Eddie Randle

        Jazz trumpet musician and influential band leader

        Birth:                            May 27, 1907

        Death:                          May 9, 1997

        Birthplace:                    Villa Ridge, Illinois

        Date of Interview:         April 21, 1982

        Place of Interview:        Narrator’s home

        Interviewer:                  Dan Havens

Eddie Randle was best known as the leader of the band, Eddie Randle and his Blue Devils.  During the 1930’s the Blue Devils performed live for radio station WEW.  The group was popular for its “hot dance music.”  Eddie Randle also hired many aspiring young local musicians who would go on to greater fame and musical accomplishment:  Miles Davis, Clark Terry, Jimmy Forrest, Willie Akins are among those Eddie Randle employed.  Mr. Randle was business agent for the St. Louis musicians’ union, Local 197 during the 1940’s.  On March 2, 1997 Eddie Randle, Sr. was honored in St. Louis for his contributions to jazz in the area; more than 1,000 people attended.

For the table of contents for the Interview of Eddie Randle, please click on this link:  Oral History and Research Materials:  Eddie Randle

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

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Library and Information Services
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Updated by Kristin Walker
April 2005