1946		Wardell Gray Chronology
		Created by Leif Bo Petersen	Last updated: August 3, 2020.
Date		Event	References/Further Details
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.
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.
January late		Earl Hines and His Orchestra Release of ARA RM 127. 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded May 1946. ARA RM 127 A Nonchalant Man ARA 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.
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.
February mid		Earl Hines and His Orchestra Unknown 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
March 15		Earl Hines and His Orchestra Pershing Ballroom, Chicago, IL. Urban League Benefit Dance.	Ad in Chicago Defender, March 3, 1946, 25.
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.
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.
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.
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.
April 2		Earl Hines and His Orchestra Club Sirocco, Victoria, Canada. Dance.	Ad in Victoria Daily Times, March 28, 1946, 17.
April 4		Earl Hines and His Orchestra McElroy’s, Portland, OR. April 4, 1946.	Ad in Oregonian, April 3, 1946, 13.
April 7		Earl Hines and His Orchestra Evergreen Ballroom, Olympia, WA. 9–2 am. Dance.	Ad in Morning Olympian, April 29, 1946, 2.
April 10		Earl Hines and His Orchestra Armory, Klamath Falls, OR.	Ad in Herald and News, April 6, 1946, 11.
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.
April 22		Earl Hines and His Orchestra Beardsley Dance Pavilion, Bakersfield, CA. Dance.	Ad in Bakersfield Californian, April 22, 1946, 11.
April 23		Earl Hines and His Orchestra 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.
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.
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 # 268. For details see. http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html
May 5		Earl Hines and His Orchestra Elks Ballroom, Los Angeles, CA.	Ad in California Eagle, May 2, 1946, 14.
	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 ##194 and 195.
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.
June mid		Earl Hines and His Orchestra Release of ARA 149 and 156 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded February 1946. ARA 149-A Margie ARA RM 149-B Rosetta ARA 156-A Straight Life ARA RM 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.
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 # 268. See discography for details.
July		Earl Hines and His Orchestra Wardell Gray leaves Earl Hines, probably in San Francisco.	D. Salemann, Wardell Gray 1921-1955 Discography (1986), 6.
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.	See discography for details. I have found no release information for Trilon 127 and 128. “Record Reviews,” Billboard, December 14, 1946, 32: Reviews of Trilon 143-45.
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
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. Probably recorded September 1946. Ivory Joe Hunter and His Big Band. Pacific 621 A We’re Gonna Boogie Ivory Joe Hunter and His Combo. Unidentified recording date. Pacific 621 B Heavy Hearted Blues Probably recorded September 1946. Ivory Joe Hunter and His Big Band. Pacific 622 A Why Did You Lie Ivory Joe Hunter and His Combo. Unidentified recording date. Pacific 622 B I’m Sorry	“Advance Record Releases,” Billboard, September 28, 1946, 33–34: Pacific 621 and 622 are listed.
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.
October/November?		Vernon Alley Release of Trilon 126 and 127. 10” 78 rpm. records. Probably recorded September 1946. Vernon Alley and His Orchestra. Trilon 126-A Benzadreams Trilon 126-B Out of Nowhere Trilon 127-A For You Trilon 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.
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.
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.