1938 |
Charlie Parker Chronology |
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Created by Leif Bo Petersen |
Last updated: December 6, 2022.. |
Date |
Event |
References/Further Details |
January 10 |
Charlie Parker Charlie and Rebecca's son, Leon Francis
Parker, is born. |
C. Haddix, Bird -The Life and Music of Charlie Parker
(2013), 27–28. |
March early |
Buster Smith Orchestra 7 pieces: Buster Smith, Charlie Parker (as);
Odell West (ts); Emile Williams (p); Charles "Crook" Goodwin (g
& voc); Billy Hadnott (b): Willie McWashington (d). The band was sometimes expanded to 12 pieces. Lucille's Paradise, Kansas City, MO. Early March–June. Charlie Parker joins the Smith band at
Lucille’s. |
Buster Smith in R. Reisner, Bird: The Legend of Charlie Parker
(1962), 214-15: gives no exact dating. States that Parker was with him for
two years. C. Haddix, Bird
-The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 27–28: dates spring 1938
for Parker joining the band. |
April
11 |
Count Basie and His Orchestra Including Jimmy Rushing (voc). Tommy Douglas’s Aristocrats of Rhythm Buster Smith Orchestra Probably including: Buster Smith, Charlie Parker (as); Odell
West (ts); Emil Williams (p); Charles "Crook" Goodwin (g &
voc); Billy Hadnott (b): Willie McWashington (d). Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, MO. 8 p.m.–2 a.m. 9–10:30: Douglas and Smith orchestras, Homecoming Dance presented by Musicians Relief Association. |
Ad in Plaindealer (Kansas City, KS), April 8, 3. “Count Basie to Play Homecoming Dance April 11th,” Plaindealer
(Kansas City, KS), April 8, 3: Count Basie and His orchestra including
Jimmy Rushing. “A Hot Welcome Home,” Kansas City Times, April 12, 1938, 11. C.
Haddix, Bird -The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 30-31. |
April 18? |
Jay McShann Orchestra 7 pieces: Eugene Ramey replaced
by Billy Smith (tp; Popeye Hale as, voc); Bob Mabane (ts, voc); ? (bars); Jay
McShann (p); Allen Anderson replaced by Gene Ramey (b); Pete McShann replaced
by Gus Johnson (d). Clair Martin’s Plaza Tavern
(Kansas City, MO). April 18?–September mid. Charlie Parker was probably
not in the band during this engagement. |
“Young KC pianist Cuts Count Basie on
Keyboard,,” Down Beat, June 1938, 21: McShann and 6 pieces at Martin’s. Bob
Mabane and Popeye Hale (sax, voc). “Red & Isham Do Poorly in KC,” Down Beat,
August 1938, 24: McShann’s 6-piece band had farewell performance at Martin’s the other night, but because of
audience success the owner decided to prolong the engagement for an
indefinite period. “White & Black Unions Fight for 80c,” *Down Beat, July
1938, 32: Gene Ramey in Stanley Dance,
The World of Count Basie (1980), 270—72: Gene Ramey joined the band at
the opening of this engagement on April 18 or 28. Tells that the band had 7
pieces. After about 3 months the band switched to Club Continental. Jay McShann in R. Reisner, Bird:
The Legend of Charlie Parker (1975), 147: Parker started with him at the
Plaza, Kansas City, in 1938. The band was there for 3 or 4 months. Parker's
participation in the band probably refers to the band's engagement at the Plaza
in November, C. Haddix, Bird -The Life
and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 34—35. |
May ? |
Vine Street Varieties Buster Smith Orchestra Lincoln Theater, Kansas City, MO. This show was broadcast by station WHB,
Saturday afternoon 3–4 p.m. |
C. Haddix, Bird
-The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 31. |
June 11 |
Buster Smith Orchestra Pla-Mor, Kansas City, MO. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star, June 11, 1938, 7: Tonight only: Buster Smith and his Colored
All Stars. |
June 12 |
Buster Smith Orchestra Wildwood Lakes, Kansas City, MO. June 12-17?. |
“Crowds to Wildwood,” Kansas City Star, June 12, 1938, 3D: Buster Smith replacing
Clayton Harburg and His Orchestra for a few days. |
June late |
Buster Smith Orchestra Orville Minor (tp);
Buster Smith, Charlie Parker (as); Odell West (ts); Harry Taylor (p); Bill
Smith (b): Bill Nolan (d, voc). Antler's Club, Kansas
City, MO. June ?–early July. |
“Red
& Isham Do Poorly in KC,” Down
Beat, August 1938, 24: gives the personnel. Buster Smith in R.
Reisner, Bird: The Legend of Charlie
Parker (1962), 214-15. C. Haddix, Bird —The Life and Music of Charlie Parker
(2013), 31. |
early July |
Buster Smith Orchestra Buster Smith leaves for New York, and leaves
the band to Odell West and Charlie Parker, but it quickly falls apart. |
Buster Smith in R. Reisner, Bird: The Legend of Charlie Parker
(1962), 214-15. C. Haddix, Bird
–The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 32. |
September
17 |
Jay McShann Band Probably Billy Smith (tp); Charlie Parker
(as); Bob Mabane (ts, voc); William Scott (ts, arr); Jay McShann (p); Gene
Ramey (b); Jesse Price (d, voc); Selma Long (voc). All Star Floor Show Club Continental, Kansas City, MO. September 17-October?. Charlie Parker may have replaced Edward Popeye Hale during this
engagement. |
Ad in Kansas City Star, September 17, 1938, 7. Ad in Kansas City Times, October 15, 1938, 26. J.
Dorsey to Stage Rhythm Rodeo in K. C.” Down Beat, September 1938, 27: C.
Haddix, Bird -The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 34–35:
States that Parker did not join the band until October. |
November 4 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Billy Smith (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Bob
Mabane (ts, voc); William Scott (ts, arr); Jay McShann (p); Gene Ramey (b);
Jesse Price (d, voc); Selma Long (voc). Clair Martin’s Plaza Tavern (Kansas City, MO). Early–late November. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star, November 4, 1938, 22: Jay McShann and his seven-piece band at
the Plaza. Ad in Kansas
City Star, November 11, 1938, 23: Jay McShann and his band at the Plaza. Ad in Kansas
City Star, November 18, 1938, 28: Jay McShann and his band at the Plaza. “McShann and Lee
Click,” Kansas City Journal,
November 19, 1938, ?: gives the McShann personnel. |
November |
Jam sessions Probably including: Billy Smith (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Bob
Mabane (ts, voc); William Scott (ts); Jay McShann (p); Gene Ramey (b); Jesse
Price (d, voc); Kangaroo, Kansas City, MO. Thursday afternoon jam sessions organized by students from the University
of Kansas City. |
C. Haddix: “Bird at the Jelly Joint,” Jam, August/September 2015, 6–8, 21. |
November 11 |
Jay McShann Orchestra Harlan Leonard's Rockets Gold Crown Tap Room, Kansas City, MO. Band Battle. |
Ad in Kansas City Call,
November ?, 1938. “Harlan Leonard’s Band to
Be Feted at Gold Crown,” Kansas City Call, November ?, 1938. |
November late? |
Harlan Leonard's Rockets William Smith (tp); Harlan Leonard (as &
dir); Charlie Parker (as); Odell West (ts); Rozell Claxton (p), Winston
Williams (b); Jesse Price (d). Charlie Parker probably joined Harlan Leonard in late November. |
C. Haddix, Bird -The Life and Music of Charlie Parker
(2013), 36–37. |
December mid |
Vine Street Varieties Jesse Price Band Sleepy Tomlin (tp); Charlie Parker (as); Odell
West (ts); Rozell Claxton (p), Winston Williams (b); Jesse Price (d &
dir). Lincoln Theater, Kansas City, MO. Mid December. Station WHB show. |
C. Haddix, Bird -The Life and Music of Charlie Parker
(2013), 36–37. |
December mid |
Vine Street Varieties Harlan Leonard's Rockets Lincoln Theater, Kansas City, MO. Station WHB show. |
C. Haddix, Bird -The Life and Music of Charlie Parker
(2013), 36–37. |
December 25 |
Harlan Leonard's Rockets 12 pieces including Winston Williams (b), Charlie
Parker (as), Darwin Jones (voc) and James Ross (voc). Dreamland Hall, Kansas City, MO. 9–2 am. Christmas Dance. |
Ad in Kansas City Call, December 23,
1948; ?. |