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1945 |
Wardell Gray Chronology |
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Created by Leif Bo Petersen |
Last
updated: August 3, 2020. |
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Date |
Event |
References/Further Details |
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January
5 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra 17 pieces.
Probably: Billy Douglas, Palmer Davis,
Willie Cook (tp); Arthur Walker (tp, voc): Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Gus Chappell, Walter Harris, Druie Bess (tb); unidentified (tb, g);
Scoops Carey (as, cl); Lloyd Smith (as, fl); Kermit Scott, Wardell Gray (ts);
Earl Hines (p, dir); Eugene Thomas (b); David Booth (d), Essex Scott (voc). Four
Mellowtones Reuben
Saunders, Arthur Rainwater [aka Artie Waters], Harold McEwen, Gene Billbrew)
(voc). Three
Maniacs of Rhythm Salt &
Pepper Red Lyons Tiny
Dickerson - Al Wilson - Joe Byrd (comedy) Apollo
Theater, NYC. January 5–11. January 10: Amateur
Night. WMCA broadcast. 11:00—12:00 p.m. Broadcast recording with the Earl Hines orchestra
exists. |
Ad in New
York Age, January 6, 1945, 10. "Earl
'Fatha' Hines and Revue Starts New Year at Apollo," New York Age,
January 6, 1945, 10: mentions comedy team not shown in the ad. "House
Reviews: Apollo, N.Y." Variety, January 10, 1945, 45. mentions
trombonist doubling on guitar, Scoops Carry (cl), Kermit Scott (ts), Arthur
Walker (tp, voc), Janie Moses (voc), and Essex Scott (voc). “Radio
programs,” Brooklyn Eagle, January 10, 1945, 21. For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
January
12 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Four
Mellowtones RCA Victor
Studio, 155 E. 24th Street, NYC. January 12,
1:30—4:30 p.m. Commercial recordings for Bluebird (RCA-Victor). |
Recording contract between William Morris Agency and
RCA (Norman Saks Collection). http://wardellgray.org/contractsp1.html These recordings remained unissued until 1975. For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
January
25 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Savoy,
Pittsburgh, PA. 9:30 pm—1:30
am. Dance. |
Ad in Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, January 24,
14: former Hill City Ballroom. |
|
February
2 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra and His Harlem Revue Mellowtones Businessmen
of Rhythm Salt &
Pepper National
Theatre, Louisville, KY. February 2-8. Colored Second Balcony open for this engagement
only. |
Ad in Courier-Journal,
February 2, 1945, 10. "'Fatha'
Hines Keeps it Hot at National, Courier-Journal, February 3, 1945,
1sec 2, 2: Review. "House Reviews: National, L'ville," Variety,
February 7, 1945, 20: Review: mentions Scoops Carey (cl), Arthur Walker (tp, voc),
Cliff Smalls (b, p), Essex Scott (voc), Kermit Scott, and Palmer Davis. |
|
February
early |
Earl Hines and His Orchestra School of
Music, University of Louisville, KY. Lecture on modern jazz. |
“Father
Hines Puts U of Louisville Kids Hep to Jive with Lecture,” Variety,
February 14, 1945, 43: article dated Louisville Feb. 13. “Earl Hines…Monday
(15) [sic] when he lectured on the psychological aspects of modern jazz.” “Hines Bars Jim Crow Audiences,” Afro-American,
April 21, 1945, 8: First the lecture was cancelled because Hines found out
that colored students had no access. Later he appeared for a non-segregated
audience in the University’s School of Music. |
|
February
9 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Fountain
Ballroom, Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI. February 9.
9:30 pm–1 am. Theta Nu and
Delta Phi (prod). Dance. |
"Chatterbox,"
Detroit Free Press, January 1, 1945, 8. |
|
February
23 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra and His Harlem Revue Mellowtones Pork Chops Bijou,
Battle Creek, MI. February 23–25. |
Ad Battle
Creek Enquirer, February 23, 1945, 11. Ad Battle Creek Enquirer, February 24, 1945,
4. |
|
March
2 |
Star Time Earl Hines
Orchestra and Revue Probably:
Billy Douglas, Palmer Davis, Willie
Cook (tp); Arthur Walker (tp, voc): Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Gus Chappell, Walter Harris, Druie Bess (tb); Scoops Carey (as, cl);
Lloyd Smith (as, fl); Kermit Scott, Wardell Gray (ts); Earl Hines (p, dir);
Rene Hall (g); Eugene Thomas (b); David Booth (d), Janie Moses; Essex Scott
(voc). 4
Mellowtones 3 Maniacs of
Rhythm Martina
D’Arcy (dance) The
Grottoettes El Grotto,
Pershing Hotel, Chicago, IL. March 2–29. Supper show
8 pm. Sunday Matinees. From March
15: Daily broadcasts from El Grotto. March 29: Broadcast WIND: Private recordings exists. |
Ad in Chicago
Defender, March 3, 1945, 10. Program
shown in S. Dance. The World of Earl Hines (1977), 289. “Hines Airs
from Chi’s El Grotto,” Afro-American, March 10, 1945, 8: states that
the orchestra has 15 men. “Complete
Radio Programs and Highlights for Today," Chicago Tribune, March
15—29: On weekdays: WIND: 7—7:20 pm.: News — Earl Hines Orchestra. On
Sundays: WIND: 8—8:30 pm.: News — Earl
Hines Orchestra. J. Evensmo, History
of Jazz Tenor Saxophone vol. 4 (1999), 134. For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
March
30 |
Earl Hines
Orchestra and Revue Probably:
Billy Douglas, Palmer Davis, Willie
Cook (tp); Arthur Walker (tp, voc): Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Gus Chappell, Walter Harris, Druie Bess (tb); Scoops Carey (as, cl);
Lloyd Smith (as, fl); Kermit Scott, Wardell Gray (ts); Earl Hines (p, dir);
Rene Hall (g); Eugene Thomas (b); David Booth (d), Janie Moses; Essex Scott
(voc). 4
Mellowtones 3 Maniacs of
Rhythm Martina
D’Arcy The
Grottoettes El Grotto,
Pershing Hotel, Chicago, IL. March 30—May
3. Daily broadcasts from El Grotto. |
“Hines
proves Sweet Music is Real thing at Grotto,” Afro-American, March 31,
1945, 8: Hines starts his second 4 weeks on Friday. “Hines Awarded USO Honors,” Afro-American,
April 28, 1945, 8: Hines at El Grotto through May 3. “Complete
Radio Programs and Highlights for Today," Chicago Tribune, March
30, 1945, 14: Wind: 7—7:20 pm.: News - Ear Hines Orchestra. “Complete
Radio Programs and Highlights for Today," Chicago Tribune, March
31, 1945, 9: Wind: 7—7:20 pm.: News - Ear Hines Orchestra. “Complete Radio Programs and Highlights for
Today," Chicago Tribune, April 1—May 3: On weekdays: WIND:
11—11:30 pm.: News — Earl Hines Orchestra. On Sundays: WIND: 8—8:30 pm.: News — Earl Hines Orchestra. |
|
April
mid |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Hines signs recording contract with ARA. |
“Morros
Signs Hines to Exclusive contract,” Billboard,
April 28, 1945, 11: New York, April 21 –Exclusive contract with Hines last
week. |
|
May
4 |
Earl Hines
Orchestra and Revue 4
Mellowtones 3 Maniacs of
Rhythm Salt & Pepper Paradise
Theater, Detroit, MI. May 4—10. |
Ad in Detroit
Free Press, May 4, 1945, 15. “Piano Stylist Earl Hines to Feature Sensational Sax
Star in theatre Revue,” Detroit Tribune, May 5, 1945, 13. |
|
May
11 |
Earl Hines
Orchestra and Revue 4 Mellowtones 3 Maniacs of
Rhythm Salt &
Pepper Eastwood
Gardens, Detroit, MI. Benefit for
Save the Children Federation. Delta,
Alpha, Beta (prod.) |
“Helping
Hands,” Detroit Free Press, May 6, 1945, part 1, 3: photo and caption. |
|
May
13 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Savoy
Ballroom, Chicago, IL. 3. pm. Mother’s Day Matinee Dance. |
Ad
in Chicago Defender, May 5, 1945,
20. |
|
May
mid |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Billy Douglas, Palmer Davis, Willie Cook (tp); Arthur Walker (tp, voc):
Cliff Smalls, 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); Essex Scott) (voc). Unidentified
studio, Chicago, IL. Commercial recordings for ARA. |
“Short
shorts,” Variety, May 23, 1945, 11:
Boris Morros planned to Chicago to record Earl Hines for ARA. For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
May
15 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra 4
Mellowtones St. Joseph,
MO. Dance. |
Ad in St. Joseph Journal, May 11, 1945, 12. |
|
May
17 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra 4
Mellowtones Robinson
Auditorium, Little Rock, TX. S. W.Tucker (prod). |
Ad in Arkansas State Press, April 13, 1945,
8. |
|
May
22 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra 4
Mellowtones Library
Auditorium, San Antonio, TX. 8 pm. Dan Albert
(prod). |
Ad in San
Antonio Register, May 11, 1945, 7. “Limited
Number of Advance Sale Tickets for Earl Hines’ Dance at Library Auditorium,
May 22,” San Antonio Register, May 18, 1945, 2. |
|
May
29 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra 4
Mellowtones Moravian
Auditorium, Corpus Christi, TX. 9 pm. W. K. Brown (prod). |
Ad in Corpus
Christi Times, May 16, 1945, 6. |
|
June
3 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Dooky Chase
Jr. and His Rhythm Boys Coliseum,
New Orleans, LA. 8 pm.—2 am. |
“Earl Hines
Set for Show Sunday,” Pittsburgh Courier, June 2, 1945, 15. |
|
June
14 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Municipal
Auditorium, Atlanta, GA. 8:30
pm.—12:30 am. Special
reserved section for white patrons. |
“’Father
’Hines’ Band to Play Here Thursday,” Atlanta Constitution, June 10,
1945, 2-D. Ad in
Atlanta Constitution, June 14, 1945, 216. |
|
June
22 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Probably:
Billy Douglas, Palmer Davis, Willie
Cook (tp); Arthur Walker (tp, voc): Cliff Smalls (tb, p); Gus Chappell, Walter Harris, Druie Bess (tb); Scoops Carey (as, cl);
Lloyd Smith (as, fl); Kermit Scott, Wardell Gray (ts); Earl Hines (p, dir);
Bill Thompson (vib); Rene Hall (g); Eugene Thomas (b); David Booth (d), Anita
Brown, Essex Scott (voc). 3 Maniacs of
Rhythm The Marlins (acrobats) Tim Moore,
Crackshot, and Vivian Apollo
Theater, NYC. June 22—28. June 27: Amateur
Night. WMCA broadcast. 11:00—12:00 p.m. Apollo
Theater, NYC. Broadcast recording with the Earl Hines Orchestra
exists. |
Ad in New
York Age, June 23, 1945, 10. “Earl
‘Father’ Hines Makes return Stage Appearance at Apollo,” New York Age,
June 23, 1945, 10. “Radio
programs,” Brooklyn Eagle, June 27, 1945,19. For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
|
June
29 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Howard
Theater, Washington, DC. June 29—July 5. |
D. Salemann, Wardell Gray 1921-1955 Discography
(1986), 5. |
|
July
6 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra King Johnson 3 Maniacs of
Rhythm The Marlins Royal
Theatre, Baltimore., MD. July 6—12. |
Ad
in Baltimore Afro-American, July 7,
1945, 14. |
|
July |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Café
Society, Knoxville, TN. |
Chicago Defender, June 23, 1945, according to S.
Dance, The World of Earl Hines
(1977), 302. |
|
July
29 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Ezzard
Charles Colosseum, Cincinnati, OH. -2 pm. Dance. |
Ad in Cincinnati Enquirer, July 29, 1945,
news sec. 32. |
|
August
1 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Ada Brown Brookins
& Van LeRoy
Carrington (tap dance) RKO Palace,
Columbus, OH. August 1—2. |
Ad in Columbus
Dispatch, August 1, 1945, 8-A. “Vienna Woods Caught in Hines Whirlwind,” Columbus
dispatch, August 1, 1945, 8-A. |
|
August
17 |
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); Stephanie Stephenson, Lord Essex (voc ). 3 Maniacs of
Rhythm Salt &
Pepper LeRoy
Carrington (tap dance) Regal
Theatre, Chicago, IL. August 17—23. |
Ad
in Chicago Defender, August 18,
1945, 20. Program
shown in S, Dance. The World of Earl
Hines (1977), 288. |
|
August
24 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Plantation
Club, St. Louis. August 24—September 13. |
Ad in St.
Louis Star-Times, September 8, 1945, 6: Now Playing. Ad in St.
Louis Star-Times, September 13, 1945, 21: Now Playing. Ad in St.
Louis Star-Times, September 14, 1945, 26: Now Playing. Coming next Friday
Red Caps. D. Salemann, Wardell Gray 1921-1955 Discography
(1986), 5. |
|
September
14 |
Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Pershing
Ballroom, Chicago, IL. September
14, 1945. 8:00 pm. Sportsman Club presents Shadow Dance. |
Ad
in Chicago Defender, September 8,
1945, 20. |
|
September
21 |
Startiime 7th edition Earl Hines and His Orchestra Including Bill Thompson (vib; Janie Moses replaced
by Dolores Smith, Arthur Walker, Lord Essex (voc). Melrose
Colbert (voc) LeRoy
Carrington Cole
& Poke The
Barancos (voc) 10
Grottoettes Joe
Stevenson (revue arr). El
Grotto, Chicago, IL. September
21– October 25. |
“Earl Hines
returns to El Grotto,” Chicago Defender, September 29, 1945, 20:
Premiere of 7th Edition of “Sta time.” Hines returned Friday. Has Janie Moses
(voc). Ad in Chicago
Defender, October 6, 1945, 25. Ad in Chicago Sun, October 21, 1945, 37: Seventh
edition of Showtime. |
|
October
late, 1945 |
Billy
Eckstine Release
of: De Luxe 1003. 10” 78 rpm. record. Wardell
Gray do not appear on 1003-B. Recorded
April 13, 1944. Billy
Eckstine with De Luxe All Star Band De
Luxe 1003-A I Got a Date with Rhythm Unidentified
recording date. The Four Blues De
Luxe 1003-B I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray |
"Advance Record Releases,"
Billboard, October 27, 1945, 31. |
|
October
26 |
Startime 8th 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 ). Kitty Murray Ralph Brown Pierce &
Pierce Margaret
Brown 10
Grottoettes Joe
Stevenson (revue arr). El Grotto,
Chicago, IL. October 26–December 6. |
Ad in Chicago
Sun, October 28, 1945, 35: Eighth edition of Showtime: Has Delores Parker
and Margaret Watkins. Ads in Chicago
Sun, November 11, 1945, 35, and November 25, 41: 8th edition of Startime: Has Delores Parker
and Margaret Brown. |
|
December
7 |
Startime 9th edition Earl Hines
and His Orchestra Lovi Lane Dick
Montgomery Pierce &
Pierce Margaret
Brown 10
Grottoettes Joe
Stevenson (revue arr). El Grotto,
Chicago, IL. December 7–January 3, 1946. |
Ad in Chicago
Sun, December 9, 1945, 40: 9th edition of Startime. |
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December
16 |
Jam Session Orchestras
members of the bands of Earl Hines Red Saunders Probably
including: Billy Douglas (tp): Scoops Carey (as, cl); Wardell Gray (ts); Earl
Hines (p,; Eugene Thomas (b, arr); David Booth (d); Red Saunders; Leon
Washington. Moose Hall,
Chicago, IL. December 16,
1945; 2 pm. Hot Club of
Chicago (prod). |
“All About
Town," Chicago Sun, December 13, 1945, 1. "Hot Club Schedules Jam Season Sunday," Chicago
Sun, December 14, 1945, 29. . |