|
1950 |
Wardell Gray Chronology |
|
|
|
Created by Leif Bo
Petersen |
Last updated: December 15,
2024. |
|
Date |
Event |
References/Further Details |
|
1950 |
Various Artists Release
of Modern Records MOD. 2003. A
Collection of Popular Recordings 10” 33 rpm. album Includes
a reissue of Wardell Gray & Vido Musso: Modern
Music 20-611: Sweet Georgia Bop. Recorded December 27, 1947. |
|
|
January |
Billy Eckstine
and His Orchestra Release of
National 9096. 10” 78 rpm.
records. Wardell Gray
appears only on What’s New. Billy Eckstine Recorded April
21, 1947. 9096-A What’s New Unidentified
recording date l 9096-B There Are Such
Things |
“Advance Record Releases,” Billboard, January
14, 1950, 38. “Record Reviews,” Metronome, February 1950,
23–24: Reserved review of National 9096: What’s New: B+ (very god), “Diggin’ the Discs with Mix.” Down Beat, February
24, 13: Very positive review of National 9096: What’s New: Three notes (tasty). |
|
January |
1949 Metronome All
Star Poll Tenor sax: 1. Stan
Getz 2. Charlie
Ventura 3. Flip
Philips 4. Lester
Young 5. Wardell
Gray |
“Votes and Places,” Metronome, January 1950,
24. |
|
January 4 |
Benny
Carter and His Orchestra Karl George, Ernie Royal (tp); George Washington,
Britt Woodman (tb); Benny Carter (as, dir); Willie Smith, Marshall Royal,
Bumps Myers, Wardell Gray (reeds); Gerald Wiggins (p); Ulysses Livingston
(g); Charles Drayton (b); unidentified (d); Scat Man Crothers, Delores Parker
(voc). Universal Studios, Hollywood, CA. January 4, 1950, 1:00–5:14 p.m. Recording for the Universal-International short “Nat ‘King’ Cole and his Trio.” Gray is replaced on the screen. |
Universal: Studio logs. http://wardellgray.org/contractsp4.html For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
January
13 |
Billie Holiday Jay Burkhardt Jay-Bird Orchestra 18
pieces. Including Miles Davis, Wardell Gray, and Joe Williams. Stump and Stumpy (comedy) Wong Sisters (dancers) Tops and
Wilda (dancers) Al Benson (mc) Regal,
Chicago, IL. January
13–19. Burkhardt’s
orchestra is in for Charlie Ventura’s, because of Ventura’s illness. Wardell
Gray joined the Burkhardt orchestra here. He came in from California, but did
not make it until the last night. |
Ad
in Chicago Tribune, January 13, 1940, sec 2, 11. “Chicago
Band Briefs,” Down Beat, January
27, 1950, 4. “Capsule
Comments: Jay Burkhardt: Regal, Chicago,” Down
Beat, February 24, 1950, 11: Review. Orchestra of 18 pieces. |
|
January 14 |
Just
Jazz Concert Billy
Eckstine Art
Tatum Jeane Taylor Bobby Tucker Just
Jazz All Stars Shorty Rogers (tp); Sonny Criss (as); Teddy Edwards, Wardell Gray? (ts); Hampton Hawes (p); Jackie Mills (d). Tommy Pederson and His Orchestra Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, CA. |
“Billy Eckstine in Concert Saturday,” Valley Times, January 12, 1950, 17. “Eckstine Minting $$$s in the Coast,” New York Age, February 11, 1950, 33. |
|
January 15 |
Just
Jazz Concert Billy
Eckstine Art
Tatum Jeane Taylor Bobby Tucker Just
Jazz All Stars Russ Auditorium, San Diego, CA. January 15 and 16. 8:00 p.m. Gene Norman (prod). |
Ad in San Diego Union, January 11, A-7: Jeane Taylor, Bobby Tucker, and Wardell Gray are not mentioned in this ad. “Eckstine Minting $$$s in the Coast,” New York Age, February 11, 1950, 33: This article mentions Jeane Taylor, Bobby Tucker, and Wardell Gray as participating in both concerts. |
|
January 20 |
Li’l
Green Wardell
Gray and His recording Orchestra, Miles
Davis Club Valley, Detroit, MI. January 20–22. |
“Miles, Wardell Unite,” Down Beat, February 10, 1950, 9. Ad in Detroit Tribune, January 21, 7: Wardell Gray January 20–22: Three Nights only. |
|
January late |
Benny Goodman
and His Orchestra Release of Capitol
Cap 828. 10” 78 rpm.
record. Capitol F 828 45 7” rpm.
single record. Wardell Gray
only appears on Little Girl Don’t Cry. Benny Goodman
and His Orchestra Recorded
September 18, 1949. 828 A Little Girl,
Don’t Cry Recorded October
27, 1949. 828 B Spin a Record |
“Advance Record Releases: Popular,” Billboard,
January 21, 1950, 38. “Record Reviews,” Metronome,
March 1950, 35: Very negative review: Both sides C (mediocre). “Diggin’ the Discs with Mix: Dance,” Down Beat, March 16, 1950, 14: very negative review: both sides: C (tepid). |
|
February |
Wardell Gray Release of New
Jazz 817. 10” 78 rpm.
record. Wardell Gray Recorded
November 11, 1949, NJ 817 A Easy Living Al Haig Quartet
with Wardell Gray NJ 817 B Twisted |
“Record Reviews: Hot Jazz,” Billboard,
February 4, 1950, 101. “Record Reviews,” Metronome, March 1950, 35:
rather reserved review: Easy Living C+ (fair); Twisted: B (fairly good). |
|
February |
Benny Goodman
and His Orchestra Released of Capitol
Cap 860 10” 78 rpm.
record. Wardell Gray
only appears on It Isn’t Fair. Benny Goodman
and His Orchestra Recorded March
24, 1949. 860 A It Isn’t Fair Recorded October
27, 1949. 860 B You’re Always
There |
“Advance Record Releases: Popular” Billboard,
February 18, 1950, 33. “Record Reviews,” Metronome, April 1050, 26: reserved
review. Both sides: C+ (fair) |
|
February/ March |
Wardell
Gray Orchestra Little John and His Merry Men and Candy Johnson and His Peppermint
Sticks Club Valley, Detroit, MI. Bop Battles. |
Michigan Chronicle acc. to L. Bjorn and J. Gallart, Before Motown (2001), 125. |
|
February/ March |
Tony
Rhodes Jump Band Wardell Gray was an occasional member. |
Michigan Chronicle acc. to L. Bjorn and J. Gallart, Before Motown (2001), 125. |
|
April/May |
Monday
Jam sessions Wardell Gray (ts); Norm Parkrantz (p); Jim Richardson (b); Art Mardigan (d). Bowl-O-Drome Tropical Show Bar, Detroit, MI. |
“Joe
Mooney, Plus Bass, Sells Well in Detroit,” Down Beat, May 5, 1950, 5:
“The last few sessions have featured Wardell Gray… “After
Dark,” Detroit Free Press, May 9,
1950, 15: “Wardell Gray conducts ‘Fantasies in Jazz’ Monday evenings…” “After Dark,” Detroit Free Press, May 19, 1950, 13: “Wardell Gray conducts
‘Fantasies in Jazz’ Monday evenings…” |
|
April 24 |
Blue Bird Inn
House Band Wardell Gray,
Frank Foster (ts); Phil Hill (p); James “Beans” Richardson (b); Art Mardigan
(d); Jack Tiant or Cuban Pete (bgo). Blue Bird Inn, Detroit. MI. Private recordings exist. |
For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
April 25 |
Wardell Gray
Quintet Wardell Gray
(ts); Phil Hill (p); James “Beans” Richardson (b); Art Mardigan (d). United Sound Studios, Detroit, MI. Commercial recordings for Prestige. |
For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
May |
Wardell Gray Release of New
Jazz 828. 10” 78 rpm.
record. Wardell Gray Recorded
November 11, 1949, NJ 828 A Sweet Lorraine NJ 828 B Southside |
“Popular Recordings,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 10, 1950, 6D: Sweet Lorraine mentioned. |
|
June |
Wardell
Gray Release of Prestige 707 and 711. 10”
78 rpm. records. Reissues
of New Jazz 817and 828 with new label name. Wardell Gray Recorded
November 11, 1949. 707 A Easy Living 707 B Twisted 711 A South Side 711 B Sweet Lorraine |
Ad in Billboard, June 3, 1950, 34. |
|
July 17 |
Celebrity
Party Milomo, Los Angeles, CA. Wardell Gray is guest of honor. |
“Socializing With…” California Eagle, July 21, 1950, 22. |
|
July 21 |
Count
Basie Septet Clark Terry (tp); Buddy DeFranco (cl); Wardell Gray (ts): Count Basie (p); Freddie Green (g); Jimmy Lewis (b); Gus Johnson (d). Nellie Lutcher New Orleans Swing Club, San Francisco, CA. July 21–August 3. |
“Now Hear This,” San Francisco Chronicle, July 23, 1940, 13: Basie at New Orleans Swing Club. Nellie Lutcher joins him Tuesday Night. “Swinging the “Golden Gate,” Down Beat, September 8, 1950, 7: Wardell Gray Joined Basie here. |
|
August 4 |
Count
Basie and His Sextette Clark
Terry (tp); Buddy DeFranco (cl); Wardell Gray (ts): Count Basie (p); Freddie
Green (g); Jimmy Lewis (b); Gus Johnson (d). Damita Jo (voc). Oasis Club, Los Angeles, CA. August 4–17. |
“Oasis Buys Basie,” Variety (Daily), July 26, 1950, 5: opening August 4 for two weeks. Ad in Variety (Daily), August 4, 1950, 5: opening tonight. “Nitery Reviews: Oasis,” Variety (daily), August 7, 1950, 6. “House Reviews: Oasis, L.A.,” Variety, August 16, 1950, 44, 47: reviewed on August 9. “On the Upbeat,” Variety, August 9, 1950, 46: Garner opens at Oasis on August 18. |
|
August 20 |
Count
Basie Orchestra Pacific
Square, San Diego, CA. Dance |
Ad in Evening Tribune, August 19, 1950, 5: Tomorrow Night only. |
|
August 24 |
Count
Basie Orchestra Damita Jones (voc) Sugar Ray Robinson (p, voc) Parish and Neely (tap dance) Wonderful Smith (comedy) Orpheum Theater, Los Angeles, CA. August 24–30. |
“Basie Orch Booked solid Through Oct.,” Variety, August 2, 1950, 39: Basie at Million Dollar Theater opening on August 25. Changed to Orpheum Theater. “Orp to Relight State for Hamp and Basie,” Variety (Daily), July 21, 1950, 1: Basie opening for a week on August 23. Ad In Los Angeles Times, August 24, 1950, part 2, 7: Today Basie. “Vaude Review,” Variety (Daily), August 25, 1950, 6. “House Reviews: Orpheum, L.A.,” Variety, August 30, 1950, 55: Reviewed on August 24: 9 pieces [sic!]. |
|
August
27 |
Jazz
at Sunset Art Farmer (tp); Sonny Criss, Frank Morgan (as);
Wardell Gray (ts); Hampton Hawes (p); Billy Hadnott (b); Chuck Thompson (d);
Damita Jones (voc). Bill Whisling’s Club Hawaii, Los Angeles, CA. |
Handbill: Roy Kali radio broadcast, “Jazz On Sunset”, Bill
Whisling’s Club Hawaii, 6507 Sunset Blvd., August 27, 1950, 4–9 pm. |
|
August
28 |
Wardell Gray’s Los Angeles Stars Clark Terry (tp); Sonny Criss (as); Wardell Gray,
Dexter Gordon (ts); Jimmy Bunn (p); Billy Hadnott (b); Chuck Thompson (d);
Damita Jones (voc). Hula Hut Club, Los Angeles, CA. Recordings
exist. |
For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
August 29 |
Count
Basie All Stars Clark Terry (tp); Buddy DeFranco (cl); Wardell Gray (ts); Count Basie (p); Freddie Green (g); James Lewis (b); Gus Johnson (d); Helen Humes (voc). General Service
Studios, Los Angeles, CA. August 29–30, 1949. Snader
Telescriptions. August 29,
9:30–11:45 a.m.: filming. August 30,
7:00–8:20; 11:00–11:30 a.m.: filming. August 30,
8:20–11:00 a.m.: recording. |
AFM Contract; http://wardellgray.org/contractsp3.html For details see:
http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
August 31 |
Count
Basie Septet Clark Terry (tp); Buddy DeFranco (cl);
Wardell Gray (ts); Count Basie (p); Freddie Green (g); James Lewis (b); Gus
Johnson (d); Billie Holiday (voc). Universal Studios, Hollywood, CA. Short film with Sugar Chile Robinson and Billie Holiday. August 31–September 1. 11:00 a.m.–3:40 p.m.: recording. September 1, 8:30 a.m.–6:29 p.m.: filming. |
Universal:
Studio logs. Marshall
Royal appears on the movie pictures. DeFranco is on the sound track. For details see:
http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
August late |
Wardell Gray Release
of Prestige 714. 10” 78 rpm. record. Wardell
Gray Recorded
April 25, 1950. 714
A Blue Gray 714
B Treadin’ with Treadwell |
The label number indicates a date before
October 1950. “It’s Happening Here,” Philadelphia
Enquirer, August 30, 1951, 23: the record is mentioned here as new. “Record Reviews,” Metronome, October
1950, 26: reserved review: Blue Gray: B- (fairly good); Treadin’ with
Treadwell: C+ (fair). |
|
September 1 |
Count Basie and
His All Star Sextette Helen Humes Auditorium, San Bernardino,
CA. |
Ad in San Bernardino
Daily Sun, August 28, 1950, 4. |
|
September early |
Count
Basie Septet One-nighter’s. |
“Basie Orch Booked solid Through Oct.,” Variety, August 2, 1950, 39: One-nighters on the way to Chicago. Clark and Gwen Terry, Terry Clark - The Autobiography (2011), 220: Clark Terry tells that the band flied to Chicago from Seattle. |
|
September 6 |
Count
Basie Septet Brass Rail, Chicago, IL. September 6–30. |
“Basie Orch Booked solid Through Oct.,” Variety, August 2, 1950, 39: opening September 6 for three weeks. Ad in Chicago Sun-Times, September 25, 1950, sec. 2, 12: last six days. |
|
October |
Wardell
Gray Release
of Prestige 723. 10” 78 rpm. record. Wardell
Gray Recorded
April 25, 1950. 723
A A Sinner Kissed an Angel 723
B Grayhound |
Ad
for Baca records in Daily Northwestern, October 2, 1950, 3. “Record Reviews,” Metronome, November 1950, 33: reserved review: Both sides B- (fairly good). |
|
October 1 |
Basie
band Moonglo Club, Buffalo, NY. Members of the Basie band and Oscar Peterson are guests. |
Photo dated October 1, 1950: Unidentified, Wardell Gray, Freddie Green, Gus Johnson, Clark Terry, and Oscar Peterson. https://faculty.hampshire.edu/aravett/forgotten_tenor/ Ad in Buffalo Courier-Express, October 1, 1950, 13 D: Oscar Peterson played with JATP in Kleinhans Hall on October 1, 1950. |
|
October 2 |
Count
Basie Septet Glass Bar, Hazleton, PA. October 2–8. |
Ad in Standard-Sentinel (Hazleton, PA.), October 2, 1950, 14: Count Basie all this week. |
|
October 12 |
Count
Basie Septet Casino Theatre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. October 12–18. |
“Basie Orch Booked Solid Through Oct.,” Variety, August 2, 1950, 39. “House Reviews: Casino, Toronto,” Variety, October 18, 1950, 54: reviewed on October 13: The review tells that this is Buddy DeFranco’s last engagement with Basie, but he seems to have continued until New York. |
|
October 19 |
Count Basie Orchestra Clark Terry
probably replaced by Thad Jones (tp); Buddy DeFranco (cl); Wardell
Gray (ts); Count Basie (p); Freddie Green (g); Jimmy Lewis (b); Gus Johnson (d). Hi-Hat
Club, Boston, MA. October
19–November 1, 1050. Broadcast. Recordings exist. |
“Basie Orch
Booked solid Through Oct.,” Variety, August 2, 1950, 39: Two weeks
starting October 19. Ad in Boston
Herald, October 20, 2950, 53: Now appearing. Thad Jones
Chronology by David Demsey:: 1952: Thad Jones subbed for Clark Terry with
¨Basie for one week in 1952.
http://livingjazzarchives.org/archives/thad-jones-archive/thad-jones-chronology/ Maybe this was in 1950. Clark Terry left Basie at
the end of May 1951. Clark and Gwen Terry, Terry Clark - The Autobiography
(2011), 228. The
broadcast is usually dated New York, November/December 1950. It is probably
from Boston, October late. For details
see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
November/December |
Count Basie
Septet Probably: Thad
Jones (tp); Buddy DeFranco (cl); Wardell Gray (ts); Count Basie (p); Freddie Green (g); Jimmy
Lewis (b); Gus Johnson (d). Usually dated
New York, November/December. Could instead be from Boston, October late. Broadcast. Recordings exist. |
For details see:
http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
November 2 |
Count Basie
Octet Clark Terry
(tp); Wardell Gray (ts); Rudy Rutherford (bars); Count Basie (p); Freddie
Green (g); Jimmy Lewis (b); Gus Johnson (d). Columbia Studios, New York, NY. Commercial recordings for Columbia. November 2 and 3. |
For details see:
http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
November 7 |
Count Basie Septet Probably: Clark Terry (tp); Rudy Rutherford (cl,
bars); Wardell Gray (ts); Count Basie (p); Freddie Green (g); Jimmy Lewis
(b); Gus Johnson (d). Walker Theatre, Brooklyn, New York, NY. Matinee and night shows. |
“Name Bands to
Play,” Daily News, November 4, 1950, 38. “Marshall Royal Joins the Count,” Down Beat, March 23, 1: Rutherford replaced Buddy de Franco. |
|
November 8? |
Count
Basie Septet Club Harlem, Philadelphia, PA. Probably November 8–? |
“It’s Happening Here,” Philadelphia Inquirer, November 7, 29. |
|
November 23 |
Count
Basie Septet Picadilly Club, Newark, NJ. November
23–26. |
“Two-fold Affair at the Picadilly Club, Washington Afro-American, November 25, 1950, 13. |
|
November 27 |
Count
Basie Sand His All Star Orchestra Celebrity
Club, Providence, RI. November
27–December 3. |
Ad in Evening
Bulletin, November 27, 19450, 33. |
|
December |
Billy Eckstine Released
December 1950[i]. National 9132. 10” 78 rpm. record. Wardell Gray only appears on
Serenade in Blue. Billy Eckstine Recorded April 21,
1947. 9132 A Serenade in Blue Recorded
March 1946. Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra 9132 B Cool Breeze |
“Advance Record Releases," Billboard,
December 16, 1950, 32. "Record Reviews," Billboard,
December 23, 1950, 31: positive review. I have not found reviews in Metronome or Down Beat. |
|
December 5 |
Count Basie Septet Probably: Clark Terry (tp); Rudy Rutherford (cl,
bars); Wardell Gray (ts); Count Basie (p); Freddie Green (g); Jimmy Lewis
(b); Gus Johnson (d). Brass Rail, Chicago, IL. December 6–January 16. |
“Chicago Band Briefs,” Down Beat, December 1, 1950, 4.C. “2 Jazz Favorites Return to Chicago,” Chicago Sun-Times, December 7, 1950, sec 2, 6: Starting Wednesday. |
|
December 20 |
Count Basie
Septet Red Saunders
band Lurleane
Hunter and Johnny Young Trio Joe Williams Jo-Joe Adams Benny Carter
and band Davi Brubeck
Trio Dancers Vaughn Veteran’s Hospital, Chicago, IL. Dqddie-O
Daylie (mc). |
“Chicago Band Briefs: Top Vets show,” Down Beat, January 12, 1951, 6. |
|
December 29 |
Down Beat Readers
Poll 1950 1.
Stan Getz 2.
Flip Philips 3.
Coleman Hawkins 4.
Lester Young 5.
Charlie Ventura 12. Wardell Gray |
“Bans Poll Results,” Down Beat, December 29, 1950, 14. |