, Bose, Matlock

2 b 003-055 Playing requests, improvising

2 b 056-081 Later Pollack bands

2 b 082-137 New York, recording, changes, band breaking up

2 b 138-179 Belle Rive Hotel, Kansas City

2 b 180-203 Ben Thigpen (by Havens)

2 b 204-238 Kansas City bands

2 b 239-287 White Bear Lake, St. Paul

2 b 288-370 Billy Rose Casino, New York, 1934

2 b 371-402 Clubs and musicians in Harlem

2 b 403-447 Charity benefits played in New York

2 b 448-472 Smith and Dale comedy act, Gypsy Rose Lee

2 b 473-494 Stride piano players

2 b 495-562 Recording dates as back-up for vocalists, Judy Garland,

Andrew Sisters

2 b 563-611 Recording Date, 1934 with Wingy Manone, "Isle of Capri"

2 b 612-630 Additional recording as back-up for vocalists

2 b 631-637 Gap

2 b 638-694 Other recording dates, musicians 1934

2 b 695-738 Break-up of Pollack band, Fall 1934, Starting of Bob Crosby

band, return to New York

3 a 001-060 Return to New York cont'd

3 a 061-124 Incorporation of "Clark Randall" Band; other names used in

recording

3 a 125-172 Personnel of band

3 a 173-186 Substituting with Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

3 a 187-238 Rockwell-O'Keefe agency; musicians who were clients

3 a 239-253 Bob Crosby becomes leader or "front" man for band

3 a 254-271 First money received as member of "Crosby" band

3 a 272-313 Role of Crosby with band; how band was run

3 a 314-327 Decisions on tunes played etc.

3 a 328-343 Vocalists with band

3 a 344-378 Left Crosby band; study with Herman Wasserman; playing

radio shows

3 a 379-422 Cy Walter; forms two-piano team with NBC, clubs etc.

3 a 423-435 pianists who followed Bowers with Crosby band

3 a 436-463 Recording work-NBC; with singers

3 a 464-486 Marriage to Marian Manners, vocalist with Whiteman

3 a 487-514 With Abe Lyman Band

3 a 515-553 Pay for various jobs; saving money

3 a 554-604 Abe Lyman Band, engagements, personnel

3 a 605-680 Swing-bands; big bands heard and worked with, Isham

3 a 681-722 Jones Orchestra; Vincent Lopez; recording Traveling with

Lyman

3 a 723-739 Stay in Los Angeles; Mocambo Club with Eddie LeBaron

3 b 009-109 Billy Rose's Clubs; black performers

3 b 110-139 Lena Horne

3 b 140-233 Abe Lyman Orchestra 1940, New York City, Florida

3 b 234-311 Return to West Coast, tour to Huston, Peck Kelly Orchestra

3 b 312-354 Los Angeles, early years, 1926; Harry Owens

3 b 355-437 Los Angeles, 1940; Eddie Le Baron, San Ysidro Ranch, Harbor

Restaurant, Santa Barbar

3 b 438-458 December 7, 1941; closing of Harbor Restauranta

3 b 459-512 Los Angeles, Eddie Le Baron, clubs played

3 b 513-562 Fox Studio preliminary call, late Fall 1941

3 b 563-664 Permanent job at Fox Studios-staff pianist job description

3 b 665-715 Work on film-"Francis the Mule"

3 b 716-742 Film-"Cover Girl"

4 a 005-055 "Cover Girls" cont'd; synchronizing music to action

4 a 056-070 Teaching finger motions for piano playing to stars-

Betty Grable

4 a 071-184 "Oklahoma" filming on location-Nogales, Ariz.

4 a 185-209 Filming "Mother Wore Tights"

4 a 210-224 Synch for "Everything's Up to Date in Kansas City"

4 a 225-274 Job description-orchestrating, arranging, sketching out ideas for

musical numbers and scenes

4 a 275-294 Other studios-Eagle Lion, Universal

4 a 295-410 Filming "Can-Can"; rehearsal piano work; coordinating

choreography; composing for special effects 1960-62

4 a 411-432 Composing for dancers-Ann Miller

4 a 433-474 Short Musicals about bands-Universal, Lawrence Welk,

Armstrong, Teagarden, Bigard, Chubby Checker

4 a 475-488 "Glenn Miller Story"

4 a 489-545 Working with Red Nichols, 1950's at Sardi's Restaurant

personnel, tunes

4 a 546-588 Marian's work during this period

4 a 589-665 Other work outside studio; Hollywood Canteen, Joe Yukl

4 a 666-676 Sneak previews-theaters

4 a 677-690 World premier, Dallas, "It's A Joke Son"

4 a 691-733 Artists and bands playing in Los Angeles on tour

4 a 734-750 "Resident" bands in L.A.

4 b 005-062 Other bands heard in L.A.-Stan Kenton

4 b 063-123 Boyd Raeburn, Matty Malneck, Spike Jones

4 b 124-190 Individual jazz players that Bowers heard or knew

4 b 191-284 With Ted Fiorito Orchestra early 50's; personnel

4 b 285-320 Playing at Johnny Mathis' first show 1960 or 1961

4 b 321-350 b L.A. as entertainment center; moderate effect of Be-bop

Narrator's Name: Robert Carter

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 004-138 Biographical; Birth, Family, Musical background, lessons

1 a 139-176 Lodge bands, funerals, High school, reading music

1 a 177-219 First dance band job-Bill Jeeter

1 a 220-237 Musicians with lodge bands, Dewey Jackson, Charles Creath

1 a 238-315 Sumner H.S.-bands, teachers, musicians

1 a 316-336 High school dances, musicians

1 a 337-406 First professional job-Pete Patterson, music, instruments

1 a 407-439 Harry Winn Orch., Audiences, Dance Box, shortage of

trombones

1 a 440-483 Eddie Johnson "Crackerjacks", Louisville, Ky., musicians, pay

1 a 484-543 Musicians with Winn, Jeeter, Crackerjacks

1 a 544-657 Riverboat bands-Jackson, Marable, instruments, pay, hours

1 a 658-678 Marable incidents-popular stories

1 a 679-706 Older musicians; ability to get along and fit in

1 a 707-739 Tunes, programs, discipline, "Trombone Smitty"

1 b 005-027 Marable-off-season

1 b 028-053 Charlie Creath as a musician

1 b 054-110 Dewey Jackson-player, personality, leader, Lodge bands

1 b 111-166 Leaves Marable, Depression years, gigging

1 b 167-215 Cecil Scott-"Doggy"; Cecil Thornton; Shorty Baker

1 b 216-240 Harry Winn-Plantation gig; Marriage

1 b 241-283 Ohio River boats-playing, traveling

1 b 284-323 Capital steamboat, wintering

1 b 324-401 Gigging, marriage-change in musical life; Scullins Steel Co.

1 b 402-426 St. Louis Medical Depot job; gigging, Navy recruiter

1 b 427-447 Enlisting U.S. Navy, Great Lakes, Other musicians enlisting

1 b 448-511 Re-assignment to Lambert Field; prejudice in service back to

Great Lakes

1 b 512-596 Honolulu, Hawaii; conditions, job more segregation

1 b 597-635 Other black musicians in Navy

1 b 636-680 After W.W.II; return to civilian job, poor treatment

1 b 681-727 Musician's union 197-Nomination for President, serves 5 years

V. Pres. under George Smith, pay

1 b 728-end Takes job with Singleton Palmer - Forest Park Hotel, personnel

2 a 003-039 After W.W.II; musician's reunions, Winn Band

2 a 040-117 Eddie Randle Band after Marable band, musicians, prejudice

2 a 118-144 Singleton Palmer's Band - Dixieland music

2 a 145-179 Al Guichard

2 a 180-198 Gaslight Square, Palmer

2 a 199-218 George Hudson - as leader & business man; musicians; discipline

2 a 219-246 Goldenrod Boat with Palmer, musicians

2 a 247-267 Dave Harris

2 a 268-320 Leroy Harris

2 a 321-342 Other players presently on Palmer Band

2 a 343-372 Black musicians in traditional jazz; audiences today

2 a 373-398 David Hines, trumpet player; different generations

2 a 399-418 Other occasional band jobs, American theater

2 a 419-435 Recording tunes; radio work

2 a 436-453 Musician's Locals, Prejudice, merger of unions - 1970

2 a 509-530 Don Redmond, Playdium, with Mills Brothers

2 a 531-541 Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra

2 a 542-560 Bands in Pittsburg - Ozzie Nelson, J. Dorsey

2 a 545-508 Bands that came through St. Louis; Waller at Coliseum; Clyde

Hopkins Orch. Black night on riverboats

2 a 561-573 Radio broadcasts - listening, meeting musicians

2 a 574-600 Musicians met & heard - Ellington, W.C. Handy, Guy Williams

2 a 601-645 Dewey Jackson leaving music

2 a 646-674 Carter's own role in bands; role model

2 a 675-691 Influence of Louie Armstrong on musicians

2 a 692-713 Influence of family on music & vice-versa

2 a 714-733 Don Gumpert - Playdium

2 a 734-742 Carter's children

2 b 003-085 Carter's children, cont'd

2 b 086-179 Parents, grandfather; family history

2 b 180-215 Buying family land

2 b 216-278 Selling land, subdivision for blacks

2 b 279-289 Father's family, Wentzville

2 b 290-379 Looking back; regrets, education own & children's; music as a

"second career"; "What if?"

2 b 380-426 Suggestions for young people; Feelings about own family,

friendships with musicians

3 a 002-023 Personnel with Singleton Palmer-cont'd; learning Dixieland

3 a 024-054 Leaves Palmer; goes with George Hudson

3 a 055-092 Playdium, East St. Louis

3 a 093-124 Recording with Palmer

Narrator's Name: Eddie Johnson

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 007-021 Introduction

1 a 022-064 Biographical; Family; Musical Background

1 a 065-086 First paying job; High School

1 a 087-106 Oliver Cobb Band; Crackerjacks

1 a 107-183 Graystone Ballroom; personnel of early Crackerjacks Band

1 a 184-198 Second Crackerjacks Band

1 a 199-257 Music in St. Louis; Club Plantation; pay; arrangements; tunes;

musicians

1 a 258-300 Lloyd Smith; Singleton Palmer- switch to string bass; Erskine

Tate tour; business & promotion

1 a 301-329 racial problems

1 a 330-350 Touring with band

1 a 351-379 locating reading musicians- requirements; business education

1 a 380-469 Traveling; cutting contests

1 a 470-484 Eddie Randle

1 a 485-516 Appearance, uniforms, dress, discipline

1 a 517-535 Other bands in St. Louis

1 a 536-565 "New" Crackerjacks- personnel, rehearsals

1 a 566-590 Today's music vs. "old days" music; teaching piano

1 a 591-616 Recording company

1 a 617-663 Music today; piano players- Fats Waller- Cincinnati

1 a 664-689 Styles of Piano- stride

1 a 690-699 Art Tatum's "sister"

1 a 700-735 Stops traveling; family, children

1 b 005-076 Last traveling band - personnel

1 b 077-160 Club Plantation Orchestra - personnel

1 b 161-220 Location of musicians today - Plantation

1 b 221-255 Plantation job

1 b 256-263 Graystone Ballroom

1 b 264-298 Shows at Plantation

1 b 299-424 Recording sessions; Oliver Cobb - Chicago

1 b 425-458 Own recording company; Music today

1 b 459-474 Leading band while playing piano

1 b 475-498 Musicians unions; black and white

1 b 499-535 Musicians getting a start with Johnson

1 b 536-673 Looking at scrapbook - Not transcribed

1 b 674-691 Oliver Cobb Band Cobb as leader

1 b 692-715 Places Crackerjacks worked: split into two Crackerjacks

1 b 716-738 Conclusion

Narrator's Name: Leon King

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 015-127 Biographical; Birth, Parents, Siblings, early life

1 a 128-159 Earliest musical experience- teacher in school; piano lessons

1 a 160-190 High school - East St. Louis Lincoln; trumpet - 6 months then

trombone; first lessons

1 a 191-209

1 a 210-375 Band leader- Harold Pickett, first band job; personnel; jitney

dancing, 1923; tunes played; pay

1 a 376-444 Artisan's Hall, Collinsville, listening to Charlie Creath

1 a 445-506 University of Illinois; band audition, no blacks in band

1 a 507-534 Joined band in Champaign; played dances frats and sororities

1 a 535-566 Aluminum Ore Co.; father has stroke; stayed home from school

1 a 567-601 Joined "Bill' Polk's Band; Galesburg, 1927

1 a 602-623 Postal clerk exam, St. Louis

1 a 624-724 Playing with Cecil Scott Orchestra, St. Louis; personnel; dance

halls, Phythian Hall; hours

1 a 725-740 Dewey Jackson Band, 1930; personnel

1 b 004-083 Jackson personnel cont'd; arrangements

1 b 084-118 Where Jackson played, different halls

1 b 119-139 Jackson as leader

1 b 140-201 Playing on riverboat "St. Paul"; pay

1 b 202-212 Marriage

1 b 213-299 1931-34; riverboat "J.R." Marable and Jackson join

1 b 300-336 Towns played along Mississippi River

1 b 337-363 Dewey leaves band to join church

1 b 364-442 Creath and Marable have band; personnel; New Orleans

1 b 443-539 Lunceford Orchestra; leave from Post Office; personnel; leaves

band after two months

1 b 540-550 Back to post office and Marable

1 b 550-556 Noise on tape

1 b 557-573 Mississippi River trips; towns boat stopped in

1 b 574-617 New Orleans; jam sessions, Pelican Hall, musicians

1 b 618-664 Job on boat, pay, living arrangements, food, hours

1 b 665-667 Marable, personality, style

1 b 668-692 New Orleans musicians, Armstrong

1 b 693-718 Marable, Tab Smith; quits band, back to post office

1 b 719-740 Union merger, suspension of Local 44 Charter

2 a 004-150 Union problems cont'd, Castle Ballroom, pay scale, hard

feelings, Lige Shaw-President

2 a 151-243 Louie Armstrong plays with Jackson Band

2 a 244-253 Don Redman band in St. Louis

2 a 254-271 Types of brass mutes

2 a 272-308 Fletcher Henderson in St. Louis, early 1930's

2 a 309-325 Joe Smith, trumpet player

2 a 326-359 Other bands traveling through St. Louis, McKinney's

Cottonpickers

2 a 360-378 Post office, full time, working nights, quit Marable's band

2 a 379-464 1950, goes on days, George Hudson band; personnel; changes

in music and styles

2 a 465-490 Vocalists with Hudson, Dinah Washington; Hudson as leader

2 a 491-520 Leaves Hudson, rejoins Jackson, DeBalivere "Strip"; clubs

2 a 521-549 Joe Smith Band at Windemere; personnel

2 a 550-599 Playing on the "Strip"; second marriage; "The Barrel Club";

music - Dixieland

2 a 600-630 Boats, style of music, Foxtrots - bounce; Captain Joe

2 a 631-664 Marable's Bands, popular tunes, Tab Smith arranger

2 a 665-700 Best bands - Lunceford, Dewey Jackson, best rhythm section

2 a 701-720 Lunceford Band arrangements, Willie Smith, Joe Thomas

2 a 721-738 De Balivere, East St. Louis jobs

2 b 009-056 With Dewey Jackson in East St. Louis

2 b 057-142 Jackson going to church choir, sideman

2 b 143-266 Gaslight Square, Singleton Palmer, personnel, Thigpen, Shaw

2 b 267-284 Opera House, Gaslight Square

2 b 285-321 Eddie Johnson's Band, 1958, before Palmer; personnel

2 b 322-427 Palmer's band, drinking on the job

2 b 428-452 Other bands in Gaslight; demise of Gaslight Square

2 b 453-488 Recording with Palmer; arrangements

2 b 489-499 Norman Mason

2 b 500-529 Left Gaslight 1969; surgery, other jobs

2 b 530-641 First job with Havens and Mississippi Mudcats; 1971-72;

personnel; where band played

2 b 642-664 Milwaukee trip

2 b 667-687 Recording with Mudcats

2 b 688-740 Musicians who impressed or influenced King

Narrator's Name: Singleton Palmer

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 001-033 Biographical - name, family

1 a 034-068 trumpet lessons, tuba lessons, reasons for change

1 a 069-111 Mose Wiley's Band, personnel

1 a 112-130 tunes played, reading charts

1 a 131-151 pay received, types of jobs, towns played in

1 a 152-174 taxi dances

1 a 175-221 Best bands in St. Louis - mid - 20's

1 a 222-256 music lessons

1 a 257-278 marching bands, parades in St. Louis

1 a 279-310 parents, becoming career musician, style of playing

1 a 311-362 Oliver Cobb Band, personnel, places played, pay

1 a 363-375 playing Coliseum with Louis Armstrong in St. Louis

1 a 376-432 Eddie Johnson's Crackerjacks, personnel, pay places

1 a 433-490 Travel as Erskine Tate Band, switch to bass viol

1 a 491-526 Hawaiian Club excursion to Chicago, contact with Erskine Tate,

travel

1 a 527-549 Plantation Club, 1933, personnel, hours, pay

1 a 550-569 Walter "Crack" Stanley, sets of music, shows at club

1 a 570-579 Joe "Ziggy" Johnson, Plantation Club

1 a 580-594 Erskine Tate - Travel

1 a 595-622 String bass, Truck Parham

1 a 623-630 types of crowds

1 a 631-653 arranging for band, Tab Smith

1 a 654-667 marriage

1 a 668-737 Fats Waller fronts band, tour, Waller's style

1 b 004-027 Cincinnati; Crystal Ballroom

1 b 028-039 Chicago excursion

1 b 040-051 Joined Dewey Jackson's band, 1937

1 b 052-069 Playing on the boat with Eddie Johnson; Idlewild

1 b 070-102 Dewey Jackson Band personnel

1 b 103-114 Streckfuss Boat "St. Paul" with Jackson

1 b 115-143 Change from Johnson to Jackson

1 b 144-187 Changes in Jackson band; big band on the "St. Paul"

1 b 188-263 Tunes played; sets; types of crowds

1 b 264-302 Unions in St. Louis; subsidiary 197

1 b 303-332 Fate Marable Band; personnel

1 b 333-345 Pay scales - black and white

1 b 346-379 After - hours clubs

1 b 380-424 Out-of-town bands in St. Louis; jamming

1 b 425-440 Best white bands and musicians

1 b 441-467 Black vaudeville; out-of-town musicians

1 b 468-529 George Hudson Band; personnel; arrangements

1 b 530-615 Travel with Hudson Band; eastern theater circuit; "Round the

Horn; Duke Ellington sits in; Savoy Theater

1 b 616-633 Castle Farms, Cincinnati; Eddie Johnson

1 b 634-733 Joining Count Basie Band 1947; personnel

1 b 734-743 Pay with Basie

2 a 008-119 Basie Band; theater dates; artists played with

2 a 120-147 Universal Dance Hall; resignation from Basie Band

2 a 148-164 Palmer's daughter

2 a 165-220 Working with Basie Band; tunes; Fats Waller; Freddy Greene

2 a 221-256 Recording with band

2 a 257-350 Anecdotes from Basie band; recording

2 a 351-363 Jimmy Rushing; other musicians in band

2 a 364-384 Paul Gonsalves

2 a 385-402 Coleman Hawkins; "Body and Soul"

2 a 403-442 Cities where Basie Band played

2 a 443-452 Return to St. Louis; Scullins Steel job

2 a 453-482 Regal Theater, Chicago; Hudson Band during War

2 a 483-512 First version of Dixieland Six; May 1950; personnel

2 a 513-533 Universal Dance Hall; personnel; Sunday sessions

2 a 534-560 Formation of Dixieland Six; Forest Park Hotel sudden dismissal

- no " Mixed Bands"

2 a 561-574 First recording with own band

2 a 575-584 Jobs after Forest Park Hotel; Top Hat Club; Windemere Club;

The Spa

2 a 585-598 Dewey Jackson leaves band; Vertna Saunders comes on

2 a 599-630 Palladium Lounge; East St. Louis

2 a 631-676 Racial prejudice; integration; effects of

2 a 677-697 Success of Palmer's Band

2 a 698-714 Gaslight Square; Opera House 1958; Saunders leaves, Bill

Martin takes place

2 a 715-743 Personnel changes - Al Guichard, Norman Mason, Dave Harris,

Kimball Dial

2 b 007-105 Clarinet players with band

2 b 106-143 Other musicians with Palmer's band

2 b 144-173 Materials, tunes

2 b 174-190 Recording

2 b 191-231 Best unit of band - Bill Martin, Leon King, Norman Mason,

Ben Thigpen

2 b 232-258 Changes Palmer would make in his life

2 b 259-314 Gaslight Square - demise of; other bands playing there

2 b 315-325 Phyllis Diller Show

2 b 326-349 Delmar Blvd. clubs in 1950's; musicians heard there

2 b 350-394 Television work

2 b 395-436 St. Louis Jazz Club; Ragtime Festival - lack of local musicians

2 b 437-457 Other jobs held

2 b 458-491 Claude Abney; Changes in life; music style

2 b 492-542 Tuba Symposium, Bloomington, Ind.

2 b 543-577 Influences on playing; other musicians

2 b 578-614 Own style of playing; what makes a jazz musician

2 b 615-703 Milt Hinton; other bass players and young bass men

2 b 704-731 Influences on musicians

2 b 732-745 Best bands ever heard - Basie, Ellington

Narrator's Name: Hayes Pillars

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 000-026 Early life; interest in music

1 a 027-089 Saxophone; learning music

1 a 090-120 First band

1 a 121-0140 Second band; own band

1 a 141-178 First St. Louis job; Club Plantation

1 a 179-203 Band personnel

1 a 204-250 Musician's unions

1 a 251-278 Position of Jeter - Pillars band in St. Louis; other

1 a 279-348 Bands prominent at that time jazz - origin of - how different

1 a 349-372 Ragtime music - influence on jazz

1 a 373-397 Jeter - Pillars band - type of music

1 a 398-414 Development of jazz

1 a 415-470 St. Louis "style"; late teen, early twenties

1 a 471-490 Race problem; white bands

1 a 491-500 Other clubs and bands

1 a 501-543 "Black" music vs. "white" music; American jazz

1 a 544-580 Early jazz in St. Louis

1 a 581-615 Rhythm and blues; blues; rock and roll

1 a 616-629 Dissolution of band

1 a 630-727 Government tax on dance clubs; effect on big bands

1 a 728-770 Problems facing black musicians

1 a 771-781 Technique and tone

1 a 782-823 Music structure

1 a 824-857 Black and white musicians

1 a 858-879 Gus Wilson

1 a 880-915 Drugs and bad environment surrounding musicians

1 a 916-940 Bands popular around St. Louis

1 a 941-962 Popularity of Jeter - Pillars Band

1 a 963-977 Nationally know musicians who played in St. Louis

2 a 002-089 "Swing" music, Benny Goodman

2 a 090-117 Fletcher Henderson Band

2 a 118-130 Druie Bess

2 a 131-167 Tone and technique

2 a 168-269 St. Louis Contribution to jazz

2 a 270-295 Enjoyment of music

Narrator's Name: Eddie Randle

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 005-094 Biographical; Family, Music in family

1 a 095-185 Beginning trumpet, rehearsals, Lodge Bands

1 a 186-209 Arrangements

1 a 210-239 Bands heard - McKinney's Cottonpickers, Don Redmond

1 a 240-269 Professional playing, Warnie Long band, Personnel

1 a 270-349 Carl George takes place of Randle

1 a 350-433 Randle forms own band, 1932- Seven Blue Devils

1 a 434-454 Name of band, original personnel, change in size & personnel

1 a 455-506 Places played - Sodus Point, N.Y.; Springfield, IL

1 a 507-518 Talking pictures -- effects on musicians

1 a 519-568 Personnel of eleven piece band; arrangements

1 a 569-614 Musicians at Stevens Point

1 a 615-658 Job at Rhinelander, WI

1 a 659-734 Money, music scales, contracts, Springfield, IL

1 a 735-760 Other (outside) jobs; Restaurant

1 b 005-083 Savoy Sultans - old records

1 b 084-096 Accident - leaves music business

1 b 097-142 Lessons on trumpet - symphony musician

1 b 143-224 Miles Davis, other personnel -- Rum Boogie Club

1 b 225-244 Lunceford takes Eugene Porter

1 b 245-295 Clyde Higgins, saxophone

1 b 296-317 Miles Davis

1 b 318-360 Reputation of Randle band, New York, California

1 b 361-396 "Quiet" band; Lunceford style; rhythm

1 b 402-434 Checking pictures

1 b 435-487 Role of Musicians Union

1 b 488-520 Favorite band - Ellington, creativeness of

1 b 521-584 Musician's Union, Local 44, Local 2; playing as non-union band

1 b 585-600 Harold Baker; Singleton Palmer

1 b 601-668 Mile Davis as a person; style

1 b 669-683 Oliver Nelson, Ernie Wilkins, Jimmy Forrest

1 b 684-721 Other musicians with Randle

1 b 722-763 Other musicians; Jon in Union, MO

2 a 011-064 Local musicians with nationally - known bands

2 a 065-253 Sodus Point, N.Y. resort; prejudice

2 a 254-277 Playing on a yacht

2 a 278-315 Prejudice, dealing with insults

2 a 316-336 WWII begins, re-organization of band

2 a 337-366 Lack of recording

2 a 367-428 Changing arrangements and personnel

2 a 429-451 Ellington - reasons for success

2 a 452-468 Ingredients of successful band

2 a 469-554 1938 tour, Wisconsin, Iowa; tunes played

2 a 555-581 Randle's Bands - appearance; playing Arena with Ellington

2 a 582-620 Leadership style; Relations among band members

2 a 621-631 Al Guichard

2 a 637-684 Feelings for other musicians, bands, and "rivals"

2 a 685-700 Len Bowden

2 a 701-748 Older musicians, working with; Randle as trumpet player

2 a 749-764 Sitting - in

2 b 007-047 Function of a band leader

2 b 048-063 Wendell Marshall

2 b 064-094 Jimmy Blanton

2 b 095-194 Hearing Marable Band; personnel; style of music

2 b 195-235 Marable as a musician

2 b 236-267 Grady Rice - George Hudson Band

2 b 268-316 End of Randle Band; Gigging after WWII

2 b 317-330 Encouraging and helping musicians

2 b 331-355 Best memories

2 b 356-381 Son plays with Ellington in Champaign

2 b 382-405 Requirements of musical career; sacrifices and rewards

Narrator's Name: Vertna Saunders

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 005-114 Introduction; Biographical, Family, music, school

1 a 115-167 First instrument, learning to play by ear

1 a 168-222 Awareness of famous musicians - listening to records

1 a 223-290 Brass bands, lodges, learning to read music

1 a 291-329 Influence of Whiteman and Henry Busse

1 a 330-378 Trip to Kansas City to hear Whiteman, meets Biederbecke

1 a 379-419 School and lodge bands, parades

1 a 420-444 Meets Lamarr Wright from B. Moten Band

1 a 445-519 High school band jobs; Joins Kansas University Band

1 a 520-545 Playing with K.U. Band, integration

1 a 546-590 Goes to Chicago to play with Tiny Parham

1 a 591-626 Plays Lake boat with Francois

1 a 627-648 Meets Willie Humphrey

1 a 649-687 Other trumpet players met in Chicago

1 a 688-698 Paul Banks, K. City

1 a 699-738 Bands heard in Chicago

1 a 739-end Kansas City

1 b 004-056 Eddie Tompkins - trumpet, Jimmy Lunceford

1 b 057-114 Clarence Love Orchestra, personnel, Milton Fletcher

1 b 115-149 Tour with Love Orchestra, - instrumentation, arrangements

1 b 150-174 Kansas City - Vic Dickenson

1 b 175-219 St. Louis - 1931; the "Cave", trumpet style; sitting in

1 b 220-244 Kansas City - Harlan Leonard Band - Vic Dickenson

1 b 245-310 The Cave; Harold Baker; KMOX Radio Band

1 b 311-363 Eddie Johnson, Club Plantation Band, 1933-34, after

Crackerjacks, musicians, and changes in

1 b 364-395 Personnel met in Kansas City

1 b 396-407 Plantation - nights, money

1 b 408-449 K. City in 1935, rehearsals, show people at Plantation

1 b 450-475 Sit-ins - Dewey Jackson, Red Allen, Rex Stewart, Jackson's

style

1 b 476-514 K. City with Eddie Johnson

1 b 515-529 Joins Andy Lirk, Lester Young

1 b 530-566 Leaves Kirk, returns to St. Louis

1 b 567-599 Works with Marable & Creath on boats, meets Louie, other

visiting musicians, Red Allen

1 b 600-623 New Orleans, untrained musicians, "New Orleans style"

1 b 624-653 Personnel of first band, Creath, directing, playing piano

1 b 654-714 1936, personnel changes; "Trombone Smitty"

1 b 715-742 Other personnel, 1936; Trip down river

2 a 001-079 New Orleans, musicians met there, sitting-in, working on boat

2 a 080-132 New Orleans style; funerals, street bands, religious songs

2 a 133-185 Learning new styles, improvising, chord formation and changes

2 a 186-240 Bands, tunes, musicians heard in New Orleans

2 a 241-325 Dixieland music - study of in order to play with Palmer

2 a 326-399 New Orleans, Kid Ory, after-hours, sitting-in

2 a 400-420 Food, women, races in New Orleans

2 a 421-483 Kaiter, N.O. trumpet player, other musicians

2 a 484-523 Return St. Louis, 1938; Small Marable Band, club Soho

2 a 524-589 Marable as pianist and leader

2 a 590-673 Rehearsals, trumpet section; tunes; King, Telphy reed section

2 a 674-697 Creath, playing and directing, personality, "father figure"

2 a 698-724 Tab Smith, Donny Stovall

2 a 725-733 Eddie Randle band, traveling Illinois, Missouri

2 b 005-134 Eddie Randle band, personnel, Springfield, N.Y., other cities

2 b 135-193 Randle as player, other musicians in band

2 b 194-274 Shows played for

2 b 275-328 Return to St. Louis, WWII, White bands played with

2 b 329-390 Medicine-packing job; Calls from Lunceford & Basie

2 b 391-430 U.S. Army, basic training

2 b 431-485 Trumpet exam

2 b 486-524 U.S. Army Air Force Band, Swing Band, USO

2 b 525-584 Musicians who did USO Shows, Lena Horne

2 b 585-619 Other music jobs, Discharge - 1946

2 b 620-647 Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Club Riveria

2 b 648-688 Benny Goodman, Fox Theater & Castle Ballroom, 1946 & 47

2 b 689-719 Jobbing around; Singleton Palmer band 1952, stomach ulcer

2 b 720-737 Club dates with Palmer's Band; Delmar

3 a 005-075 Delmar Blvd. Club cont'd; New Year's Eve police raid

3 a 076-127 Palmer's band; material; re-learning tunes; repertoire

3 a 128-244 Personnel of Palmer band - beginning, changes in

3 a 245-269 Saunder's opinion on best Palmer Band - reasons

3 a 270-339 Present Palmer Band & other versions

3 a 340-376 Havens' first visit to Gaslight Square

3 a 377-399 Saunders with Joe Langworthy Band

3 a 400-456 Clark Terry; Miles Davis

3 a 457-517 Clark Terry - Circular breathing

3 a 518-534 Bands traveling through St. Louis

3 a 535-550 Gigging with George Hudson

3 a 551-566 Ellington Band; Using Basie as standard for comparison

3 a 567-606 Possible changes in life and career; Influence of parents, up-

bringing, own Family

3 a 607-628 Government jobs

3 a 629-652 Influential musicians - to Saunders

3 a 653-678 Best Bands - Blue Devils

3 a 679-699 Lester Young

3 a 700-717 Charlie Parker and his teacher

3 a 718-742 Ben Webster , Dickie Wells

3 a 743-754 Piano players

3 b 002-160 Blues singers - "Big" Joe Turner - as inspiration to E. Presley

3 b 161-219 Pete Johnson, piano; Albert Ammons

3 b 220-304 Night clubs in Kansas City : corruption and politics

3 b 305-344 Discussion of other musicians

3 b 345-373 Charlie Straight - i.e. F. Henderson?

3 b 374-444 Trumpet players - Jabbo Smith; clarinet players

3 b 445-480 Ralph Sutton

Narrator's Name: Leon Smith

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 005-085 Parents, early musical background, parents' music

1 a 086-119 Father's death, sister and brother

1 a 120-176 Change from fiddle to trumpet, lessons, St. Louis and San

Francisco

1 a 177-187 Influence of other musicians

1 a 188-210 Tony and His Six Sharps, first real band job

1 a 211-230 Golden Gate Theater, CIO Union Hall ham sessions

1 a 231-260 Revival of Bunk Johnson

1 a 261-295 Influence of CIO Union Hall on his music

1 a 296-3316 Job at Clear Lake, daytime jobs

1 a 317-394 Leaves Clear Lake, returns to San Francisco, welding job

1 a 395-430 Goes east - St. Louis, Paducah, Kentucky

1 a 431-449 Odd jobs, washing dishes, waiting table, welding

1 a 450-496 Job at Johnny's Seven Mile House

1 a 497-593 Wedge Night Club job, hours, pay, meets future wife

1 a 594-615 Amateur show at wedge, leaves to go to Florida

1 a 616-644 Fight and trouble at the Wedge

1 a 645-655 Study of music

1 a 656-704 Florida, Fort Meyers, Naples

1 a 705-724 Return to St. Louis, purchase taxi cab

1 a 725-731 St. Louis University, jobs around St. Louis

1 b 004-197 Pictures of bands and musicians

1 b 198-216 Return to St. Louis

1 b 217-326 Lack of jobs through union, odd jobs

1 b 327-346 Best playing, Al Davis Silver Log Cabin, most fun, no

responsibilities; Best money, Wedge Night Club

1 b 347-368 Sell cab, moves to Grafton

1 b 369-392 East - side musicians unions

1 b 393-444 Current music activities, other jobs

1 b 445-459 Interviewer explains oral history project

Narrator's Name: Lloyd A. Smith

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 021-046 Birth, Date & Place; Family; Start in Music

1 a 047-059 Music lessons; violin

1 a 060-102 Move to St. Louis; Parents

1 a 103-126 Interest in saxophone; first lessons

1 a 127-164 hearing Louis Armstrong and other musicians

1 a 165-189 Junior High Band; Summer High School

1 a 190-204 First paying job - high school

1 a 205-230 Professional jobs; Musicians

1 a 231-240 Watermelon Barbecue

1 a 241-315 Joins Musicians union; union troubles

1 a 316-324 First "named" bands; Johnny White Mose Wiley

1 a 325-384 Rube Floyd Band; musicians, pay, hours, traveling

1 a 385-425 Eddie Randle and His Seven Blue Devils

1 a 426-449 Eddie Johnson Band

1 a 450-466 Reading music

1 a 467-476 Eddie Johnson

1 a 477-488 Jeter-Pillars; George Hudson

1 a 498-513 Chicago train excursion

1 a 514-534 Eddie Johnson Band; travel

1 a 535-553 Racial prejudice

1 a 554-589 Dress, pay, means of travel

1 a 590-605 George Hudson Band

1 a 606-648 River boats; Fate Marable Band; New Orleans

1 a 649-674 Blues Singers; other bands

1 a 675-683 Marable as a musician and a leader

1 a 684-703 Charlie Creath; Dewey Jackson

1 a 704-719 Personnel - marriages and bands

1 a 720-750 White musicians and bands

1 b 005-020 George Hudson Band

1 b 021-249 Earl Hines Band - traveling, recording, instruments, pay, Hines

as leader, discoverer of talent; band members

1 b 250-279 Leaves Hines; St. Louis - Musicians Club

1 b 280-304 "May Tatum" Beverly White

1 b 305-329 Close Musicians club; work for Colonial Bakery & Union

1 b 330-359 NOT TRANSCRIBED - discuss Jazz Archive and collection

1 b 360-400 St. Louis Symphony; playing now

1 b 401-425 Teaching music; looking at memorabilia

1 b 426-453 Armstrong and other musicians Smith knew

1 b 454-460 Drug use by musicians

1 b 461-499 Mrs. Smith

1 b 500-550 Types of jazz; definition of "Dixieland"

1 b 551-603 Chicago Symphony; Hines now; Effects of depression

1 b 604-639 Prejudice; treatment of black musicians

1 b 640-658 Grandparents; ancestors

1 b 659-713 Best bands, Basie, Lunceford

1 b 714-722 Teaching; Hudson, oral history project

1 b 732-end Blank

2 a 004-134 First professional job; Rube Floyd

2 a 135-206 Theaters, talking pictures, dances, types of music

2 a 207-286 Eddie Randle Band; instruments, musicians, tunes

2 a 287-348 Jimmy Blanton - influence; Wendell Marshall

2 a 349-381 Randle Band

2 a 382-439 Eddie Johnson Crackerjack Band

2 a 440-484 Jeter-Pillars; George Hudson

2 a 485-545 Crackerjack Band, personnel; Fats Waller

2 a 546-575 Benny Washington, Cab Calloway, Don Stovall

2 a 576-601 Dewey Jackson Band, Riverboats, and New Orleans

2 a 602-629 Singleton Palmer; Jackson as a leader

2 a 630-655 Alphonso Trent; Charlie Creath

2 a 656-688 Hawaiian Social Club excursions to Chicago: Jessie Johnson

2 a 689-723 Ballroom jobs in South; New Orleans, boats

2 a 724-753 Recording, show work; substitute with Ellington

2 b 003-149 Earl Hines as leader

2 b 150-213 West Coast and Canada with Hines

2 b 214-257 Stevens Point, Wisconsin

2 b 258-297 Big stars Smith worked behind, Sinatra, Harry James, etc.

2 b 298-331 Detroit, Graystone Ballroom, Jean Goldkette

2 b 332-353 Recording with Hines, Hines as discoverer of talent

2 b 354-417 Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie; Drugs in music Business

2 b 418-431 Female musicians

2 b 432-479 Wilbur Kirk; evaluation of drummers

2 b 480-499 Various instruments with Hines; Gillespie; Clark Terry

2 b 500-540 Ellington band

2 b 541-589 Lunceford, Basie Kenton - changes in big bands

2 b 590-670 St. Louis Bands; Cecil Scott, Fate Marable

2 b 671-709 Music heard as a youngster

2 b 710-722 Lessons, training, practicing, other bands

2 b 723-750 Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Rochelle, Lucky Millender

3 a 012-052 New York City; comparison of musicians

3 a 053-089 Theater Acts

3 a 090-130 Havens with Buck & Bubbles (actually Butterbeans & Susie)

3 a 131-204 Lena Horne, other singers

3 a 205-277 Leaving Hines band; Starting Musicians Club

3 a 278-301 Gas Light Square, G Clef Club

3 a 302-330 Leaving Hines Band, other musicians

3 a 331-354 Effects of formal education on musicians

3 a 355-370 Smith's music collection and equipment

3 a 371-408 Mixed bands; prejudice

3 a 409-500 Gangsters, prostitutes

3 a 501-547 "May Tatum", Beverly White

3 a 548-559 Teddy Wilson; "carving sessions"

3 a 560-624 Musicians unions

3 a 625-659 Black - white relations; Prejudice

3 a 660-712 Movie work with Hines ; arrangements, musicians

3 a 713-740 Arranging, demise of shows and vaudeville

3 a 741-749 Louis Jordan

3 b 002-039 Ahmad Jamal. stage names, nicknames

3 b 040-089 King Cole

3 b 090-151 Types of instruments, sound

3 b 152-186 Young musicians

3 b 187-216 NOT TRANSCRIBED

3 b 217-424 Music training, environment, college programs, teaching of

music

3 b 425-506 Earl Warren, Trummy Young, various clarinet players

Narrator's Name: Ralph Sutton

Tape # Side Time Subject

1 a 020-046 Biographical ; Book - Piano Man

1 a 047-101 Interest in Fats Waller

1 a 102-123 Other influences on piano playing

1 a 124-144 First band experiences; Father's influence

1 a 145-155 U.S. Army

1 a 156-190 Sitting in with Teagarden; dropping out of college to join

1 a 191-224 Four week stint with Teagarden; Drafted into service

1 a 225-232 Return to St. Louis area after WWII; 2 1/2 year stay

1 a 233-267 Rejoins Teagarden in New York; personnel, recording

1 a 268-310 Playing in trio at the Barrel Bar on Delmar; clubs on Delmar

1 a 311-350 Eddie Condon's Club, Solo piano - 8 years; recording dates

1 a 351-380 Style & repertoire; Highlights - Tuesday night jam sessions

1 a 381-450 Sit-ins, jam session, Sutton's sister, Barbara

1 a 451-456 Telephone; tape off

1 a 457-469 Living in New York; sons, first wife

1 a 470-493 Ed Hall, clarinet player

1 a 494-509 Non - Dixieland drop-ins at Condon's

1 a 510-546 Willie the lion Smith; Other piano players

1 a 547-577 Dick Welstood; stride piano players

1 a 578-589 Recording sessions

1 a 594-632 Recording sessions - rehearsing, takes, releases, fees

1 a 633-646 "This is Jazz" radio show - pay; musicians on recordings

1 a 647-665 Clubs in Boston - Jimmy Archey Band; personnel

1 a 666-695 European tours, contrasts with American audiences

1 a 696-715 Condon gig; other jobs

1 a 716-764 World's Greatest Jazz Band - origin of band; people involved,

management, problems, personnel changes

1 b 007-029 Explanation of oral history procedures

1 b 030-070 World's Greatest etc. - problems, aspen sessions, records

1 b 071-089 Delete

1 b 090-123 Gil Bowers

1 b 124-133 World's Greatest etc. - demise, Haggart

1 b 134-178 Sutton's immediate plans

1 b 179-183 Detroit players

1 b 184-244 Other players; Jess Stacy

1 b 245-276 Detroit players

1 b 277-327 European musician; solo piano vs. playing in groups

1 b 328-396 Outside interests; Changes over years, musicians becoming

cynical or jaded

1 b 397-414 Composing music

1 b 415-438 Gus Johnson; records with Jay McShan

1 b 439-449 Booking self; agents

1 b 450-482 Pianos

E-mail comments and inquiries about the National Ragtime and Jazz Archive to Therese Dickman at tdickma@siue.edu or call 618-650-2695

Back to Jazz Archive

http://www.siue.edu/~tdickma
Library and Information Services
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Updated by Kristin Walker
May 2005