JAM: April/May 2003 Issue: Correspondence

Eyewitness to KC Jazz History
I happened to find your Jazz Ambassadors home page and I was interested in Pat Metheny's piece on KC guitarists (February/March 2003). I'm wondering if he has ever heard of Jim "Big Daddy" Walker, who used to play with the Four Tons of Rhythm?

I used to go to Martin's-on-the-Plaza when Jay McShann first played there in 1937. I heard Jay, along with Charlie Parker, Gus Johnson, Jr. and Gene Ramey. I've been a close friend of Jay's ever since.

We also danced to Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds of Joy at Fairyland ($1.25 per couple) when Mary Lou Williams was playing the piano and arranging. Fay Terrell was the vocalist, singing Kirk's hit, "When the Real Thing Comes Along." My friend Buddy Tate, who played sax with that band, said the original name was "The Slave Song."

My first big band was Benny Moten when he brought his Victor Recording Artists over to my home town of Topeka. I believe it was in 1935. I also heard Chick Webb, with his teen-age singer, Ella, at the Pla-mor in 1935.

I was at the Pla-mor when Lionel Hampton was playing circa 1944. Cab Callaway was playing at another theater and came by to hear Hampton after his show. The big red headed bouncer wouldn't let him in. When the word got to Hamp, he and the band walked off the stage not to return. He was quoted in The Star the next morning that Kansas City was a "fink" town.

We used to "go to the county" after the clubs in KC closed. Tootie's Mayfair, and Mary's south of 75th and Wornall... Jackson County. When the big bands closed at the Pla-mor or at a theater gig, they would head for Tootie's and jam until sunrise. One night when Joe Bushkin was there I talked him into playing during an intermission of the house band.

There was another guitarist we loved: Dave Reiser. He went to New York and played with Billy Butterfield for a while before returning to KC.

I still have a letter from a KC friend, Bill Wolff. I asked him what the knew about Bennie Moten. He wrote:

"My first recollection of Bennie Moten -- from which the Basie band sprang -- was on Memorial Day, 1928. My high school fraternity was noted for odd balls and we decided that our spring dance at the Kansas City Athletic Club would be a breakfast affair. Also, we were tired of the usually corny dance bands, so somehow or other we hired Benny Moten. The price for three hours was eighty bucks. The breakfast was to begin at nine, but came nine o'clock and no band. Three of us drove over to Moten's home, which was in the Vine Street area. We aroused him and reminded him of his commitment. He slowly dressed -- with much grumbling and cussing. By ten o'clock he had rounded up his group and they were ready to blow -- with not much enthusiasm. One of the brothers got a hold of a bootlegger who came up with three gallons of bathtub gin. Before long, the Moten boys were blowing their brains out. The deal with management was to quit at noon, but the gin had taken over and at 3:30 p.m. the manager had to call the gendarmes to get Moten & Company to quit."

On a memorable January day in 1942 I went to the Fairfax Airport in KC, Kansas, to be checked out for my private pilot license. I was surprised to find out that the CAA inspector to do so was Frankie Trumbauer, universally recognized at the jazz world's foremost C-melody saxophonist. Lester Young credits Trumbauer as being the inspiration to take up the saxophone.

I kinda got carried away. Wasn't sure if your magazine would want to print this. Feel free if so. Or would there be another publication with readers that might be interested in the KC jazz era I enjoyed when there was still a Kansas City Sound.

William H. (Bill) Smith
Palm Desert, CA

Dear Bill,

Thank you very much for your wonderful and historically fascinating letter. I will forward it to my brother Pat, who I'm sure will really enjoy it. And I know our readers will also greatly appreciate your recollections. Thanks again for writing! -- MM

Whipped Stan
(As expected, there was considerable feedback about the April/May cover featuring Stan Kessler. Here is one we can print. -- Ed.)

I don't even want to think about where the banana was.

Name withheld by request
Topeka, KS






	Search our site:		Eyewitness to KC Jazz History I happened to find your Jazz Ambassadors home page and I was interested in Pat Metheny's piece on KC guitarists (February/March 2003). I'm wondering if he has ever heard of Jim "Big Daddy" Walker, who used to play with the Four Tons of Rhythm? I used to go to Martin's-on-the-Plaza when Jay McShann first played there in 1937. I heard Jay, along with Charlie Parker, Gus Johnson, Jr. and Gene Ramey. I've been a close friend of Jay's ever since. We also danced to Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds of Joy at Fairyland ($1.25 per couple) when Mary Lou Williams was playing the piano and arranging. Fay Terrell was the vocalist, singing Kirk's hit, "When the Real Thing Comes Along." My friend Buddy Tate, who played sax with that band, said the original name was "The Slave Song." My first big band was Benny Moten when he brought his Victor Recording Artists over to my home town of Topeka. I believe it was in 1935. I also heard Chick Webb, with his teen-age singer, Ella, at the Pla-mor in 1935. I was at the Pla-mor when Lionel Hampton was playing circa 1944. Cab Callaway was playing at another theater and came by to hear Hampton after his show. The big red headed bouncer wouldn't let him in. When the word got to Hamp, he and the band walked off the stage not to return. He was quoted in The Star the next morning that Kansas City was a "fink" town. We used to "go to the county" after the clubs in KC closed. Tootie's Mayfair, and Mary's south of 75th and Wornall... Jackson County. When the big bands closed at the Pla-mor or at a theater gig, they would head for Tootie's and jam until sunrise. One night when Joe Bushkin was there I talked him into playing during an intermission of the house band. There was another guitarist we loved: Dave Reiser. He went to New York and played with Billy Butterfield for a while before returning to KC. I still have a letter from a KC friend, Bill Wolff. I asked him what the knew about Bennie Moten. He wrote: "My first recollection of Bennie Moten -- from which the Basie band sprang -- was on Memorial Day, 1928. My high school fraternity was noted for odd balls and we decided that our spring dance at the Kansas City Athletic Club would be a breakfast affair. Also, we were tired of the usually corny dance bands, so somehow or other we hired Benny Moten. The price for three hours was eighty bucks. The breakfast was to begin at nine, but came nine o'clock and no band. Three of us drove over to Moten's home, which was in the Vine Street area. We aroused him and reminded him of his commitment. He slowly dressed -- with much grumbling and cussing. By ten o'clock he had rounded up his group and they were ready to blow -- with not much enthusiasm. One of the brothers got a hold of a bootlegger who came up with three gallons of bathtub gin. Before long, the Moten boys were blowing their brains out. The deal with management was to quit at noon, but the gin had taken over and at 3:30 p.m. the manager had to call the gendarmes to get Moten & Company to quit." On a memorable January day in 1942 I went to the Fairfax Airport in KC, Kansas, to be checked out for my private pilot license. I was surprised to find out that the CAA inspector to do so was Frankie Trumbauer, universally recognized at the jazz world's foremost C-melody saxophonist. Lester Young credits Trumbauer as being the inspiration to take up the saxophone. I kinda got carried away. Wasn't sure if your magazine would want to print this. Feel free if so. Or would there be another publication with readers that might be interested in the KC jazz era I enjoyed when there was still a Kansas City Sound. William H. (Bill) Smith Palm Desert, CA Dear Bill, Thank you very much for your wonderful and historically fascinating letter. I will forward it to my brother Pat, who I'm sure will really enjoy it. And I know our readers will also greatly appreciate your recollections. Thanks again for writing! -- MM Whipped Stan (As expected, there was considerable feedback about the April/May cover featuring Stan Kessler. Here is one we can print. -- Ed.) I don't even want to think about where the banana was. Name withheld by request Topeka, KS RETURN TO JUNE/JULY 2003 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2003. All rights reserved.