1921–43	Wardell Gray Chronology
	Created by Leif Bo Petersen	Last updated: December 15, 2024.
Date	Event	References/Further Details
1921
February 13	Oklahoma City, OK. Wardell Gray is born. Father: Eugene Gray Mother: Carrie Gray (nee Maddison) Sisters: Madeline Gray; Edith Gray Brother: Harry Gray	Wardell Gray was the youngest of four children.
1929
	The Gray family moves to Detroit, MI. Lives as lodgers by James Chager at 505 E. Kirby Street, Detroit, MI.	US Federal Census 1930: the sisters are not mentioned here.
1935
	Attends Northeastern High School in Detroit but soon transfers to Cass Technical High School. Studies clarinet, and alto sax at Cass Technical High School, but switched to tenor sax later on after hearing Lester Young.	D. Salemann, Wardell Gray 1921-1955 Discography (1986), 1.
1937?
	Isaac Goodwin Band Including Wardell Gray (ts); John Isaac Goodwin (p).	L. Bjorn and J. Gallart, Before Motown (2001), 101.
1938-39
	Dorothy Patton Band Fraternal Club, Flint, MI. Wardell Gray spends a year with this band.	L. Bjorn and J. Gallart, Before Motown (2001), 101.
1939?
July early	Dorothy Patton and the Aristocrats Gould’s, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Dances. Wardell Gray may have been in the band here.	Ad in Evening News (Sault Ste. Marie, MI), July 7, 1939, 8. Ad in Evening News (Sault Ste. Marie, MI), July 8, 1939, 5.
1940
July	Jimmy Raschel Band Including: Howard McGhee (tp); Sonny Stitt (as); Wardell Gray (ts); Earl Van Riper (p).	Earl Van Riper in L. Bjorn and J. Gallart, Before Motown (2001), 77. Howard McGhee interviewed by Ira Gitler. Oral History Project, IJS. November 1982: Mentions Milt Buckner (p); Wardell Gray (ts); Howard McGhee(tp). Mid 1940. https://ijsresearch.libraries.rutgers.edu/ijs/results?q1=%22McGhee%2C%20Howard%22&q1
1942
	Bennie Carew Band Including Wardell Gray (ts).	Earl Van Riper in L. Bjorn and J. Gallart, Before Motown (2001), 77.
	Club Congo Orchestra Including: Lester Currant (tp & arr); Eddie Youngblood Davis (tp); Teddy Edwards (cl & as); Wardell Gray (as & ts); Big Nick Nicholas (ts); Johnny Allen (p & arr); Ted Smith (g); Al McKibbon (b); Vernon Brown (d). Club Congo, Detroit, MI. Late 1942 until April 1, 1943 The club closes in spring 1943.	“Two Sepia Stars in Club Congo Show,” Detroit Free Press, January 22, 1943, 18: James Martin's Club Congo Orchestra. Ad in Detroit Free Press, April 10, 1943, 16: Last bill having Club Congo Orchestra. Ad in Detroit Free Press, April 17, 1943, 16: Johnny Allen's Music. “Random Notes on Folds in Local Show World,” Detroit Free Press, May 5, 1943, 20: Club Congo is Closed. L. Bjorn and J. Gallart, Before Motown (2001), 80.
February 16	Wardell Gray Local Board no. 23, Wayne County, Detroit, Il Draft Registration. 281 E. Vernon Highway , Detroit, MI. Height: 5’10” Weight: 120. Contact: Jeanne Gray. Sam address. Occupation: Musician.	Draft registration card. www.Ancestry.com.
1943
Summer	Bennie Carew Band Including Wardell Gray (ts). Lansing, MI. Summer–August.	L. Bjorn and J. Gallart, Before Motown (2001), 81 note 116. Jerri Gray (Walker): Gray worked with Carew after Club Congo closed.
August 17	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Earl Hines stops a southern tour because of many members of t e orchestra has received induction notes from the draft authorities. Afterwards Hines is recruiting members for a reconstructed orchestra.	“Advance Bookings,” Billboard, August 7, 1943, 16. “’Father’ Hines Loses Plenty of Children,” Variety, August 18, 1943, 37: Tour South cancelled from Wednesday. August 18: Eckstine and 7 others got induction notes: Jesse Simpkins (b), Gail Brockman (tp), Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Andrew Gardner, Thomas Crump (saxes), Howard Scott (trombone). Jeri Gray, “Mes Dix Années Avec Wardell Gray,” Jazz Magazine, September 1955, 20: Tells that she met Hines in Detroit and recommended her boyfriend Wardell Gray to Hines. L. Bjorn and J. Gallart, Before Motown (2001), 81 note 116. Jeri Gray (Walker): tells same story in Gallart interview from 1994.
August 30	Earl Hines and His Orchestra 27 persons: Angel Creasy, Helen Way, Sylvia Medford or Lolita Valdez (v); Ardine Loving (cello); Lavilla Tulos (harp); Shorty McConnell, Benny Harris, Paul Cohen, Leonard Graham (aka Idrees Sulieman) (tp); Cliff Smalls, Gus Chappell, Benny Green, Unidentified (tb); Scoops Carey, Wardell Gray (as); Harold Clark, Thomas Crump (ts); John Williams (bars); Earl Hines (p & dir); Roxanne Lucas (g); Lucille Dixon (b); Murray Dinofer (d); Sarah Vaughan (p & voc); The Bluebonnets: Ellen Solomon, Jean Parks, Anita San, Mary Beasley (voc). New York, NY. Rehearsals start on August 30.	“Hines Forms New Band with 12 Girl Members,” Baltimore Afro-American, September 4, 1943, 16. “Hines Scores Musical Move of the Year by Signing 12 Lassie’s for Band,” Pittsburg Courier, September 11, 1943, 20: Photos and text. Gives a total of 27 and also the personnel of string group. There is some confusion here: the phot caption has: “Three of the ladies who play the violins with the band, Sylvia Medford, Helen Way, and Angel Creasy…” The article text has Angel Creasy, Helen Way, and Lolita Valdez on Violin. “Talented Girl Musicians Add Charm, Novelty to Hines’ Orchestra.” New York Amsterdam News, September 18, 1943, p. 9B: photo of Hines midst his 12 girl musicians. No names are given.
September 17	Earl Hines and His Sensational New Band and Revue Orchestra of 26 master musicians: men and girls, colored and white. Warren Evans, Baby Lawrence Jesse James Verneda & Lopez Apollo Theatre, New York, NY. September 17–23.	Ad in New York Amsterdam News, September 18, 1943, 9B. S. Dance. The World of Earl Hines (1977), 96–97: Photo of the band. The WINS microphone at the front indicates that it is from the Apollo amateur night, which had a WINS transmission. The caption has Angel Creasy, Helen Way, and Lolita Valdez as the violinists. S. Dance. The World of Earl Hines (1977), 301: Metronome, October 1943 has photo of the band at the Apollo. This may be the same shown at pages 96—97 with identification of the musicians.
September 25	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Promenade Room, Manhattan Center, New York, NY. 9p.m.–3 a.m. Independent Progressive Club: Annual Fall Dance.	Ad in New York Amsterdam News, September 18, 1943, 9B.
September 26	Earl Hines and His Sensational New Orchestra Renaissance Ballroom, New York, NY.	Ad in New York Amsterdam News, September 18, 1943, 9B.
September late?	Earl Hines and His Orchestra New Ark, NJ.	International Musician, December 1943: No personnel list from here.
October 1	Earl Hines and His Orchestra 28 Boys and Girls – 17 men of music – 11 Sweethearts of Rhythm – Plus cast of 28. Warren Evans Baby Lawrence Cook and Brown The Appletons Fays Theater, Philadelphia, PA. October 1–7.	Ad in Philadelphia Tribune, October 1, 1943, 19. “Earl Hines and His orchestra at Fays,” Philadelphia Tribune, October 3, 1943, SO 11 Ad in Philadelphia Tribune, October 3, 1943, SO 11. “Gracie Barrie Par $20,000 in Philly; Hines Big at Fays,” Billboard, October 16, 1943, 17.
October early	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Hines drops 3 brasses, cutting from 22 to 19 instrumentalists.	Notice in Variety, October 6, 1943, 43. S. Dance. The World of Earl Hines (1977), 96: Hines tells of the problems of transportation of the band. These may have been the reason for reducing the personnel.
October 10	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Turner’s Arena, Washington, DC.	“Advance Bookings,” Billboard, October 9, 1943, 27.
October 11	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Strand Theater, Baltimore, MD.	“Advance Bookings,” Billboard, October 9, 1943, 27.
October 28	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Akron, OH.	“Band Bookings,” Variety, October 20, 1943, 42.
October 29	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Plus an ensemble – 12 Pretty Girls Al Custer Lovely Lane Baby Lawrence Brookens & Van Paradise Theater, Detroit, MI. October 29– November 4.	Ad in Detroit Free Press, October 29, 1943, 14. “Earl Hines and Band Playing at Paradise,” Detroit Free Press, November 1, 1943, 16. “’Fatha’ Brings 12 Lassies with band to Paradise,” Detroit Tribune, October 30, 1943, 15: Has Angela Creasy, Helen Way, and Lolita Valdez on violin.
November 7	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Columbus Auditorium, Columbus, OH.	Ad in Columbus Dispatch, November 5, 1943, 10 B.
November 11	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA. Benefit for the Church of Holy Cross.	“Talk o’ Town,” Pittsburg Courier, November 6, 1943, 10.
November 12	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Book-Cadillac Hotel, Detroit.	“Advance Bookings,” Billboard, October 23, 1943, 27.
November 15	Earl Hines and His Orchestra 28 artists, singers and dancers plus floor revue. Club Madrid, Louisville, KY. November 15-28.	Ad in Courier-Journal, November 15, 1943, sec. 2, 3: Starting tonight: Earl Hines. Ad in Courier-Journal, November 29, 1943, sec. 2, 2: Starting tonight: Georgie Auld.
November 30	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Music Hall, Cincinnati, OH.	“Band Bookings,” Variety, November 3, 1943, 34.
December mid?	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Angel Creasy, Helen Way, Sylvia Medford (v); Ardine Loving (cello); Lavilla Tulos (harp); Shorty McConnell, Benny Harris, Paul Cohen, Leonard Graham (aka Idrees Sulieman) (tp); Cliff Smalls, Gus Chappell, Benny Green, Howard Scott (tb); Scoops Carey, Wardell Gray (as); Harold Clark, Thomas Crump (ts); John Williams (bars); Earl Hines (p & dir); Roxanne Lucas (g); Lucille Dixon (b); Murray Dinofer (d); Sarah Vaughan (p & voc); The Bluebonnets: Ellen Solomon, Jean Parks, Anita San, Mary Beasley (voc). Charleston, S. C.	International Musician, January 1944, brings personnel list from here. The vocalists are not mentioned, as they were not AFM members.
December mid?	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Angel Creasy, Helen Way, Sylvia Medford (v); Ardine Loving (cello); Lavilla Tulos (harp); Shorty McConnell, Palmer Davis, unidentified, Ira Pettiford (tp); Cliff Smalls, Gus Chappell, unidentified, Robert Merrell? (tb); Scoops Carey, Wardell Gray (as); Harold Clark, Thomas Crump (ts); John Williams (bars); Earl Hines (p & dir); unidentified (g); Lucille Dixon (b); David Booth (d); Sarah Vaughan (p & voc); The Bluebonnets: Ellen Solomon, Jean Parks, Anita San, Mary Beasley (voc). Richmond, VA.	International Musician, February 1944, brings personnel list from here. The vocalists are not mentioned, as they were not AFM members.
December mid?	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Unidentified probably Angel Creasy, Helen Way, Sylvia Medford (v); Ardine Loving (cello); Lavilla Tulos (harp); Shorty McConnell, Palmer Davis, Willie Cook, Ira Pettiford (tp); Cliff Smalls, Gus Chappell, Rudy Morrison, Robert Merrell? (tb); Scoops Carey, Wardell Gray (as); Harold Clark, Thomas Crump (ts); John Williams (bars); Earl Hines (p & dir); unidentified (g); Lucille Dixon (b); David Booth (d); Sarah Vaughan (p & voc); The Bluebonnets: Ellen Solomon, Jean Parks, Anita San, Mary Beasley (voc). Tampa, FL.	International Musician, March 1944, brings personnel list from here. The vocalists are not mentioned, as they were not AFM members.
December 20	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Sarah Vaughan The Bluebonnets Lavilla Tulos Ardine Loving Brown & Brown Club 2 Spot, Jacksonville, FL. December 20–26. Gala Anniversary week.	Ad in Pittsburgh Courier, December 18, 1943, 15.
December 27	Earl Hines and His Orchestra South St. Casino, Orlando, FL.	“Band Bookings,” Variety, December 22, 1943, 43.
December 28	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Club Windsor, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.	“Band Bookings,” Variety, December 22, 1943, 43.
December 29	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Harlem Square Club, Miami, FL.	“Band Bookings,” Variety, December 22, 1943, 43.
December 30	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Camp Bartow, FL. Afternoon.	“Bands’ Last-Minute Camp Bookings Hurt Their 1-Nite Stands,” Variety, January 5, 1944, 190:
December 30	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Elite Theater, Winter Haven, FL.	“Band Bookings,” Variety, December 22, 1943, 43.