Concert in Harlem

8/14/2019 Concert in Harlem

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Barrelhouse Mitt PoundingFree and Easy Applause


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Venue

Apollo Theatero 580 seatso New York

Ticket price $1.25 December 12, 1927


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Performers Attending

Count Basie Fats Waller Louis Armstrong

W.C. Handy Duke Ellington


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Count Basie


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Early Life

Born: Red Bank, New Jerseyo Aug. 21, 1904.

Father employed as coachman, mother was a bakerand took in laundry to support piano lessons.

Did not complete junior high school

Jobs as a youth:o Operated spotlights for vaudeville showso Played piano at silent movies


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Career

Arrived in Harlem in 1924 Mingled among renowned performers

o Willie the Lion Smith ando James P. Johnson.

Employed at Leroy'so

Famous Clubo Cut-throat competitiono Met Fats Waller

Taught Basie to play to organ Toured in 1925 to early 1927 with:

o Katie Krippen and Her Kiddieso Columbia Burlesque

Famous songs include: One O'Clock Jump and April inParis


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Career (con't)

Joined Blue Devilso One of first "big bands"

Played at Apollo Theatoro Collaborated with Billie Holiday

Died April 26, 1984 at age 79


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Fats Waller


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Early Life

Born: New York, NYo Thomas Wright Wallero Aug. 21, 1904.

Father a preachero Learned to play the organ in church

Father an accomplished violinist Taught by the music director of church Later took lessons from James P. Johnson

o Famous stride pianist

Received nickname due to weight of 300lbs


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Career

Played in stride styleo Varied piano key touch

First published in 1923 Played at "rent parties"

o Invited a musician to one's homeo

Charged admissiono Used profits to pay for rent

Worked with lyricist Andy Razafo Used lively, witty lyrics

Enjoyed by many famous figures

Forced to play at Al Capone's birthday partyo Kidnapped, shoved in back of caro Received thousands of dollars of tips


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Career (con't)

Toured Britain in late 1930'so Appeared on BBC televison broadcast

One of first BBC broadcastso Recorded songs for EMI while in Britaino Appeared in film Stormy Weather in 1943

Died on Dec. 15, 1943o Early death due to excessive drinking and obesity


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W. C. Handy

the Father of Blues


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Early Life

He was born on November 16, 1873, inFlorence, Alabama.

He lived in a log cabin

He displayed a strong interest in music eventhough musical instruments were frownedupon by his church

After saving up money by doing odd jobs, he

was able to purchase his own guitar, but hisdad made him exchange it for a dictionary andtake up organ lessons


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Early Life Contd

As a teenager, he joined a small blues band andbought a cornet from his friend

He secretly practiced during all his free time He was a great student that graduated near the top

of his class While performing at a barbecue in Henderson,

Kentucky, he met Elizabeth Price, and they marriedshortly afterwards (on July 19, 1896).


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Musical Career

In August of 1896, he joined the MaharasMinstrels, for $6 a week

The tour took them throughout the

southwestern states of Texas andOklahoma, across the Southeast throughTennessee and Georgia, and south to

Florida and eventually to Cuba. After three years, he and his family movedto Florence for some much needed rest


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Musical Career Contd

In 1903, he received an offer to direct ablack band called the Knights of Pythias inClarksdale, Mississippi.

After six years, he moved to Memphis andwrote Memphis Blues about E. H.Crump, a man that was running for Mayor

Started his own publishing business whichflourished throughout the twenties andthirties


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Later Life

His wife died in 1937 He died on March 28, 1958 of acute

bronchial pneumonia at the age of 84. He

was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery,Bronx, New York with many notablesattending the funeral service and an

estimated 150,000 people along thefuneral route.


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Musical Groups

Lauzetta Quartet (Florence) Maharas Minstrels (Chicago) Knights of Pythias (Clarksdale)

Handy Record Company (New York City)


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Duke Ellington


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Beginning Life

Born: April 29, 1899 in Washington D.C. Parents: Daisy Kennedy Ellington & James

Edward Ellingtono Taught him manners and the power of music

1906: Started playing piano at seveno Wasnt very intregued

Schooling: Armstrong Manual Training Schoolto study commercial art instead of an

academically-oriented school 1917: Dropped out of school for a professional

music career


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More. . .

1918: Married Edna Thompson March 11, 1919: His son, Mercer

Kennedy Ellington, was born 1923: Left Washington D.C. and moved

to New Yorko Encouragement from Fats Waller


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Groups

1917: The Dukes Serenaders 1927: Cotton Club Orchestra (Jungle

Band)


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Cotton Club

December 4, 1927: Landed a job here,one of New Yorks premier nightspots

Located in Harlem at 142nd St. and

Lenox Ave. Operated by a gangster, Owney

Madden

Patronized by wealthy whites Staffed by blacks


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Duke At The Club

Worked two shows every night, one atmidnight and one at 2amo

Each was two hours Became famous through weeklybroadcasting on the radio station WHN


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Music

Call and Response technique 12-29-1927: Red Hot Band

12-29-1927: Doin the Frog Played Jungle Sound with 15 girl

dancers


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His Band

Normally 10 pieces Rhythm

o Drums: Sonny Greero Piano: Dukeo Bass: Wellman Braudo Guitaro Violino Banjo: Fred Buy

Reedso Saxophoneo Clarinet

Brasso Tromboneo Trumpeto Tuba


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http://www.dailymotion.com/related/x15x1h_eubie-blake-or-nicholas-brothers-19_music/video/x177ga_duke-ellington-1930_music

Video


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Louiss Early life

Louis Armstrong was born on August 4,1901 in New Orleans.

Louis grew up in a very poor family.

Louis learned to play the trumpet at theage of 12.

At the age of 17 he was skillful enough to

replace the great King Oliver in the KidOry band.


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Armstrongs rise to fame

The famous Joe King Oliver tutoredLouis on how to play the trumpet.

In 1922, four years after King Oliver left,

he invited Louis to perform with his bandin Chicago. This was his first big bandexperience.

After two years with King Olivers band,Louis went to New York, the Jazz centerof the time.

Armstrong was a famous musician by

1929


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Louiss achievements

Louis was widely recognized as thefounding father of jazz.

He performed an a average of 300

concerts a year. He became one of the first great

celebrities of the twentieth century.

Armstrong was a bandleader, singer,soloist, film star, and a comedian.


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Louiss personal life

In 1924, Louis married the pianist LilHardin from King Olivers band.

In 1931, Louis and Lil Armstrong

seperated.


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FIN

Hunter, Thomas, Andrew (P), Andrew (H)

Documents

Concert in Harlem