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1946 |
Wardell Gray Chronology |
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Created by Leif Bo
Petersen |
Last updated: December
15, 2024. |
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Date |
Event |
References/Further Details |
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Until January 3 |
Star time
9th edition Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Probably:
Billy Douglas, Willie Cook (tp); Palmer “Fats” Davis (tp, voc); Arthur Walker
(tp, voc): Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Gus
Chappell, Walter Harris, Druie Bess
(tb); Scoops Carey (as, cl); Lloyd Smith (as); Kermit Scott, Wardell Gray
(ts); Earl Hines (p, dir); Bill Thompson (vib); Rene Hall (g); Eugene Thomas
(b, arr); David Booth (d); Dolores Parker, Lord Essex (voc ). Lovi Lane Dick
Montgomery Pierce &
Pierce Margaret
Brown 10
Grottoettes Joe
Stevenson (revue arr). El Grotto, Chicago, IL. |
Ad in Chicago Sun, December 9, 1945, 40: 9th
edition of Star time. |
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January
4 |
Star time
10th edition - All Star Harlem Revue Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Mabel Scott (boogie
woogie piano) Patterson
& Jackson (comedy) Holmes &
Jean (dance) 10
Grottoettes El Grotto,
Chicago, IL. January 4–31. |
Ad in Chicago
Defender, January 5, 1946, 22: 10th Edition of Star time. Ad in Chicago
Sun. January 6, 1945, 32: All Star Harlem Revue. Ad in Chicago Defender, January 12, 1946, 22. |
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January
late |
Earl Hines and His Orchestra Release of ARA RM 127. 10” 78 rpm. record. Earl Hines and
His Orchestra Recorded May
1946. RM 127 A Nonchalant Man RM 127 B At the El Grotto |
"Popular
Records," Arizona Daily Star, January 26, 1946, 4: negative
review. "Advance
Record Releases," Billboard, February 6, 1946, 30. "Record Reviews," Billboard,
February 16, 1946, 37: negative review. |
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February 1 |
A
Great New Harlem Revue Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Mabel
Scott (voc) Al
Custer (tap
dance) Manhattan
Debs (dance) Cuban
Pete and Santa Joe Steele (comedy
and dance) The
Grottoettes. (8
dancers) Jim Bowman (intermission
p, voc). El
Grotto, Chicago, IL. February
1–March 14. |
Ad in Chicago
Sun. February 3, 1945, 36: All Star Harlem Revue. Ad
in Chicago Defender, February 16,
24, 1946, 22. “House
Reviews: El Grotto, Chi,” Variety,
February 27, 1946, 57. Reviewed on February 20: 18-piece orchestra. Ad
in Chicago Defender, March 9, 1946,
25: opening March 15: Roy Eldridge. |
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February
mid |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Unidentified
studio, Chicago, IL. Commercial
recordings for ARA. |
“Out
of Horn’s Mouth,” Variety (Daily),
February 15, 1946, 18: “Lou Bring to Chicago Saturday to supervise Hines
discing 4 sides for ARA.” For
details see. http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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March
15 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Pershing
Ballroom, Chicago, IL. Urban
League Benefit Dance. |
Ad
in Chicago Defender, March 3, 1946,
25. |
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March
27 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Probably:
Billy Douglas, Willie Cook (tp); Palmer “Fats” Davis (tp, voc); Arthur Walker
(tp, voc): Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Gus
Chappell, Walter Harris, Druie Bess
(tb); Scoops Carry (as, cl); Lloyd Smith (as); Kermit Scott, Wardell Gray
(ts); John Williams (bars); Earl Hines (p, dir); Bill Thompson (vib); Eugene
Thomas (b, arr); David Booth (d); Dolores Parker, Lord Essex (voc ). Auditorium,
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 8:30. Dance. |
Ad
in Winnipeg Tribune, March 26, 1946, 2. |
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March
28 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Cavern,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 9
to 1 am. Dance. |
Ad
in Saskatoon Star Phoenix, March 28, 1946, 4. |
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March
29 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra R.C.A.F.
Drill Hall, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 9
to 1 am. Dance. |
Ad
in Edmonton Journal, March 27, 1946, 7: 17 pieces. |
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March
30 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra HMC
S Tecumseh, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 8:30. Dance.
Calgary
Navy Club (prod). |
Ad
in Calgary Herald, March 27, 1946, 57. |
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April
2 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Club
Sirocco, Victoria, Canada. Dance. |
Ad
in Victoria Daily Times, March 28, 1946, 17. |
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April
4 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra McElroy’s,
Portland, OR. April
4, 1946. |
Ad
in Oregonian, April 3, 1946, 13. |
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April
7 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Evergreen
Ballroom, Olympia, WA. 9–2
am. Dance. |
Ad
in Morning Olympian, April 29, 1946, 2. |
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April
10 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Armory,
Klamath Falls, OR. |
Ad
in Herald and News, April 6, 1946, 11. |
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April
16 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Trianon
Ballroom, San Francisco, CA. April
16–21. |
“On
the Upbeat,” Variety, March 27,
1946, 58: Set for a week, opening April 16. |
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April
22 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Beardsley
Dance Pavilion, Bakersfield, CA. Dance. |
Ad
in Bakersfield Californian, April 22, 1946, 11. |
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April
23 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Willie Cook,
Vernon Smith (tp); Palmer “Fats” Davis (tp, voc); Arthur Walker (tp, voc):
Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Mack Lewis,
Walter Harris, Druie Bess (tb); Scoops
Carry (as, cl); Lloyd Smith (as); Kermit Scott, Wardell Gray (ts); John Williams
(bars); Earl Hines (p, dir); Bill Thompson (vib); Eugene Thomas (b, arr);
David Booth (d); Dolores Parker, Lord Essex (voc ). Harry
the Hipster Gibson Two
Black Crows The
Hi-Hatters Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA. April
23–29. |
“In Short,” Billboard, March 23, 1946, 45: opening March 23. Ad
in Los Angeles Times, April 23, 1946, part II, 3: Now on stage in
person: Earl Hines. “Vaudeville
Reviews: Orpheum, Los Angeles,” Billboard,
May 4, 1946, 52: Reviewed April 23. "Caught
in The Act", Clef, Volume 1,
Number 4, June 1946, 5, 26: Review with personnel details. Ad
in Los Angeles Times, April 23, 1946, part II, 3: Now on the stage in
every show: Ralph Edwards. |
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April
late/May early |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Planned
Puppetoon Short for Paramount. This
plan was not realized. |
“On
the Upbeat,” Variety, March 27,
1946, 58. Information
from Mark Cantor. |
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April
late/May early |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Unidentified
studio, Los Angeles, CA. Commercial
Recordings for ARA. |
“Out
of Horn’s Mouth,” Variety, May 3,
1946, 10: “Hines currently in Town for discing for ARA…” Unissued.
One selection from this session has been used on AFRS Jubilee no. 268. For
details see. http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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May
5 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Elks
Ballroom, Los Angeles, CA. |
Ad
in California Eagle, May 2, 1946,
14. |
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May
6 |
AFRS
Jubilee Show Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Peggy
Lee Les
Paul Trio Town
Criers Rickey
Jordan NBC
Studios, Hollywood, CA. |
“Jubilee
Again Scores Heavily,” California Eagle,
May 9, 1946, 15: Describes a 1-hour NBC Jubilee program “last Monday.” See
discography for details. The
material was used for AFRS Jubilee nos. 194 and 195. For
details see. http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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May
8 |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Swing
Club, Oakland, CA. May
8–July 2. |
“Out of the Horn’s Mouth,” Variety, May 3, 1946, 10: Hines opens
at Swing Club for 8 weeks on Wednesday. |
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June
mid |
Earl Hines and His Orchestra Release of ARA RM 149 and 156 10” 78 rpm. record. Earl Hines and
Orchestra Recorded
February 1946. 149-A Margie 149-B Rosetta 156-A Straight Life 156-B Now That You’re Mine |
"Advance
Releases," Billboard, June 15, 1946, 118: ARA 149. "Record Reviews," Billboard, July
13, 1946, 117: ARA 149. Positive review. “Advance Releases," Billboard, June 29,
1946, 118: ARA 156. |
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June
late? |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Unidentified
studio, Hollywood, CA Commercial
Recordings for ARA. |
“On
the Upbeat,” Variety, July 10,
1946, 44: Earl Hines’ band flipped from Frisco to Hollywood to cut four sides
for ARA. Unreleased
by ARA. Selections from this session have been used on AFRS Jubilee no. 268. For
details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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July |
Earl
Hines and His Orchestra Wardell
Gray leaves Earl Hines, probably in San Francisco. |
D. Salemann, Wardell
Gray 1921-1955 Discography (1986), 6. |
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August |
Vernon Alley and His Orchestra Ernie
Royal (tp); Jerome Richardson (as); Wardell Gray (ts); Bob Skinner (p);
Vernon Alley (b); Dick Saltzman (d); Brad Curtis (arr). Unidentified
studio, San Francisco, CA. Commercial
recordings for Trilon. |
For
details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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September? |
Ivory
Joe Hunter and His Big Band Including:
Ernie Royal (tp); Wardell Gray (ts); Ivory Joe Hunter (p, voc); Chuck Walker
(d). Unidentified studio, San Francisco, CA. Probably September. Commercial recordings for Pacific
Records. |
For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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September late |
Ivory
Joe Hunter Release of
Pacific 621 and 622. 10”
78 rpm. records. Wardell Gray probably
only appears on 621 A and 622 A. Ivory Joe
Hunter and His Big Band. Probably recorded September 1946. 621 A We’re Gonna Boogie Ivory Joe
Hunter and His Combo. Unidentified
recording date. 621 B Heavy Hearted Blues Ivory Joe
Hunter and His Big Band. Probably recorded September 1946. 622 A Why Did You Lie Ivory Joe
Hunter and His Combo. Unidentified
recording date. 622 B I’m Sorry |
“Advance Record Releases,” Billboard,
September 28, 1946, 33–34: Pacific 621 and 622 are listed. |
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Last
half of the year? |
Wardell Gray/Dexter Gordon Gray
works with Dexter Gordon in San Diego, CA. |
Jerri
Gray, “Mes Dix Années Avec Wardell Gray,” Jazz
Magazine, September 1955, 20. |
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October/ November? |
Vernon Alley Release
of Trilon 126 and 127. 10” 78 rpm. records. Probably
recorded August/September 1946. Vernon Alley and His Orchestra. 126-A Benzadreams 126-B Out of Nowhere 127-A For You 127-B TZone |
I
have found no release information for Trilon 126 and 127. “Record
Reviews,” Billboard, December 14, 1946, 32: Reviews of Trilon 143-45. |
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November
early |
August/ Alley Band Including Ernie Royal (tp); Jerome Richardson (as):
Wardell Gray (ts); Vernon Alley (b); Swing Club, Oakland, CA. |
“Oakland
Swing Club Signs Up Vernon Alley,” California
Eagle, October 31, 1946, 18: opening early November. After
they will be heading West for appearances in Chicago and Detroit. |
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November
23 |
Wardell Gray Quartet Wardell
Gray (ts); Dodo Marmarosa (p); Red Callender (b); Doc West, Chuck Thompson (d). Sunset
Recording Studios, Hollywood. CA. November
23, 1946. Commercial
recordings for Keynote. |
“Out
of the Horn’s Mouth,” Variety, November 25, 1946, 10: Dodo Marmarosa,
Red Callender, and Wardell Gray waxed Keynote Recordings first sides to be
made since the plattery’s West Coast quarters opened a week ago, For
details see. http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html 'These recordings remained unissued in the US until
1988. |
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November
25 |
Concert Erroll Garner Trio, Al Killian and His
Orchestra Howard McGhee and His
Orchestra Russell Jacquet, Red Callender, Ray Linn, Benny Carter, Barney
Kessel, Herbie Steward, Lucky Thompson, Artie Shapiro, Winnie Beatty, Earl
Spencer, and others. Club Royale, Los Angeles, CA. Charlie
Emgee, Los Angeles Down Beat department
(prod), Gene Norman (mc). Benefit
for Charlie Parker. Ross
Russell also mentions himself, Eddie Laguna, Maynard Sloate, and June Poole
(Orr) as involved in arranging the event. Wardell
Gray was noticed by Gene Norman at this event. |
“Charlie Parker Benefit at Club Royale,” California Eagle, November 21, 1945, 19. “Charley Parker Benefit Success,” Pittsburgh Courier, December 7, 1946, 19: Review. Net total of
§500. “Billy Rowe’s Note Book,” California
Eagle, December 14, 1946, 18: The benefit gave §600. Ross Russell in R. Reisner, Bird:
The Legend of Charlie Parker (1962), 200, 239: Dates December. R.
Russell, Bird Lives (1988), 233. “Music Notes,” Variety (Daily), November 22, 1946, 20. “Hollywood
Inside,” Variety (Daily), November
27, 1946, 2. “Return
of the Thin Man,” Melody Maker,
July 51, 1954, 3. |
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