Pete Dailey was born on May 5th, 1911, in Portland, Indiana. Dailey
was a Dixieland cornetist with his own popular combos in the 40’s
and 50’s. He first played tuba before switching to cornet, and played professionally in Chicago working with Bud Freeman. After forming his own band in the early forties, he moved to California and worked with Ozzie Nelson and others. After his military sevice in World War Two, Dailey formed his own Dixieland band—Pete Dailey’s Chicagoans in 1946—based in California. This group was popular there for several years and recorded for Capitol records.

Kenny Davern

Was born in Huntington, Long Island, N.Y. on January 7th, 1935.
He fell under Benny Goodman’s spell when he was young, and his
first professional job was with Jack Teagarden (who always encouraged
good young musicians.) Later, Davern played on the New Yorl Club
circuit with such notables as Billy Butterfield, Wild Bill Davison and
Eddie Condon. He first achieved world-wide recognition in the
super-group Soprano Summit, which he co-led with Bob Wilber.
At the end of this group—nine years later, Davern switched from his
soprano saxophone to clarinet.

EDDIE (Lockjaw) DAVIS

Was born in New York City on March 2nd, 1922 and began to make his
mark on the jazz scene there when he worked at Clark Monroe’s
Uptown House in the late 30’s. Despite that establishment’s close
ties with Be-bop, Davis Tenor saxophone playing was rooted in
swing and blues. Davis went on to work with Cooty Williams, Lucky
Millander and Andy Kirk, and he also led his own small groups. In 1952
he made his first appearances with Count Basie and continued with the
Count throughout the 60’s and 70’s. It was with Basie that Davis made
his greatest impace. Davis was at ease with both hard-driving swing
numbers and slow, tender ballads.

WILD BILL DAVISON

Was born in Defiance, Ohio on January 5th, 1906. He played conet with local bands and went on to Cincinnati and to New York in the mid-twenties. He made his first trip to Chicago with the Seattle Harmony Kings and remained there for most of his life. Davison worked with Frank Teschemacher and, from 1941 on he played mostly in New York. He was a regular at the city’s most famous Dixieland clubs—Nick’s, Ryans and Condon’s. He made numerous recordings with Condon and also toured Europe. A tough- talking, hard-drinking and powerful cornetist, Davison won a host of admirers and was seen by many as the epitome of Chicago style jazz. He retained his playing ability and vitality into old age and practiced daily in his 80’s. Davison died in 1989 at the age of 83.

Buddy De Franco

Buddy Boniface De Franco was born in Camden, New Jersey
on February 17th, 1923. He was a child prodigy who won an
amateur contest playing the clarinet while 14 years of age.
At 18 he was in Gene Krupa’s band, and then joined Charlie
Barnet. In 1944 he became a featured player with Tommy Dorsey,
and worked with smaller groups like Count Basie’s. In 1954,
DeFranco toured Europe with Billy Holiday and in 1966 he
became leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Wilbur De Paris

was born on January 11th, 1900 in Crawfordsville, Indiana. After working
in tent shows and carnivals, the trombonist appeared in New Orleans
in the early twenties where he played with Louis Armstrong and other
young musicians. Throughout the twenties he toured extensively
working with a wide-range of small groups and big bands. In 1940
De Paris joined the old Chic Webb band, which was now working under the
leadership of Ella Fitzgerald. He later worked with Roy Eldridge and
Duke Ellington, but in 1947 he formed his own band which featured his
brother, trumpeter Sidney De Paris. That remained in existence for the
next 20 years. The De Paris brothers maintained the music and inspiration
of the old New Orleans masters, but perked-up with a skillful addition of
contemporary styling. Enormously popular in concerts and on records, it was
one of the most successful bands of its kind.

Sidney De Paris

Sidney De Paris was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana on May 30th, 1905.
He was in New York from 1925 on and worked with Fletcher Henderson
where he replaced Rex Stuart in 1931, and went on to join Don Redman’s
band. In the decade to follow De Paris played for the most diverse bands—
Mezz Mezzrow and Charlie Barnet, and also led his own groups and
played in theatre orchestras. Next, he joined his brother Wilbur’s
New Orleans Jazz band which formed in 1947 and for the next sixteen years
was a success, playing everything from blues to light classics. Sidney De Paris
died in 1967.

Paul Desmond,

Born as Paul Breitenfeld, saw the light of the world on
November 25th, 1924 in San Fransisco, Cal. He’s best known as the Alto
sax man with the Dave Brubeck quartet in which he played from
1951 to 1967. He also wrote the big hit "Take Five". Yet fans and critics
alike agree that Desmond’s best work was not with Brubeck, but with other
groups and musicians—such as the Modern Jazz Quartet and with Gerry
Mulligan.

Vic Dickenson

Was born in Xenia, Ohio on August 6^th, 1906. He was a self-taught trombonist whose only experience came from playing in the territory bands of Speed Webb and Zack Whyte. Dickenson was ready for the big time by the 30’s and began working for Luis Russell, Claude Hopkins, Benny Carter and Count Basie. He was active with small groups throughout the forties, --with Sidney Bechet, Frankie Newton, and Eddie Heywood. In the 50’s and 60’s Dickenson played with Bobby Hackett, Henry Red Allen and others. While his roots were planted in traditional jazz, his big band experience and natural feeling for melody made him an ideal ‘mainstream’ performer.

          Warren (baby) Dodds

Warren (Baby) Dodds was born in New Orleans on December 24th, 1898.
The younger brother of Johnny Dodds. He began taking drum lessons
in his teens and played in street parades. His first professional work
included drumming for Bunk Johnson, Papa Celestine and Fate Marable,
and then he joined King Oliver. From 1924 he played with a succession of
leading bands—Honore Dutrey, Freddy Keppard and his brother Johnny,
as well as with Mezz Mezzrow, Art Hodes and Miff Mole. Generally held
to be the Master of New Orleans drumming, Baby Dodds style was based
on immaculate time-keeping and faultless technique. In fact, we was a
major influence on Dave Tough, and Tough urged Gene Krupa to listen
to Baby Dodds.

Johnny Dodds

Johnny Dodds was born in New Orleans on April 12th, 1892. He was
17 years of age before he began playing clarinet, and in the years
before World War One he played with Kid Ory and Fate Marable—
mainly in New Orleans. Dodds also worked in a minstrel show.
In 1920 he joined King Oliver in Chicago, and in 1923 he worked
with Freddy Keppard, Honore Dutrey and others and it was at this
time that Dodds appeared on the famous Hot Five and Hot Seven
records with Louis Armstrong. In the thirties he worked mostly in
Chicago, leading bands at several clubs. In 1939, a heart attack took
him away from music for a few months, but he returned in 1940—
in poor health and he died in August of that year. Johnny Dodds was
a brilliant performer with a fluent style and an important contributor to
jazz—especially to clarinet playing.

JIMMY DORSEY

Was born in Shenandoah , Pennsylvania on February 29th, 1904. He
was musically active as a small child, tutored by his father—a coal
miner who turned music teacher. Dorsey switched from brass to reed
instruments while still in his teens. He concentrated on clarinet and alto
saxophone and played in various bands, mostly with his brother Tommy.
Their co-led group, Dorsey’s Novelty Six was later re-named Dorsey’s
Wild Canaries—one of the first jazz bands to broadcast on radio.
Sometimes alone, sometimes with his brother, Jimmy Dorsey played in a
number of leading bands including those led by Paul Whiteman, Jean
Goldkette, Red Nichols and Ted Lewis. He also recorded frequently with
Bix Beiderbecke. In 1934, he and Tommy formed the Dorsey Brothers
Orchestra which became extremely popular. Unfortunately, the brothers
frequently disagreed sometimes violently, and after one such argument
Tommy walked out leaving Jimmy to run the band on his own. One of
the most accomplished white bands of the swing era, Jimmy Dorsey’s
band retained a strong jazz element, but catered to popular demands.
His recordings, with vocalists Bob Eberly and Helen O’Connell –songs
like "Amapola", "Yours", "Green Eyes" and "Tangerine" were big hits
and ensured Dorsey’s success. By the mid-40’s his was one of the most
popular of the big bands. Jimmy Dorsey was one of the finest jazz
saxophonists of his era and a major influence on many contemporaries
and successors.

TOMMY DORSEY

Tommy Dorsey was born on November 19th, 1904 in Shenandoah, Pa. He studied music under his father—a coal miner who turned music teacher- and after first playing trumpet he switched to trombone. He played in various bands, often with his brother Jimmy and this led to their Dorsey Novelty Six and later to Dorsey’s Wild Canaries. Tommy later played in a number of leading bands including that of Jean Goldkette and Paul Whiteman. He also recorded frequently with leading jazzmen of the day. In 1935, he and Jimmy formed the Dorsey Brother’s Orchestra which became extremely popular. The brothers frequently argues—sometimes violently, and one day Tommy simply walked out leaving Jimmy to take over. Tommy then took over the excellent dance band of Joe Haymes and turned it into the finest of the era.
Over the years, Dorsey employed such outstanding arrangers as Axel Stordahl, Carmen Mastren , Paul Weston and Sy Oliver. And he took on great jazz players like Bunny Berigan, Buddy Rich, Yank Lawson, Buddy DeFranco, Gene Krupa and Charlie Shavers.
Later he hired Frank Sinatra as his leading singer. Tommy Dorsey was an outstanding technician and brought trombone playing to new heights of perfection. Dorsey—a heavy eater, choked to death in his sleep on November 26th, 1956---exactly one week after his 52nd birthday.

Eddie Durham

Guitarrist Eddie Durham came to the world in San Marcos, Texas on August
19th, 1906. As a child he worked in travelling shows with other musical
members of his family and in the 20’s joined a number of southwest
territory bands, including Walter Pages’ Blue Devil—the same band in which
Count Basie was playing –and then moved to Benny Moten’s band—again with Basie. During the 30’s, Durham played in and arranged for Willy Briant, Jimmy Lunceford and Basie and, a decade later, for Artie Shaw. Durham’s
contributions to jazz are extensive—including the development and refinement of the electric guitar and, of course, his swinging arrangements.

Harry Edison

The great trumpeter was born in Columbus, Ohio on October 10th, 1915, and was inspired by Louis Armstrong. He played with a number of territory bands including that of Lucky Millander and joined Count Basie in 1938, remaining there until that band folded in 1950. Edison then began a long career as the leader of small groups and also played with Buddy Rich. He toured with jazz at the Philharmonic and also became known to millions as the sensational trumpeter with Nelson Riddles orchestra in backing Frank Sinatra. Few musicians have matched his sense of humor and inventiveness.

Ziggy Elman

Was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as Harold Finkleman on May 26^th, 1914.
The trumpeter and band leader joined Benny Goodman in 1936 where he
became well known for his solos in such songs as "And the angels sing." Elman also wrote that number. He left Goodman to join Tommy Dorsey in 1940, and led his own band on the west coast. Later he toured with Goodman in 1953.

Art Farmer

Art Farmer was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Aug. 21st, 1928,
and began playing trumpet early in life. During the 40’s he worked with
Benny Carter and others and, in 1952, joined Lionel Hampton with whom
he toured Europe a year later. Farmer settled in New York and recorded with
such notables as Gerry Mulligan, Horace Silver, and Quincy Jones, and
later led a quartet with Jim Hall. In the 60’s, Farmer began touring
extensively as a soloist at clubs and festivals around the world.

         Maynard Ferguson

Maynard Ferguson was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on May 4th
He was already a band leader in his native land in his early teens,
and played trumpet in the bands of Boyd Rayburn, Jimmy Dorsey and
Charlie Barnet in the 40’s. Ferguson’s breakthrough came when he
joined Stan Kenton in 1950, electrifying audiences with his
high’notes. But unlike many trumpeters who played high notes,
he proved that it was possible to play music way up there rather than
just makes noises. Skillfill use of arrangements allowed Ferguson bands
to create an impression of much larger size: His 12 piece band at the 1958
Newport Jazz Festival had the impact and power of many groups twice
that size. In the late 60’s, Ferguson moved to England, formed a big band
and toured extensively. In the seventies he returned to the U.S. where he
switched to Jazz rock and found a new audience.

Ella Fitzgerald

Pete Fountain