Now here's something you don't find everyday, Gabbo with Goldkette! This is an early version of Goldkette's Book-Cadillac Orchestra. Note Paul Mertz on piano. Later, Itzy Riskin replaced Mertz for a spell in the Victor band. Itzy gave many interviews over the years, going into great detail about the "Singin' The Blues" recording date. He said that he had to convince Tram not to change his solo, that someday it will be regarded as a classic. Paul & Itzy were good friends and would get together whenever they could for lunch. Paul read this story in a few magazines and explained to Itzy that he wasn't on the "Singin' The Blues" date, that it was himself. It took some time but finally Itzy saw the light. As Paul pointed out, it was "Crying All Day" that Itzy recorded which was based on "Singin' The Blues." All seemed well until a few months later when Itzy gave his oft-told story to yet another magazine. Mertz called him on this again, he was starting to get steamed up over this. Riskin defended himself by saying that HE was on other recordings that were credited to Paul over the years, so they were even! The friendship was a bit cool after this. Itzy also wrote to Phil with the same story, a very long & detailed account of the recording session made on Feb. 4, 1927, that he wasn't on.
BROMO SULSER AND HIS IOWA COLLEGIANS Taken around the same time that Bix played with them. But no Bix here.
Goldie joins Whiteman & Whiteman joins Columbia. The first one was a good choice. The second one wasn't so good. But it was the reason for a hell of a lot of Whiteman recordings to be made when Bix was in top form.
Hoagy again back at I.U. looking like a newspaper man with his moustache. Probably sizing up the talent for yet another of his legendary I.U. bands. As only Hogwash McCorkle could.
Two old friends in their later years enjoying the afternoon together. On the right is Bill Challis. On the left is the wonderful Norman Gentieu, a true friend to all of us at a time when the sharks were trying for another big score. A close friend of Eastwood Lane's, and my endless thanks for giving me Eastwood's own collection of home recordings. A real treasure.
Lenny Esterdahl on the deck of the Riverboat Capitol in 1921
The Casino at Hudson Lake in the early 'teens. Yes, I know. I used this photo back on Page 8. I just like it that's all, and decided to make it a bit larger.
George Webb's Orchestra
Nice rare photo that will be the cause of a few heads being scratched. The vocalist was a real dog.
<----For the experts.
The Wolverines have arrived! The first Gennett ad for their recordings.
George Girard. If anyone should be called a jazz legend, it would be George Girard. A New Orleans boy who died in 1957 at the age of 27 from colon cancer. One of Phil's favorite trumpet players who supposedly left N.O. only once to play at a jazz festival in California where Phil heard him play. In the late 1980's when I was living down there, Phil decided that we should get together and write a book about George. I spent six months finding anything and everything that I could. What I ended up with was so X-Rated that we decided to drop the project. Why? The biggest reason was that NOBODY would believe it! You couldn't leave your grandmother alone with him for two minutes or he'd have her in the sack. The kid on the left was his best friend, Pete Fountain. He was Pete's best man at his wedding, and according to one who was there, they got into a fist fight at the reception when George hit on Pete's new wife! He made a few recordings with his Basin St. 6, but like Bix, everyone said that the records don't come close to showing what George could do. He was a performer, a great singer and a real showman. But on trumpet he couldn't be touched. The local boys all said that had George lived, you would have never heard of Al Hirt. Bought himself a new trumpet a couple of weeks before he died thinking he'd recover.
Here's a classic photo of a few of the Whiteman boys. Did you notice Henry Busse, front row right sitting on the floor? But notice Goldie standing next to the guy holding the microphone! This was taken when the band was at Lowe's in Boston, and both men were in the band. Henry left right after this engagement. Oh...there was never a big fight scene with Henry & McDonald walking out. That was just R. Sudhalter's fertile flair for drama kicking in again in his endless quest to re-write jazz history. So here's the true story. When Whiteman left Victor, Victor wanted another band like Whiteman's and made Busse an offer. He had Paul's blessing and Paul's help in getting started. But it sure was a good story that he made up to go along with his other efforts. I used to believe them too when I first read them.There was no reason not to! Guys like that can really do damage to the truth. Try convincing people otherwise sometime! It's like trying to put Cheez-Wiz back in the can.
Give him a bowler and you've got Ollie.
If this doesn't look like a bunch of mobsters, what does?
AND THEY'RE OFF!
Spiritual....Beiderbecke.
So..the Babe takes up the sax, Perhaps he wanted to put together a band with his pal Bix? If Jack Johnson could do it, why not Babe? Of course this would mean that we'd all be collecting Okeh records made by Bix & Babe. It would have made for an interesting chase chorus, eh?
And Bix was finally heard playing live by the folks living in England.
1928 - The Babe takes up the saxophone. He probably wanted to start a jazz band with his pal, Bix Beiderbecke and to make a few jazz classics. Had he really practiced more, we'd all be collecting Okeh's by Bix & Babe. Right. And Tram could have played for the New York Yankees.
The first gang releated drive-by shooting took place shortly after this photo was taken.
Yes Rick, I am well aware of the big special going on at Kazoolips.com. That's just wonderful, really it is. But about what US, Rick? Rick? Rick...Oh Yoo Hoo! Hey Rick! Over here, look! A real woman, look at me, Rick! That's it, I'm out of here. Who needs you? I'll find myself a REAL man, like Rock Hudson. I hope you get a roll on your lip.
