1955 | Wardell Gray Chronology | |
| Created by Leif Bo Petersen | Last updated: December 4, 2013 |
Date | Event | References/Further Details |
January 19 | Wardell Gray Quintet Unknown studio, Chicago, IL. Commercial recordings for Vee-Jay. | |
February late/March early | Wardell Gray Band Including Sonny Stitt and Philly Joe Jones. Blue Note, Philadelphia, PA. | L. Porter (ed.), The John Coltrane Reference (2008), 97. |
March? | Wardell Gray Engagement as single. Bee Hive Lounge, Chicago, IL. Private recordings exist. | See discography for details. |
March? | Wardell Gray Inc. Pepper Adams (as & bars). Prob. KleinÕs, Detroit, MI. | http://www.pepperadams.com/Chronology/EarlyYears.html |
March 31 | Frank Morgan Septet Unknown studio, Los Angeles, CA. Commercial recordings for Gene Norman Presents. | See discography for details. |
April 2 | Concert Ella Fitzgerald Dave Brubeck Quartet Including Paul Desmond. Red Norvo Trio Including Tal Farlow. Modern Jazz All Stars Wardell Gray, Zoot Sims, Harry Edison, Arnold Ross, Jackie Mills, John Simmons, Conte Candoli, and Barney Kessel. Irving Granz (prod.): Jazz ala Carte Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA. | ÒJazz a la Carte,Ó Daily Trojan, Friday, April 1, 1955, 2. Ad in Daily Trojan, Friday, April 1, 1955, 2. |
May 17? | Jam session Jack Millman (flh), Wardell Gray (ts), Leroy Vinegar (b), Lawrence Marable (d), a. o. Jazz City, Hollywood, CA. A Tuesday night few days before Wardell GrayÕs death. | Photo in Malcolm Walker Collection. |
May 23 | Benny Carter Orchestra New Moulin Rouge Hotel, Las Vegas, NV. Rehearsals for the Tropi-Can-Can Revue. | ÒWardell Gray SlainÉÓ Chicago Defender, June 4, 1955, 1: photo of Wardell Gray with the chorus line two days before his death. |
May 24 | Opening of New Moulin Rouge Hotel, Las Vegas, NV. | ÒMusic Notes,Ó Variety (Daily), May 23, 1955, 8: Hotel opens Tuesday (24). |
May 25 | Wardell Gray Las Vegas, NV. In a pause between first and second set of the show at Moulin Rouge (7:30–8:00 p.m.) Wardell Gray dies of an overdose of heroin in dancer Teddy HaleÕs apartment. Hale subsequently transports the body to a ditch 4 miles outside Las Vegas. | ÒWardell Gray SlainÉÓ Chicago Defender, June 4, 1955, 1. ÒGray Buried in Detroit Teddy Hale Gets 90 Days,Ó Chicago Defender, June 11, 1955, 1. Teddy Edwards interviewed in Cadence Magazine, vol. 20, No. 4, April 1994, 16. |
May 26 | Benny Carter Orchestra New Moulin Rouge Hotel, Las Vegas, NV. Official premiere of the Tropi-Can-Can Revue. Wardell GrayÕs dead body is found at 4 p.m. few hours before the opening of the revue. | ÒNitery Review: Moulin Rouge,Ó Variety (Daily), May 27, 1955, 8: Review of opening nigh dated May 26. ÒWardell Gray SlainÉÓ Chicago Defender, June 4, 1955, 1. |