The Savoy Series

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The Savoy Ballroom House Bands

 

Opening night of The Savoy Ballroom, Harlem, New York on March 12, 1926 featured two bands: The Charleston Bearcats and Fess Williams and His Orchestra. Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra was working as the house band at Roseland Ballroom downtown, and for the first 3 nights came up town to play the Savoy starting at 2:00 A.M.. Exact dates are almost impossible without the written contracts. It also seems many musicians and Band leaders had an ongoing relationship with the Savoy's Booking makes pin pointing the dates and times they were actually house bands or just perhaps extended engagements. This list is a great resource however more information will be added as time allows.     Fess Williams and his Royal Flush Orchestra opened the Savoy Ballroom and continued to play a house band from 1926 to 1928.The band was known as a hot jazz orchestra that recorded up until 1930. Fess played many instruments but was best know for his Clarinet and alto Saxophone playing, he was also the uncle to Charles Mingus.     Leon Abbey the Violin player started fronting the Charleston Bearcats in 1924 and upon opening the Savoy Ballroom changed the name to the Savoy Bearcats. After working the Savoy the band worked under the name Leon Abbey's orchestra and traveled, to Argentina, Asia and Europe during the 30's. He lead solid bands after the war in Chicago and New York until he retired.     Cecil Scott's Bright Boys were the house band at the Savoy Ballroom from 1928 until 1931. They won the 1928 South Sea Island Ball Battle of eight bands. The following year, Arabian Nights Theme, they fell second to Ellington.   Claude Hopkins Orchestra in 1931 started with bands such as Wilber Sweatman before becoming the Musical director for Josephine Baker which included the legendary Sidney Betchet. After returning from Europe in the late 20's he first entered the Savoy in 1930, and later Roseland Ballroom 1931 to 1935 as well as the Cotton Club 1935 and 1936. Jimmie Lunceford was proficient on all the reed instruments while playing in Elmer Snowmen's and Wilbur Sweatman's bands. He started his own band in Memphis ,TN, around 1927 and acquired a reputation in Buffalo, NY. He climbed to fame after recording for Decca and working in the Savoy Ballroom in 1932. Chick Webb put together his first band in 1926, however he did not recond until 1931, for the Brunswick Label. In 1934, after discovering Ella Fitzgerald and being heard on National Broadcast, he became known as on of the greatest jazz drummers, who was both loved by dancers and feared by guest orchestras who had to battle his band. After his death in 1939, Ella Fitzgerald continued to lead the band for the next couple of years.   Willie Bryant played at the Savoy from 1934 to 1938. Willie toured as a dancer all through the 20's with the Whitman Sisters Show and finally along side Bessie Smith before putting together his own orchestra. His song and dance routines and knowledge of show business helped him form a star studded band including players such as Cozy Cole, Teddy Wilson, Benny Carter, Ben Webster, and Taft Jordan. To those that remember musicians and dancers alike recall his presence as that like Cab Calloway , a joy to watch and wonderful to work for. Teddy Hill worked at The Savoy Ballroom from 1933 to 1939, with such legends in his band as Chu Berry, Roy Eldridge, Cecil Scott, Dickie Wells, and Dizzy Gillespie, just to name a few. His is possibly the most underrated orchestra because of the few, poor recording, but those living at that time remember no orchestra alive could step up to Teddy Hill's band in its hey day. He went on to lead the NBC Orchestra and also work with the Berry Brothers. Al Cooper's Savoy Sultans, 1937 - 1945. Simple head charts and riff songs with a strong rhythm section made them the dancers' favorite at The Savoy Ballroom, but this smaller sized dance band was feared for years by touring bands that landed at The Savoy. They became known as the band that didn't know when to let up and requests would be made not to follow them. Benny Carter was another legendary leader who earned his way in the ranks of bands such as Duke Ellington, Charlie Johnson, and Fletcher Henderson. After touring Europe and becoming the Musical Director for McKinney's Cotton Pickers he started his own orchestra and started working in The Savoy in 1939. Lucky Millender who was not a musician himself started fronting bands in 1930. He leadership qualities paid off which took him on tour in 1933, The following year he took over leadership of Mill's Blue Rhythm Orchestra. His Orchestra was made up legendary sidemen and vocalist , Sister Rosetta Tharpe which gained them success in the Savoy during the years 1939 to 1946. Cootie Williams who originally played for Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman finally put his own orchestra together in 1941 and became a main stay at the Savoy Ballroom until its closure.   Erskine Hawkins who put his first band together in 1935 at Alabama state college hit NY the following year to make a name for himself as a Leader and Musician. Between 1939 and 1941 he gain great popularity at the Savoy Ballroom during his Bluebird years with his hit theme song Tuxedo Junction and worked their until it's closing in 1958. Tab Smith earned his reputation working through the ranks of Lucky Millender's Orchestra during the years of 1935 to 1939 and then Count Basie 1940 to 1942 before going out on his own and becoming of Favorite in Harlem. Buddy Tate the Kansas City native who worked in Bands such as Andy Kirk, Lucky Millender and stayed with Count Basie for 10 years before starting his own outfit in which he worked both the Celebrity Club and Savoy Ballroom.   Buddy Johnson got his start in Small bands touring night clubs here as well as Europe. in 1939 he got his break with Decca and eventually started his own 14 piece band with his sister Ella singing Vocals. His rhythm and style crossed over into the 50's R&B sound where he signed with Mercury records.   RESOURCES: Terry Monaghan-www.Savoyballroom.com Albert McCarthy- Big Band Jazz Leonard Feather-The encyclopedia of Jazz . Chicago Jazz-William Howland Kenny Jazz City-Leroy Ostransky The Savoy Ballroom 25th birthday celebration Booklet Chronological Classics Compact Disc series