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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 ZSMITH, Jabbo(b Cladys Smith, 24 Dec. '08, Pembroke GA; d 16 Jan. '91 NYC) Trumpet, trombone, vocals. Legendary freelance/bandleader went to Jenkins Orphanage at age six, played with band there at age ten, ran away several times, finally for good at 16: worked in Atlantic City NJ; NYC '25--8 (recorded with Duke Ellington '27); toured with James P. Johnson in Keep Shufflin' '28; show folded in Chicago and he worked there, in Detroit, Milwaukee; joined Claude Hopkins on tour in Milwaukee '36, back to NYC; led own band, worked with Sidney Bechet; long residency in Newark NJ; back to Milwaukee late '40s. European tours '70s; suffered from ill health early '80s but recovered to play in Europe again '83. Jabbo Smith And His Rhythm Aces '29 on Brunswick incl. Omer Simeon, Ikey Robinson on banjo (d 25 Oct. '90 aged 86), Hayes Alvis on bass (later with Ellington); these 22 tracks are considered classics, compiled on a Retrieval CD transferred by John R. T. Davies; the CD is called Jabbo Smith 1929--1938 but does not incl. four sides with an octet on Decca '38. At one time he was a rival to Louis Armstrong; late in life he admitted he'd been too busy having a good time to take care of business. |