Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

MARABLE, Fate

(b 2 Dec. 1890, Paducah KY; d 16 Jan. '47, St Louis MO) Piano, calliope, bandleader. Left home at 17 and played on a riverboat out of Little Rock AR; played in duo with white violinist Emil Flindt (who wrote "The Waltz You Saved For Me'), formed own band c '17; left Streckfus Line '40 because of infected finger causing layoff. Led band in St Louis mid-'40s, died of pneumonia. He made only one record, "Frankie And Johnny'/ 'Pianoflage' '24 on Okeh (10-piece band incl. drummer Zutty Singleton), a record without any identity at all, described as a sad memorial to a distinguished career: no bandleader ever employed more talent. The list of sidemen who played for Marable on their way up north begins with Red Allen, Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Blanton, Earl Bostic, and continues through the alphabet, a role call of USA music that infl. even more who heard it, incl. Bix Beiderbecke, Jess Stacy, etc.