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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 ZMOTEN, Bennie(b 13 Nov. 1894, Kansas City MO; d there 2 April '35) Pianist, composer, leader of the most prolific and successful of territory bands. Began with five pieces early '20s, grew to classic big-band size by late '20s: sextet recorded for OKeh '23 incl. Thamon Hayes on trombone; octet incl. Harlan Leonard made first recordings of 'South' and 'Vine Street Blues' '24; 'South' was a nation-wide hit '25, the band switched to Victor and 'Kansas City Shuffle' was a hit '27, 'Moten Stomp' '28 (based on 'You're Driving Me Crazy'), new electric recording of 'South' '29 (charted again '44, reissued during musicians' union's strike). Ed Lewis played trumpet from '27; Eddie Durham and Count Basie joined '29, Basie taking over the piano while Moten directed; Lewis left early '32 to join Hayes's Kansas City Skyrockets (later taken over by Leonard), but the Depression hit record sales and Moten's last recording session was late '32, incl. Ben Webster, Hot Lips Page, Jack Washington, Dan Minor, Walter Page, Jimmy Rushing; Moten died while having his tonsils out (now usually regarded as an unnecessary operation) just as the Big Band Era was about to explode. Moten's music was influential and admired in the East, where it was described as western swing (the same term coincidentally used to describe country big bands like that of Bob Wills). After a struggle with Walter Page, Basie took over the nucleus of the band and soon made even more history, paying fine tribute to his old boss with 'Moten Swing' '40 and a lovely, lilting treatment of 'South' '47. Two other Benny Motens, incl. Clarence Lemont Moten (b 30 Nov. '16, NYC; d 27 March '77, New Orleans), a bassist who played with Hot Lips Page, Red Allen, Dakota Staton and many others, were not related. |