Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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DODDS, Baby

(b Warren Dodds, 24 Dec. 1898, New Orleans LA; d 14 Feb. '59, Chicago) Drummer who became the most famous in the New Orleans jazz style. Youngest of six children, studied drums while working in sack factory. Marching band with Bunk Johnson; played cabaret; riverboats with Fate Marable; joined King Oliver on West Coast, to Chicago with him '22 and played on classic Oliver records '23--4 with Louis Armstrong and brother Johnny Dodds (used woodblocks on records because the acoustic process could not record the full drum kit). In Chicago '20s with Honor‚ Dutrey, Freddie Keppard, Lil Armstrong, Johnny; freelance recording with Louis, Jelly Roll Morton; in '30s with Johnny, also helped brother Bill run taxis; with Jimmie Noone '40--41; with rediscovered Bunk Johnson '44--5, then back and forth to NYC, with Art Hodes, on Rudi Blesh radio show This Is Jazz during revival era; to Europe '48 with Mezz Mezzrow; with Hodes again etc. Suffered strokes '49--50, began slowing down. The Baby Dodds Story as told to Larry Gara published '59.