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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHAYES, Edgar(b 23 May 1905, Lexington KY; d 28 June 1979, San Bernardino CA) Pianist, bandleader. Attended Fisk and Wilberforce universities; from early '20s worked as a sideman, then led a pit band at Harlem's Alhambra theatre; worked for Lucky Millinder, then formed his own band '37, initially with Kenny Clarke, Dizzy Gillespie, Earl Bostic, reedman/arranger Joe Garland (b 15 August 1903, Norfolk VA; d 21 April 1977, Teaneck NJ). Recording for Decca '37-8 the band included Clarke, Garland, veteran trombonist Clyde Bernhardt (b 11 July 1905, Goldhill NC; d 20 May 1986, also played with Fats Waller, Jay McShann, Claude Hopkins, Dud Bascomb; recorded as Ed Barron, led own band '50s, was still playing in the '80s), reedman Rudy Powell (b 28 October 1907, NYC; d 30 October 1976; with Waller '34-7, many others). Hayes' last recording session '38 included a hit with a corny arrangement of 'Stardust'; the flip side was Garland's arrangement of a time-honoured riff which he called 'In The Mood': British writer C. H. Rolph heard it played around 1919 by cinema orchestras in London; it appeared on record as Wingy Manone's 'Tar Paper Stomp' '30 (aka 'Wingy's Stomp'), then Horace Henderson's 'Hot And Anxious', recorded by Fletcher Henderson '31, Don Redman '32. Garland's arrangement was covered '39 by Glenn Miller and became the biggest hit of the whole Swing Era, but Hayes's disc had more soul. He toured Europe '38, led a band till '41, moved to the West Coast '42, worked solo, led combos; co-led a band at Billy Berg's in Los Angeles '46 with guitarist Teddy Bunn. He was active into the '70s, playing mainly solo dates at clubs, restaurants. |