1944	Wardell Gray Chronology
	Created by Leif Bo Petersen	Last updated: December 15, 2024.
Date	Event	References/Further Details
January 3	Earl Hines and His Orchestra 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). City Auditorium, Macon, GA. 8 pm.	“Glamorous Beauties, with Hines New band - a feature of Revue and Dance Tonight,” Macon Telegraph, January 3, 1944, 11: featuring 28 stars.
January 4	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Auditorium, Atlanta, GA. 8:30 am—12:30 pm. Dance.	Ad in Atlanta Constitution, December 28, 1943, 30.
January 5	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Municipal Auditorium, Birmingham, AL.	“Band Bookings,” Variety, December 22, 1943, 43.
January 8	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Brookley Field, Mobile, AL. January 8–10.	“Band Bookings,” Variety, December 22, 1943, 43.
January 13	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Brown and Brown (dance) Marva Louis (voc). Rainbow Garden, Little Rock, AR. 9 pm.–? For white people only.	Ad in Arkansas Gazette, January 9, 1944: The ad has: Marva Lewis [sic] and Joe Lewis [sic]. Marva Louis is billed as wife of champion Joe Lewis.
January 14	Earl Hines and His Orchestra 28 pieces. Brown and Brown (dance) Marva Louis (voc). Rainbow Garden, Little Rock, AR.	Ad in Arkansas State Press (Little Rock AR.), January 14, 1944, 3: Marva Louis is billed as wife of champion Joe Lewis.
January 21	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Canfield & Lewis Al Custer Regal, Chicago, IL- January 21–27.	Ad in Chicago Defender, January 22, 1944, 9: featuring Sarah Vaughn, the Bluebonnets, Lavilla Tulllis [sic], and Ardine Loving.
February 4	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Canfield & Lewis Al Custer Paradise Theatre, Detroit, MI. February 4–10.	Ad in Detroit Free Press, February 4, 1944, 16: Featuring: Sarah Vaughn. Canfield & Lewis, Al Custa [sic], Bluebonnets - 12 pretty girls.
February 12	Earl Hines and His Orchestra I.M.A. Ballroom, Flint MI. February 12–13.	D. Salemann, Wardell Gray 1921-1955 Discography (1986), 2.
February 14	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Armory, Akron, OH. February 14-?	D. Salemann, Wardell Gray 1921-1955 Discography (1986), 2.
February 18	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Shorty Howell Two Nit Wits The Canine Gang Spider Bruce Apollo Theater, New York, NY. February 18—24.	Ad in New York Amsterdam News, February 19, 1944, 11A.
March 3	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Bab Lawrence Al Custer Royal Theatre, Baltimore, MD. February 3–9.	Ad in Baltimore Afro-American, March 4, 1944, 12: 28 pieces orchestra; 16 men of swing - 12 queens of swing. “Royal Presents Hines on Stage; Action on Screen,” Baltimore Afro-American, March 3, 1944, 12.
March 10	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Town Hall, Philadelphia, PA. Club Savoy (prod). Dance.	“Race Bands Save Philly from War Dough Ballroom Aches,” Billboard, March 11, 1944, 16.
March 20	Celebrity Party Yacht Club, New York, NY. Host: Billy Eckstine. Guests: Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines.	“Guests at Night Club,” New York Age, March 25, 1944, 10: Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines. Probably also members of the bands,
March 24	Earl Hines and His Orchestra 28 pieces. Brooklyn Palace, New York, NY.	Ad in New York Amsterdam News, March 18, 1944, 11A.
March 30	Earl Hines and His Orchestra 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 (tb, p); 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); Betty Roche (voc); The Bluebonnets: Ellen Solomon, Jean Parks, Anita San, Mary Beasley (voc). Al Custer Leo Carillo (comedy) Phil Hanna Chuck and Chuckles The Antaleks Loew’s Sate Theater, New York, NY. March 30– April 5.	Ad in New York Times, March 30, 1944, 18: featuring: Blue Bonnets Sarah Vaughan, Lavilla Tulos, and Ardine Loving. Sarah Vaughn is probably a mistake. “Night Clubs-Vaudeville: Loew’s State, New York,” Billboard, April 8, 1944, 26: Review on March 31. Sarah Vaugh not mentioned in review. “House Reviews: State, N.Y.,” Variety, April 5, 1944, 35. Sarah Vaugh not mentioned in review.
April 10	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Mechanics Hall, Boston, MA. Easter Monday Parade and Ball.	Ad in Baltimore Afro-American, April 8, 1944, 13: featuring: Blue Bonnets, Sarah Vaughn, Lavilla Tulos, Ardine Loving. Sarah Vaughn is probably a mistake.
April 13	Billy Eckstine with Deluxe All Star Band Dizzy Gillespie (tp & arr); Freddie Webster, Maurice “Shorty” McConnell, Al Killian (tp); Trummy Young, Claude Jones, Howard Scott (tb); Albert “Budd” Johnson (as & arr); Jimmy Powell (as); Wardell Gray, Thomas Crump (ts): Elmon “Rudy” Rutherford (bars): Clyde Hart (p); Connie Wainwright (g); Oscar Pettiford (b): Rossiere “Shadow” Wilson (dr); Billy Eckstine (voc & dir). Unidentified studio, New York, NY. Commercial recordings for DeLuxe. Unidentified studio. New York. NY. Commercial recordings for DeLuxe.	“Eckstein Waxes Two for DeLuxe,” Baltimore Afro-American, 1944, May 9, 11: “Billy Eckstein, currently at the club Onyx, cut two vocal Blues for DeLuxe last week Good Jelly Blues and I Stay in the Mood for You. A second session is scheduled for this week.” This second session seems not to have taken place, For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html
May?	Earl Hines Orchestra Angel Creasy, Helen Way, Sylvia Medford (v); Ardine Loving (cello); Lavilla Tulos ?(harp); Shorty McConnell, Palmer T. Davis, Ira Pettiford, Willie Cook (tp); Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Gus Chappell, Rudy Morrison (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); probably Betty Roche, Jesse Perry (voc). Richmond, VA.	International Musician, June 1944: Lists personnel from here. Lavilla Tulos not mentioned. “Jimmy Edwards Presents ‘Contest of the Year’,” New York Age, May 13, 10: Jesse Perry is now touring with Earl Hines. During May Hines lost McConnell and Crump to Billy Eckstine, who started rehearsals for his band in the last half of May. The string group also stopped in May.
May early	Billy Eckstine Release of De Luxe 2000. 10” 78 rpm. record. Billy Eckstine with De Luxe All Star Band Recorded April 13, 1944. 2000-A Good Jelly Blues 2000-B I Stay in the Mood for You	"Popular Record Releases," Billboard, May 13, 1944, 18. “Harlem Hit Parade,” Billboard, September 9, 1944, 17: I Stay in the Mood for You: number 7. “Harlem Hit Parade,” Billboard, September 16, 1944, 15: I Stay in the Mood for You: number 7. “Harlem Hit Parade,” Billboard, September 23, 1944, 23: I Stay in the Mood for You: number 4.
May 7	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Savoy Ballroom, Chicago, IL.	Ad in Chicago Defender, May 6, 1944, 9. The string group may have left before this engagement
May 13	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO.	Ad in Kansas City Star, May 13, 1944: Hines only tonight.
May 16	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Blossom Heath Club, Oklahoma City, OK.	Ad in Daily Oklahoman, May 14, 1944, C11: The ad has wrong content: it lists Billy Eckstein, Madeline Greene, and the Three Varieties on the bill. However, the date Tuesday, May 16, is correct.
May 26	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Orchestra and Revue incl. Betty Roche (voc). Club Plantation, St. Louis, MO. May 26–June 14.	“Name bands to St. L. Plantation,” Billboard, May 27, 1944, 26: Orchestra and Revue incl. Betty Roche (voc). Ad in St. Louis Star and Times, May 27, 1945, 6: Now Earl Hines. Ad in St. Louis Star and Times, June 10, 1945, 8: Now Earl Hines. Coming Noble Sissle.
July 7	Earl Hines and His Orchestra 16 pieces: unidentified, unidentified, Palmer Davis, Willie Cook (tp); Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Gus Chappell, unidentified (tb); Scoops Carey (as, cl); Lloyd Smith (as, fl); Unidentified, Wardell Gray (ts); John Williams (bars); Earl Hines (p, dir); Rene Hall (g), arr; Lucille Dixon (b); David Booth (d); Betty Roche, Jesse Perry (voc). Louise Beavers, 2 Zephyrs Red & Curley Earle Theater, Philadelphia, PA. Jul 7—13.	Ad in Philadelphia Inquirer, July 7, 1945, 18: Earl Hines and his New orchestra. Betty Roche, Jesse Perry. "Earl Hines Featured on Earl Stage," Philadelphia Inquirer, July 781945, 12- “House Reviews: Earle, Philly,” Variety, July 12, 1944, 39: Review on July 7.
July 14	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Unidentified, unidentified, Palmer Davis, Willie Cook (tp); Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Gus Chappell, probably Walter Harris, unidentified, unidentified (tb); Scoops Carey (as, cl); Lloyd Smith (as, fl); probably Kermit Scott, Wardell Gray (ts); John Williams (bars); Earl Hines (p, dir); Rene Hall (g, arr; Lucille Dixon (b); David Booth (d); Betty Roche, Jesse Perry (voc). Leon Collins Buster & Toby Dusty Fletcher Apollo Theater, New York, NY. July 14-20.	Ad in New York Age, July 7, 1944, 10. “Stage Show Reviews,” Metronome, Aug 1944, 22: Review with partial personnel: 4 trumpets, 5 trombones, 5 reeds, and 3 rhythm.
August 1	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Tic Toc Club, Boston, MA. August 1–15?	Ad in Boston Herald, August 1, 1944, 3. Ad in Boston Herald, August 15, 1944, 3. “Hines Halts Riot in Boston Club,” Afro-American, August 12, 1944, 8: Racial incident reported on Saturday.
August 18	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Club Louisiana, Washington, DC. August 18–31?	Ad in Evening Star, August 17, 1944, A16: 21 pieces orchestra with complete show; Betty Roche; Jesse Perry.
September 4	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Public Auditory, Cleveland, OH.	Ad in Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH.), September 3, 1944, 7C.
September 10	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Eugene Wright’s Dukes of Swing Savoy Ballroom, Chicago, IL. Sunday Dance	Ad in Chicago Defender, September 2, 1944, 10.
September 26	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Ben Carter Mantan Moreland Elroy Peace Ernie Morris The Cuban Diamonds Orpheum Theater, LA. September 26–October 2.	Ad in Los Angeles Times, September 26, 1944, part II, 6. “House Reviews: Orpheum, L.A.” Variety, October 4, 1944, 16: Reviewed on September 29. “Hines Scores at Orpheum,” California Eagle, September 21, 1944, 12: Celebrity party at Orpheum including Hines on Monday October 2.
October 5	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Probably Tommy Douglas, Palmer Davis, Willie Cook (tp); Arthur Walker (tp, voc); Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Gus Chappell, Walter Harris (tb); Scoops Carey (as, cl); Lloyd Smith (as, fl); probably Kermit Scott, Wardell Gray (ts); John Williams (bars); Earl Hines (p, dir); Rene Hall (g); Lucille Dixon (b); David Booth (d); Betty Roche, Jesse Perry (voc). Two Esquires Business Men of Rhythm Carita Harbart Club Plantation, LA. Betty Roche, Jesse Perry (voc). October 5–November 1.	Ad in California Eagle, October 5, 1944, 12. “Earl Hines Opens at Club Plantation Tonight,” California Eagle, October 5, 1944, 12. “Earl Hines in His Last Week at the Plantation,” California Eagle, October 26, 1944, 15. S. Dance. The World of Earl Hines (1977), 285: Arthur Walker joined the band in California. S. Dance. The World of Earl Hines (1977), 267: photo dated Cleveland 1944 shows Billy Douglas on trumpet and Kermit Scott on tenor sax in the band.
October 23	AFRS Jubilee Earl Hines and His Orchestra Loumell Morgan Trio Garry Moore Ben Carter Mantan Moreland June Richmond Jimmy Lyons (program announcer); Ernie Whitman (mc) NBC studio, Hollywood, CA. Live studio recordings for AFRS Jubilee nos. 105–06. October 23 and possibly also October 30.	“HVC Sets 17 Stars, Two Bands for G. I. Platter,” Variety (Daily), October 31, 1944, 8: refers to show “last night.” Lotz & Neuert, The AFRS “Jubilee” Transcription Programs (1985), Nos. 105-06: Has dubbing dates October 24 and 30. For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html
October late	Release of De Luxe 1003. 10” 78 rpm. record. Wardell Gray do not appear on 1003-B. Billy Eckstine with De Luxe All Star Band Recorded April 13, 1944. 1003-A I Got a Date with Rhythm The Four Blues Unidentified recording date. 1003-B I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray	"Advance Record Releases," Billboard, October 27, 1945, 31.
November	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Hines is sued by AFM and AGVA for firing Jesse Perry without sufficient compensation.	“Hollywood Inside,” Variety (Daily), December 5, 1944, 2.
November 11	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Lincoln Park Auditorium, LA. November 11 and 12,	“Earl Hines Plays Two Dances on Sat.–Sun., Nov. 11–12,” California Eagle, November 9, 1944, 13.
November 17	Earl Hines and His Orchestra 17 pieces: Billy Douglas, Palmer Davis, Willie Cook (tp); Arthur Walker (tp, voc); Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Gus Chappell, Walter Harris, unidentified (tb); Scoops Carey (as, cl); Lloyd Smith (as, fl); Kermit Scott, Wardell Gray (ts); Earl Hines (p, dir); Rene Hall (g); Lucille Dixon (b); David Booth (d); Betty Roche, Essex Scott (voc). Three Maniacs of Rhythm The Mellotones Freddy and Flo Metropolitan, Cleveland, OH. November 17-23.	Ad in Cleveland Gazette, November 18, 1944, sec 2, 3. “Earl Hines Heads Met Revue,” Cleveland Gazette, November 18, 1944, 9. “Earl Hines, Piano Pioneer in Swingdom…” Plain Dealer, November 18, 1944, 14: Review. Notice in Plain Dealer, November 18, 1944, 12. S. Dance. The World of Earl Hines (1977), 267, 289, 303: photos dated Cleveland 1944: personnel identified: Billy Douglas, (tp); Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Walter Harris, unidentified (tb); Scoops Carey (as, cl); Lloyd Smith (as, fl); Kermit Scott, Wardell Gray (ts); Earl Hines (p, dir); Lucille Dixon (b); David Booth (d); Three Maniacs of Rhythm.
November 18	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Terminal Concourse, Cleveland, OH. Half hour show beginning 1 p.m. Opening of Cleveland’s Sixth War Loan Drive.	Notice in Plain Dealer, November 18, 1944, 12.
November 21	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Crile General Hospital, Cleveland, OH. Benefit.	“Earl Hines, Piano Pioneer in Swingdom…” Plain Dealer, November 18, 1944, 14.
November 24	Earl Hines and His Orchestra The Mellotones Three Maniacs of Rhythm Laffe Galore Shorty Howell Paradise Theatre, Detroit, MI. November 24–30.	Ad in Detroit Free Press, November 24, 1944, 11. “Hines Scores,” Detroit Free Press, November 27, 1944, 14: review. Betty Roche is not mentioned.
December 1	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Three Maniacs of Rhythm Butterbeans & Susie Shorty Howell Downtown Theater, Chicago, IL. December 1–7.	Ad in Chicago Tribune, December 1, 1944.
December 16	Earl Hines and His Orchestra Cotton Club, Dayton, OH. Paramount Amusement Club (prod).	Ad in Dayton Daily News, December 16, 1944, 2.