1941 |
Charlie Parker Chronology |
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Created by Leif Bo Petersen |
Last updated: October 7, 2018. |
Date |
Event |
References/Further
Details |
February 6 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Probably: Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor,
Harold Bruce (tp); Joe Taswell Baird (tb); John Jackson, Charlie Parker (as);
Harold Ferguson, Bob Mabane (ts); Jay McShann (p); Gene Ramey (b); Gus
Johnson (d); Joe Coleman (voc). Unidentified venue, Kansas City, MO. Promotional recordings by John Tumino. |
C. Haddix, Bird –The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 48. John B. Tumino Collection. Marr Sound
Archives. University of Missouri-Kansas City. http://library.umkc.edu/marr-collections/archival/tumino http://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=410206 |
March late |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Casa Fiesta Club, Kansas City, MO. |
Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, March 29, 1941, 9: Direct from the Casa Fiesta Club. |
March 29 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra King’s, Lincoln, NE. March 29–?, 1941. |
Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, March 29, 1941, 9: Tonight. |
April 30 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Harold Bruce
(tp); Joe Taswell Baird (tb); John Jackson, Charlie Parker (as); Harold
Ferguson, Bob Mabane (ts); Jay McShann (p); Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d);
Walter Brown (voc). Unidentified studio, Dallas, TX. Commercial recordings for Decca Records.
Dave Kapp (prod). |
http://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=410430 C. Haddix, Bird –The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 47–50. |
May 6 |
Jay McShann and
His Orchestra Unidentified
venue, possibly MO. KWOS broadcast:
9:00—9:30 p.m.: Jay McShann Orchestra. No recordings of
this broadcast seem to have survived. |
“KWOS Programs,” Jefferson
City Post-Tribune (MO), May 6, 1941, 7: 9:00—9:30: Jay McShann Orchestra. |
May 18 |
Jay McShann and His Recording
Orchestra Venetian Ballroom, Lake Contrary Park, MO. |
Ad in Journal
for Progressive Stockmen, Farming, and Businessmen (St. Joseph, MO.), May
15, 1941, 4. |
May 19 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Kentucky Paradise, Kansas City, MS. May 19–24, 1941. |
Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas City, KS), May 16, 1941, 4:
Grand opening Monday May 9th (sic]. Added attraction: Jay
McShann and His Band. Matinee from 4:00–8:00. Music Nightly. Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas City, KS), May 23, 1941, 3. Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas City, KS), May 30, 1941, 5: Lawrence Keyes. |
May 25 |
Jay
McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. May 25–30, 1941. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), May 15, 12: Fairyland Park opening May 17. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), May 24, 27: Johnny Engro and His Orchestra. Coming May
31: Lou Breese. Sunday Night: Jay McShann’s Band. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), May 25, 2D: Jay
McShann’s Band. Ad in Kansas
City Star (Kansas City, MO), May 28, 1941, 21: opening May 31: Lou Breese
and His Orchestra. Thursday night (29) Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), May 29, 1941, 9: opening Saturday May 31: Lou Breese and
His Orchestra. Tonight Ladies Night: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), May 30, 1941, 11: Tonight Jay McShann. |
May 31 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra King’s, Lincoln, NE. May 31–June 7, 1941. June 4 and 6: MBS broadcast 9:15–9:30: Jay McShann
Orchestra. No recordings of this broadcasts seem to
have survived. |
Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, May 31, 1941, 3: Tonight. Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, June 3, 1941, 3: Tonight. Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, June 4, 1941, 4: Broadcast tonight 9:15–9:30 over KFOR
(MBS). Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, June 6, 1941, 9: Broadcast tonight 9:15–9:30 over KFOR
(MBS). Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, June 7, 1941, 9: Tonight: Farewell Party. |
June 11 |
Jay
McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Probably: Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor,
Harold Bruce (tp); Lawrence Anderson?, Joe Taswell
Baird (tb); John Jackson, Charlie Parker (as): Freddie Culliver?, Bob Mabane
(ts); James Coe (bar)?; Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g)?; Gene Ramey (b);
Gus Johnson (d); Carrie Carr, Walter Brown (voc). Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. June 11 –15, 1941. |
“Busy Week at the Park,” Kansas City Star, June 8, 1941, 3D:
Johnny Ben Dover and his Orchestra closes Tuesday. McShann opening Wednesday
with a 14-piece band. Walter Brown, Carrie Carr, Gene Ramey and Gus Johnson
are mentioned Ad
in Kansas City Star (MO), June 11,
1941, 15: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 12, 1941, 16: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 13, 1941, 23: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 14, 1941, 23: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 15, 1941, 2D: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 16, 1941, 6: Tonight: Jesse Rodgers’ Lazy K’s Oldtime Barn Dance. Tuesday [17]: Joe Venuti. C.
McCarthy, Big Band Jazz (1974), 152: The chronology is wrong and somehow
confused here. He states that Bob Merrill had replaced Harold Bruce in March
and that soon after Ferguson was replaced by Freddie Culliver and Lawrence
Anderson and James Coe added. |
June 18 |
Jay
McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Probably: Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor,
Harold Bruce (tp); Lawrence Anderson?, Joe Taswell
Baird (tb); John Jackson, Charlie Parker (as): Freddie Culliver?, Bob Mabane
(ts); James Coe (bar)?; Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g)?; Gene Ramey (b);
Gus Johnson (d); Carrie Carr, Walter Brown (voc). June 18–20, 1941. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 16, 1941, 6: Wednesday [18]: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 18 1941, 12: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 19, 1941, 13: Tonight’s surprise: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 20, 1941, 14: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 21, 1941, 5: Tonight: Dee Courtney. |
June 22 |
Jay
McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. |
“Many Events at Park,” Kansas City Star (MO), June 22, 1941, 3D: Tonight: Jay McShann.
Tuesday: King Kolax. Friday: Al Donahue. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 23, 1941, 9: No orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 24, 1941, 10: Tonight: King Kolax. |
June 25 |
Jay
McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. June 25–26, 1941. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 25, 1941, 17: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 26 1941, 17: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 27, 1941, 23: Tonight: Al Donahue and His Band. |
June 28 |
Jay
McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 28, 1941, 8: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 1, 1941, 9: Tonight: Don Kelly and His Orchestra. |
July 15 |
Jay
McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. July 15–18, 1941. |
“McShann at Park Again,” Kansas City Star (Kansas City, MO),
July 13, 1941, 3D: Jay McShann opens Tuesday. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 16, 1941, 11: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 17, 1941, 13: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 18, 1941, 13: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 19, 1941, 8: Tonight: Lawrence Welk. |
July 20 |
Jay
McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 20, 1941, 2D: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 22, 1941, 9: Tonight: Don Kelly Orchestra. |
July 24 |
Jay
McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Tootie’s Mayfair, Kansas City, MO. July 24–August?, 1941. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 24, 1941, 8: Jay McShann’s Boogie piano and his
13-piece recording Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 25, 1941, 12: Jay McShann’s Boogie piano and his
13-piece recording Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 1, 1941, 18: Jay McShann’s Boogie piano and his
13-piece recording Orchestra. |
August |
Jay McShann and
His Orchestra Release of Decca 8559 10” 78 rpm.
record. Jay McShann and His Orchestra Recorded April
30, 1941. Confessin’ the Blues Hootie Blues |
Decca ad in Billboard,
August 2, 1941, 71. “Recorded Music,” Times-Picayune.
August 29, 1941, 14: Short mention: “Very earthy renditions of Hootie
Blues and Confessin’ the Blues.” “The New Records:
Hot Jazz,” Des Moines Register, November 2, 1941, society sec. 12; Review:
Jay McShann displays his prowess at Kansas City Style piano playing. The band
plays somewhat ragged but solid, earthy music. |
August 8 |
Jay
McShann and His Quartet Probably: Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois
(g)?; Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter
Brown (voc) Ernie
Henderson (voc), Duke
and Duchess (tap) Annette
Gooch (shake dance) Blue Room, Street Hotel, Kansas City, MO. August 8—?, 1942. Charlie Parker was probably not here. |
Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas City, KS), August 8, 1941, 5. Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas City, KS), August 15, 1941, 4. Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas city (KS), August 22, 1941, 4. |
August 19 |
Jay
McShann and His Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. August 19–25, 1941. |
“McShann at Park,” Kansas City Star (Kansas City, MO), August 17, 1941, 3D: Jay
McShann opens Tuesday for a week. The band’s last appearance here this
summer. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 19, 1941, 8: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 20, 1941, 11: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 21, 1941, 10: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in
Kansas City Star (MO), August 22, 1941, 15: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in
Kansas City Star (MO), August 24, 1941, 2D: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 23, 1941, 8: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 24, 1941, 2D: Last appearance of Jay McShann
Orchestra. |
August
late |
Jay McShann and
His Orchestra Release of Decca
8570 10" 78 rpm.
record. Recorded April
30, 1941. Jay McShann and
His Orchestra Swingmatism Vine Street
Boogie |
“Jay McShann at Park,” Kansas City Star, August 17, 1943, 3 D: The
band’s latest record (Swingmatism –Vine
Street Boogie) will be released next week. “Recorded Music,” Philadelphia Inquirer, September 14, 1941, a 12:
short release notice. |
August
30 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra King’s, Lincoln, NE. August 30–September 5, 1941. Sunday Dawn Dance: 9
p.m.–? Monday: Holiday Dance. |
Ad in Lincoln Star,
August 30, 1941, 2. Ad in Lincoln Star,
August 31, 1941, D-6. Ad in Lincoln Star,
September 3, 1941, 6. Ad in Lincoln Star,
September 5, 1941, 4: Last night. |
September 28 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Probably: Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor,
Harold Bruce (tp); Lawrence Anderson?, Joe Taswell Baird (tb); John Jackson,
Charlie Parker (as): Freddie Culliver?, Bob Mabane (ts); James Coe (bar)?;
Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g)?; Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter
Brown (voc). Lincoln Hall, Kansas City, MO. |
C. Haddix, Bird –The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 51. |
October
3 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra King’s, Lincoln, NE. |
Ad in Nebraska State Journal, October 3, 1941, 7: Including Walter Brown (voc). |
October
4 |
Battle of Music Jay McShann and His Orchestra Nat Towles and His 16 Colored Artists King’s, Lincoln, NE. |
Ad in Nebraska State Journal, October 4, 1941, 3. |
October
5 |
Jam Session Jay McShann and His Orchestra King’s, Lincoln, NE. |
Ad in Nebraska State JournalOctober 5, 1941, D-6. |
October early |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Blue Room, Street Hotel, Kansas City, MO. October early, 1942. |
“Kansas City Hot Spots ‘Leaping’,” Pittsburgh Courier, October 11, 21:
Oct. 9- McShann and His Orchestra at Street’s Blue Room with Floor Show. |
October
18 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Students Union, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE. October 18, 1941. Homecoming Dance. |
“Full Calendar at U. N. in Honor of Homecoming Day,” Lincoln Star,
October 27, 1941. |
October
21 |
Jay McShann and
His Orchestra Auditorium,
Hutchinson, KS. October 21, 1941. |
"Bands on
Tour," Billboard, October 25, 1941, 14. |
October
22 |
Jay McShann and
His Orchestra Trocadero,
Wichita, KS. October 22, 1941. |
"Bands on
Tour," Billboard, October 25, 1941, 14. |
October
23 |
Jay McShann and
His Orchestra Pla-Mor Pavillon,
Bartlesville, OK. October 23, 1941 |
"Bands on
Tour," Billboard, October 25, 1941, 14. |
October
24 |
Jay McShann and
His Orchestra Century Room,
Tulsa, OK. October 24, 1941. |
"Bands on
Tour," Billboard, October 25, 1941, 14. |
October
25 |
Jay McShann and
His Orchestra Langston
University, Langston, OK. October 25, 1941. |
"Bands on
Tour," Billboard, October 25, 1941, 14. |
November |
Jay McShann and
His Orchestra Release of Decca
8583 10" 78 rpm.
record. Recorded April
30, 1941. Hold 'Em Hootie Dexter Blues |
“Recorded Music,” Times-Picayune, November 14, 1941, 17: Special
mention of Dexter Blues: “The McShann band is in the making as a
really outstanding aggregation.” |
November ? |
Jay McShann
and His Orchestra Houston Civic Auditorium, Houston, TX. November? Jam session with Milton Larkin Orchestra
(Including Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, and Eddie Cleanhead Vinson), which
was in the town at the same time. |
C. Haddix, Bird -The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 51, 170 note
24: source “Kaycee Ork Waxes Eight Decca Sides,” Down Beat, December 15, 1941, 14. C. Haddix, Bird -The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 51, 170 note
25: McShann interviewed by Haddix. |
November ? |
Jay McShann
and His Orchestra Milton
Larkin Orchestra Including Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet,
and Eddie Cleanhead Vinson. Louisianan Fair, Shreveport, LA. Band Battle. |
C. Haddix, Bird -The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 51, 170 note
25: source: McShann interviewed by Haddix. |
November? |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Austin, TX. November 1941. |
C. Woideck, Charlie Parker: His Music and Life (1996), 19, 246 note 78:
Austin, Texas: Parker and Walther Brown required drug-related medical
treatment. Source: Gene Ramey interviewed by Phil Schaap. |
November 10 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra San Antonio, TX. The band picks Al Hibbler up in San Antonio. |
"Jay McShann ork here November 10,
"San Antonio Register, October
24, 1941, 6. "Jay McShann comes here for dance
engagement," San Antonio Register,
October 31, 1941, 6. "Jay McShann brings "Confessin'
the Blues" to San Antonio," San
Antonio Register, November 7, 1941, 6. Gene Ramey in S. Dance, The World of Count Basie (1980), 278:
The band picks Al Hibbler up in San Antonio. Ramey dates May/June, but it is
more probably here. |
November 18 |
Jay
McShann Band Orville Minor (tp); Joe Taswell Baird (tb);
John Jackson (as), Jay McShann (p); Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walther
Brown (voc). Unidentified studio, Chicago, IL. Commercial recordings for Decca. |
http://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=411118 It has been discussed if the alto sax heard
on one of the tracks is by Charlie Parker, but now there seems to be
consensus that it is John Jackson. |
November 29 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Probably: Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor,
Harold Bruce (tp); Lawrence Anderson?, Joe Taswell Baird (tb); John Jackson,
Charlie Parker (as): Freddie Culliver?, Bob Mabane (ts); James Coe (bar)?;
Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g)?; Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Carrie Carr,
Walter Brown, Al Hibbler (voc). Metropolitan Hall, Topeka, KS. Dance sponsored by Forget-Me-Not Girls. |
Notice in Kansas Whip (Topeka KS), November 14, 1941, 2. |
December 1 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Municipal Auditorium, Junction City, KS. Dance for Fourth Brigadiers, Fort Riley, |
“Army Briefs from Camp Funston,” Morning Chronicle (Manhattan, KS.)
December 6, 1941, 6. |
December 27 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, IA. |
“Jay McShann at the Surf Saturday,” Mason City Globe-Gazette, December 26,
1941, 5: Walter Brown mentioned Ad in Mason City
Globe-Gazette, December 27, 1941, 3. |
December
31 |
Jay McShann and
His Orchestra Prom Ballroom,
Minneapolis, MN. Dance. |
Ad in Minneapolis
Star, December 31, 1941, 8. |