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SPOTLIGHT for SEPTEMBER 17TH
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BIRTHDAYS


1923 "Hank" Williams (Sr.), C&W vocals/guitar/composer, b. Mount Olive West, AL, USA, d. Jan. 1, 1953 (Cardiac Arrest hastened by his Alcoholism). né: Hiriam King Williams. (His son Hank Williams Jr, was born in May and is on our May Cal.) When Hiram made his debut with the Grand Ole Opry in 1949, the audience called him for many encores of his song "Lovesick Blues" The success of that tune's recording led to his contract with the 'GOO' and he stayed with them until August 1952, - when he was fired for perpetual drunkeness. On 1953's New Year's day, he died of Cardiac Arrest brought on by his drinking.

MP3 Bio:
www.mp3.com/hank-william...iography.html

Hank Williams Web-site:
www.hankwilliams.com/

Bio:
www.archives.state.al.us/hank/

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1929 Sylvester "Sil" Austin, tenor sax/composer/leader, b. Dunnellon, FL, USA. d. Sept. 1, 2001, New York, NY, USA. By age 12, he had his first saxophone. He later relocated to New York City to study music. There, Austin landed a gig, while still a teenager, with bandleader Roy "Little Jazz" Eldridge. Following that, he joined the Cootie Williams' band at the 'Birdland' club, where he often worked with such musicians as Charlie "Yardbird" Parker, Miles Davis, Max Roach and Dizzy Gillespie. Over the next 15 or so years, he recorded (over 30 albums) for many independent labels, in settings ranging from full orchestra to small Nashville-based 'Country/Western' groups. In 1973, Austin and his wife, -the Rev. Vernice Austin, moved to her hometown of Atlanta, GA. During these last years of his life, Austin was a part of the Chris Chandler band, and then with his own group, Sil Austin and Friends. Both groups were often on stage at the Sambuca Jazz Cafe in Atlanta. In July, Sil made his last appearance at 'Manny's' in Union City, NJ. In 1997, he survived a bout with prostate cancer, and in 1999 survived both a heart attack and stroke. In July of 2001, his cancer returned and he died at Portsbridge Hospice in Riverdale, NY. USA.

MP3 Bio:
www.mp3.com/sil-austin/a...iography.html

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1901 Floyd Campbell, drums/vocals, d. Sept. 30, 1993
b: Sept. 17, 1901, Helena, AK, USA. d: Sept. 30, 1993.
Instruments: Drums/Vocals/Leader
Floyd Campbell's band(s) were what we today called regional, or Territory Bands. He toured the Mid-west area, including St. Louis, South Bend, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Chicago. The band was active in the mid-1920s to 1930.

Early on (ca. 1927), the personnel who played with the band included "Crack" Stanley ( tp), Nat Story (tb), Cliff Cochrane (sax), Sam Long (ts - later switched to as), Armand "Red" Brown (bjo), Jane Hemmingway (p), James Barlow (b), Floyd Campbell (d). During the 1928/9 years, several changes in personnel took place when Irving "Mouse" Randolph replaced Stanley, Clifford Byrdlong replaced Cliff Cochrane (sax), Cecil Thornthon (ts) -joined band in 1929, William "Cal" Calloway replaced Armand "Red" Brown on bjo, Gus Perryman replaced Jane Hemmingway on piano, and two men were added in late 1929, -Louis Acerheart (tp) - and Harvey Lankford (tb). In 1930, when Floyd Campbell went to Chicago, Harvey Lankford (trumpet) took over the band and re-named it the Harvey Lankford Syncro Hi-Hatters.

Campbell's father owned a barber shop and a Pool room in Helena, and Floyd attended the Helena school system and Philander College (not known if he matriculated.) In 1924, he relocated to St. Louis, where he first got a job as a waiter, and then began singing at clubs (such as Katie's Red) just for tips from the customers. Bandleader Charlie Creath heard him sing, and induced him to become a member of the band. In March 1924, the Creath band recorded some Blues numbers with Floyd on some of the vocals. Around 1924, drummer Zutty Singleton married Creath's sister Margie, the band's piano player. Campbell left Creath in 1925, and between 1925 and 1927, worked on Mississipppi River Boats with the Fate Marable Orch. He was singing with Marable's band, and was also heard on some New Orleans and St. Louis radio stations singing with the band.

In 1927, Campbell formed his own first band in St. Louis. Booking agents found work for the band that toured to Cincinnati, Louisville, and other midwest states, until the 1929 Economic Depression hit. Floyd returned very briefly to the Riverboats but soon joined his brother Wilbur in Chicago. While the great Economic Depression adversely affected Night Club bookings, the Dance Halls kept going strong. Floyd got some sidemen together, drilled them, bought uniforms, and started getting dance hall work. (Floyd was the drummer and vocalist.)

In private correspondence, Mr. David de Clue (a descendent of Harvey Lankford's Uncle, Joseph DeClue (his mother's brother), has been researching the old St. Louis Black newspapers, and has sent this quote from the Argus:
RE: Floyd Campbell - Bennie Washington: Argus, September 18, 1931, p. 5, Musician's Chatterbox:
"Floyd Campbell is playing with Dave Peyton at the newly opened Club Conga located at 35th & State Streets, in
the Binga Bldg. Bennie Washington, formerly with Earl Hines, and Chas Lawson are playing with Walter and Barnes his
popular orchestra."

Mr. de Clue further noted:
"My father, it turns out, went to school with Fate Marable's daughter, here in St. Louis."

In 1935, Campbell married trumpeter Johnny Dunn's sister -a "Mrs Roberts" who led her own orchestra, which he took over and renamed The Roberts-Campbell Orch. Just three years later, in 1938, "Mrs Roberts" died. (Note: There was an orchestra called the "Cliff Roberts Orchestra" also active at this time, but I believe that it was just a pseudonym for the Smith Bellew Orchestra. This 'Mrs. Roberts' Orchestra' MAY have originally been the Bobby Roberts Orch.) In 1939, Floyd's band played opposite one of Nat "King" Cole's groups at the Warwick Hall in Chicago.

A reader has sent us this photo of the Floyd Campbell Orch. nfo.net/usa/FloydCampbell.jpg
, who, in 1940, was playing at a dance hall called the Parkway Ballroom ("built by Colored People for Colored People"). After this engagement, Floyd's band continued touring the midwest.

Subsequently, Campbell's band found work at a club called Rhumboogie, appearing along with the Jeter Pillars Band. Famed prizefighter Joe Louis bought the club, and brought in the Erskine Hawkins band (from Louis' home town in Alabama). The Hawkins band worked along with the Campbell band. When Hawkins departed, vocalist Sarah Vaughn was booked into the club, and was backed by Campbell's band. Alas, the U. S. Internal Revenue bureau closed down the club due to $10,000 in unpaid back taxes.

Both the Big Band era and World War 2 ended together, and Floyd went to work for the U. S. Post Office service, working there and retiring after 25 years.

MP3 Bio:
www.mp3.com/floyd-campbe...iography.html

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1906 "Blind" James Campbell, guitar, b. Nashville, TN, USA.

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1895 William "Bill" McKinney, Drums/Leader, b. Cynthiana, KY, USA, d. Oct. 14, 1969, Cynthiana, KY, USA. Best recalled for his band -McKinney's Cotton Pickers. The band went on to better things under different Leaders, such as Don Redman who drilled the band to perfection, but always as McKinney's Cotton Pickers. Worked with: Benny Carter, James P. Johnson, Coleman Hawkins, Quentin Jackson, Hilton Jefferson, Claude Jones, Don Redman, Todd Rhodes, Tench Robinson, Rex Stewart and Fats Waller.

MP3 Bio:
www.mp3.com/william-mcki...iography.html

Red Hot Jazz Bio for McKinney's Cotton Pickers:
www.redhotjazz.com/cotton.html

More:
www.musicweb-international.com/en...HTM

*LISTEN:
Hullabaloo
(From Warner Bros. picture "Dancing Sweeties"):
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/co...abalu.ram

I'd Love It (2)
(Don Redman / Will Hudson)
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/co...uvit2.ram


If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight (1)
Vocal refrain by George Thomas
(Henry Creamer / James P. Johnson)
www.redhotjazz.com/songs/co...ehour.ram

Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
(And Dream Your Troubles Away)
(Te www.redhotjazz.com/songs/co...ptid1.ram

d Koehler / Harry Barris / Billy Moll)

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1902 Louis "Big Eye" Nelson, Trombone, b. New Orleans, LA, USA. d. April, 5, 1990, New Orleans, LA, USA. Played with: Sidney Desvigne, George Lewis, Punch Miller, Kid Rena, and Kid Thomas. Active in the New Orleans jazz scene of the 1920's, Nelson first played the alto sax before permanently switching to trombone. He played in the 'Original Tuxedo Orchestra', and for 15 years with Sidney Desvigne's big band. He was closely associated with 'Kid Thomas' Valentine (starting in 1944), and George Lewis. In the 1960's he was still playing with the many musicians at the Preservation Hall in New Orleans. In addition to touring and recording with the "Legends of Jazz", Nelson, starting in 1964, began recording as a leader for the G.H.B., LaCroix, Nola and other small labels. An erratic trombonist, Louis Nelson would often play one great chorus, and then slip completely out of tune on the next chorus. While detractors saw little value in his playing, to his fans he could do no wrong. * His birthdate varies depending on the source : P

MP3 Bio:
www.mp3.com/louis-nelson...iography.html

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1917 Al "Dr. Horse" Pittman, vocals, b. Vinnia, GA, USA. /FIRE/KAPP REC
Al 'Doctor Horse' Pittman
Have you heard of a horse who could talk? You have? Well, now you're about to hear of a horse who could sing and dance! And that horse was also a doctor, how about that? Al "Dr. Horse" Pittman (born in Vinnia, Orlando in 1917, died on April 28, 2004 at 85) was an elevator boy who dreamed about the career of professional dancer in New York. In 1937 he joined a comedy-music group The Five Pork Chops led by Lucius "Doc Sausage", and drifted also into recording business. However, it took some 20 years until he cut his first solo 45s. The best-known works of this charmic artist are his two 45s recorded in 1958 for Bobby Robinson’s Fire label and a straight-blues LP made in 1962 with Sammy Price.

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1918 Hubert Rostaing, Tenor Sax, b. Lyons, France, d. June 10, 1990 Paris, France.

MP3 Bio:
www.mp3.com/hubert-rosta...iography.html

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1923 Ralph Sharon, Piano/Arranger/Composer, b. London, England. Pianist in Frank Weir's orch. in which George Shearing played accordion. Sharon had his own sextet at London Stork Club. For four years, he won the Melody Makers magazine 'Britain's No. 1 Pianist' award. 1953 to the USA playing at the 'Embers' in New York. Became an American citizen. Then accompanied singer Chris Connor. '57-'60 was MD and pianist for singer Tony Bennett. He also wrote all Bennett's vocal arrangements for the Basie Orch. recordings, as well as some instrumentals for the Basie band. Played with such men as: Johnny Claes, Victor Feldman, Ted Heath, and Harry Lewis.

MP3 Bio:
www.mp3.com/ralph-sharon...iography.html

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Noteable Events on this date include:


1931. A curious situation. RCA Victor began demonstrating a very early version of their Long-Playing (LP), 33~1/3 RPM phonograph record. 17 Years later, RCA introduced the very short-lived 45RPM phonograph record, which was soon obsolesced by Columbia Records own introduction of "their" 33~1/3 RPM phonograph record.

1951. Jimmy Yancey, piano, died in Chicago, IL, USA. Age: 53

1977. Lou Hooper, piano, died in Charlottetown, Newfoundland, Canada. Age:83

1987. Kenny "Rudy" Trietsch, leader (Hoosier Hot Shots), died in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Age: 84

2002. Jazz pianist Michael "Dodo" Marmarosa died of a heart attack at age 76. He died at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA. USA. In 1941, at age 15, he had joined the Johnny "Scat" Davis Orchestra. He next played with Gene Krupa's band, Charlie Barnet's big band, and with "Dizzy" Gillespie. In 1944, he was a part of the Dorsey's band which included Buddy DeFranco, Sidney Block and Buddy Rich. Later that same year, Marmarosa joined Artie Shaw's band. In 1947, Esquire magazine selected Marmarosa as one of the nation's top Jazz artists. By the early 1950s, - after a series of personal tragedies and a stint in the U. S. Army, Marmarosa had largely disappeared from public view.

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Songs Recorded/Released this date include:


1907 By The Watermelon Vine, -Arthur Pryor's Band. tune: allen thomas

1908 Polka Po Wykupie - the king bee, -Kopacz Piotr (Pryor's Band). tune: smith

1908 That Rag, -Arthur Pryor's Band. tune: harry browne

1917 That's It, - Joseph Smith and his orch. tune: h.creamer-t.layton
1917 Umbrellas To Mend, -Joseph Smith and his orch. tune: mel kaufman
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/jc...oMend.ram

1923 Midnight Rose, -Benson orch. of Chicago. tune: mitchell-pollack

1925 I'm a Back Bitin' Mama, -Maggie Jones voc. tune: tom delaney

1925 Bass Ale Blues, -Original Memphis Five

1926 Someday Sweetheart, - Savannah Syncopators. tune: spikes bros.

1926 Brotherly Love, -Elgar's Creole orch.
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/el...yLove.ram

1926 Nightmare, - Elgar's Creole orch.
* LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/el...mare1.ram

1927 A Siren Dream, -Anglo-Persians (Katzman Orch.).
1927 Dancing Tambourine, -Anglo-Persians (Katzman Orch.).

1927 Wringin' and Twistin', - Frankie Trumbauer and his orch.

1928 King For a Day, -Regent Club orch (Haring Orch.). tune: lewis; young; fiorito

1929 I Can't Stand It, -Memphis Jug Band. tune: will shade
1929 What's the Matter?, -Memphis Jug Band.
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/mj...atter.ram

1929 Shadows of Love, - Blue Steele and his orch.

1930 The Penalty of Love, -Bubber Miley and the Mileage Makers. tune: Heba Jannath-Donald Heywood
*LISTEN:
www.redhotjazz.com/Songs/mi...nalty.ram


1932 Riddle Me This (voc.d.r.), -Abe Lyman and his orch. tune: lewis gensler-e.harburg

1932 A Shine on Your Shoes (voc. d.r.), -Victor Young and his orch.

1936 When my Dream Boat Comes Home, -Guy Lombardo Royal Canadians. tune: cliff friend-dave franklin
1936 To You Sweetheart, Aloha, - Guy Lombardo Royal Canadians.

1939 Willow Weep for Me, -Harry James and his orch.

1939 I'll Walk Alone, -Martha Raye with Dave Rose orch.
1939 Body and Soul, - Martha Raye voc.

1939 All or Nothing At All, -Frank Sinatra with Harry James orch., tune: lawrence-altman

1940 I just wanna play with you, - Horace Heidt musical knights
1940 Isn't that just like love, -Horace Heidt's musical knights

1940 Shadows on the Sand (voc.FS), -Tommy Dorsey and his orch.
1940 Two Dreams Met, -Tommy Dorsey and his orch.

1941 Mexican Hat Dance, -Les Brown and his orch.

1946 Sidewalks of Cuba, -Woody Herman & his Herd.

1946 Wicked Path of Sin, -Bill Monroe Bluegrass Boys. tune: monroe

1948 Buttons And Bows, - Shore, Dinah

1977 Brick House, - Commodores