THE HOUSE BANDS AT THE SAVOY BALLROOM

THE SAVOY BALLROOM

• Opened March 12, 1926

• Owned by Moe Gale, a Jewish businessman

• Managed and operated by Charles Buchanan, an African-American businessman

• Located on Lenox Ave. between 140th and 141st streets in Harlem, NYC.

• Closed July 10th, 1958 and demolished in 1959

E. Simms Campbell's nightlife map of Harlem, from 1932.

Savoy Floor Plan courtesy Mike Thibault

THE SAVOY BEARCATS

• The Savoy Bearcats were the first house band at the savoy from its opening in 1926 to 1928

• Led by violinist Leon Abbey

• Previously known as the Charleston Bearcats

Bearcat Stomp

FESS WILLIAMS & HIS ROYAL FLUSH ORCHESTRA

• Held the house band position from 1928 to 1930

• Led by reed player Stanley “Fess” Williams

White Ghost Shivers

CECIL SCOTT & HIS BRIGHT BOYS

• Held a brief tenure as the house band in 1930

• Led by reed man Cecil Scott and managed by brother Lloyd Scott

• Featured musicians that would become much more famous in their time with other groups such as Dicky Wells, Johnny Hodges, Chu Berry, Roy Eldridge, and John Williams (not the Star Wars one).

Lawd, Lawd

CLAUDE HOPKINS & HIS ORCHESTRA

• Was the house band in 1930 and 1931

• Took over at the Roseland ballroom in 1932 and broke big there.

Mush Mouth

WILLIE BRYANT & HIS ORCHESTRA

• House band at the savoy in 1934

• Willie Bryant was the frontman for the band, but wasn’t a musician and was only a passable singer. He was, however, light skinned and good at business, so he made a good face for the more accomplished musicians. The band was musically directed by Bill Dogget.

Rigamarole

CHICK WEBB & HIS ORCHESTRA

• The most famous and long tenured of the Savoy house bands was led by drummer Chick Webb

• The band took the bandstand in 1931 and kept its position as the preeminent band until Webb’s death in 1939

Stompin’ at the Savoy

ELLA FITZGERALD

• Joined Chick Webb in 1935

• Took over leadership of the Chick Webb orchestra after his death in 1939

Sing me a Swing Song

ERSKINE HAWKINS & HIS ORCHESTRA

• House band in the late 30s opposite Chick Webb

• Most famous for composing “Tuxedo Junction”

Tuxedo Junction

TEDDY HILL & HIS ORCHESTRA

• House band in the late 30s when Chick Webb was not available

• One of the first bands to develop bebop stylings with players such as Dizzy Gillespie.

King Porter Stomp

BENNY CARTER & HIS ORCHESTRA

• House band in 1939 and 1940

• Carter was mostly known as an alto saxophonist, but also was an accomplished trumpeter and composer/arranger

A Good Deal

LUCKY MILLINDER & HIS ORCHESTRA

• House band in 1940

• Lucky Millinder didn’t play an instrument, or read or write music, and rarely sung, but was a charismatic bandleader and savvy businessman.

Savoy

SISTER ROSETTA THARPE

• Brought into the scene by Lucky Millinder

• A gospel singer and accomplish guitarist, Tharpe is often considered the first Rock & Roll artist

Shout, Sister, Shout

AL COOPER & HIS SAVOY SULTANS

• House band at the Savoy from the late 30s to 1946

• Did not use trombones

• Big band sound and style with relatively small instrumentation

Jumpin’ at the Savoy

COOTIE WILLIAMS & HIS RUG CUTTERS

• House band in the mid 40s, and again for a time in the mid 50s as a rhythm & blues outfit

• Williams was famous for his use of mutes, particularly the plunger mute

Diga Diga Doo

TAB SMITH & HIS ORCHESTRA

• Early Rhythm & Blues outfit that was the house band at the savoy in the late 40s and early 50s

• Led by Tenor Saxophonist Tab Smith

Granny Dodging at the Savoy

BUDDY TATE & HIS ORCHESTRA

• House band in the early 50s

• Former sideman with the Count Basie Orchestra, left Basie to form his own units in 1949

Grand Slam

BUDDY JOHNSON ORCHESTRA

• Led by pianist Buddy Johnson

• Last of the major Savoy house bands, but active there from 1946 all the way to the end in 1958

• Transitioned from a swing band to a jump blues and R&B outfit. Unlike many other bands of the time, increased in size over time.

Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball

A TRIBUTE: TERRY MONAGHAN

• Terry was a historian of jazz dance and one of the foremost experts on the Savoy ballroom. Much of the research for this presentation comes out of his work.

• Sadly, Terry passed away in 2011

Presentation by Adam Lee

Slides available at: www.swingbarons.com/documents

If you would like to have a similar presentation done at your event, or if you have questions about the presentation,

contact Adam at:

adamrlee@gmail.com