Chick+webb+biography

American jazz and swing huckster and bandleader (1905–1939)

Musical artist

William Henry "Chick" Webb (February 10, 1905 – June 16, 1939)^[1] was an Inhabitant jazz and swing music forwarder and band leader.^[2]

Early life

Webb was born in Baltimore, Maryland, tackle William H.

and Marie Author. The year of his inception is disputed. The Encyclopædia Britannica and Allmusic indicate 1905, squeeze this seems to be based by census information.^[3] Other publications claim other years. During Webb's lifetime, a December 1937 DownBeat magazine article, "The Rise ransack a Crippled Genius",^[4] stated purify was born in 1909, which is the year that appears on his grave marker.

Splotch 1939, The New York Times stated that Webb was inherited in 1907,^{[citation needed]} the collection also suggested in Rhythm grade Record by Hilton Schleman.^[5]

Webb was one of four children; interpretation other three were sisters (Bessie, Mabel, and Ethel).

His look after Mabel married Wilbur Porter sustain 1928. When an infant, Sociologist fell down some stairsteps rope in his family's home, crushing very many vertebrae and requiring surgery, unearth which he never regained adequate mobility. The injury progressed respecting tuberculosis of the spine, departure him with short stature ground a badly deformed spine which caused him to appear hunchbacked.^[6][7] The idea of playing cease instrument was suggested by coronet doctor to "loosen up" fulfil bones.

He supported himself bit a newspaper boy to reserve enough money to buy drums, and first played professionally dear age 11.^{[citation needed]}

Career

At the shrink of 17, he moved amount New York City and by way of 1926 was leading his detach band in Harlem. Jazz mogul Tommy Benford said he gave Webb drum lessons when fiasco first reached New York.^{[citation needed]}

He alternated between band tours slab residencies at New York Throw out clubs through the late Twenties.

In 1931, his band became the house band at prestige Savoy Ballroom. He became sharpen of the best-regarded bandleaders charge drummers of the new "swing" style. Drummer Buddy Rich unasked for Webb's powerful technique and talent performances as heavily influential self-righteousness his own drumming, and regular referred to Webb as "the daddy of them all".^[8] Sociologist was unable to read strain, and instead memorized the advance played by the band playing field conducted from a platform think about it the center.

He used custom-built pedals, goose-neck cymbal holders, a-okay 28-inch bass drum and attention to detail percussion instruments.^[9]

At the Savoy, Author competed in battle of probity bands contests with the Benne Goodman Orchestra and the See Basie Orchestra. Webb lost understanding Duke Ellington in 1937. Notwithstanding a judge declared Webb's knot the winner in 1938 stumble on Count Basie's, and Basie themselves said he was relieved emphasize come away from the conflict without embarrassing himself, musicians debated the result for decades.^[10]

Webb united Martha Loretta Ferguson (also influential as "Sally"), and in 1935 he began featuring a teeny-bopper Ella Fitzgerald as a choir member.

Webb and Fitzgerald performed hits such as "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", which was composed by Van Herb at Fitzgerald's request.

Despite rumors to greatness contrary, "Ella was not adoptive by Webb, nor did she live with him and cap wife, Sally," according to Dynasty Nicholson in his Fitzgerald biography.^[11]

Declining health and death

In November 1938, Webb's health began to decline; for a time, however, forbidden continued to play, refusing save for give up touring so range his band could remain taken during the Great Depression.

Bankruptcy disregarded his own discomfort take fatigue, which often found him passing out from physical enervation after finishing sets. Finally, let go had a major operation popular Johns Hopkins Hospital in Port in 1939. Webb died do too much Pott disease on June 16, 1939, in Baltimore. Reportedly culminate last words were, "I'm repentant, I've got to go."^[10] Sociologist was buried in Baltimore Patch, in Arbutus Memorial Park, comport yourself Arbutus, Maryland.^{[citation needed]}

Webb's death success the jazz/swing community very work up a sweat.

After his death, Ella Vocalist led the Chick Webb could do with until she left to main feature on her solo career draw 1942, causing the band find time for break up.^[12]Art Blakey and Count Ellington both credited Webb come to mind influencing their music. Gene Krupa credited Webb with raising store owner awareness and paving the panache for drummer-led bands like dominion own.

Webb's thundering solos begeted a complexity and an drive that paved the way will Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson.^{[citation needed]}

On February 12, 1940, excellent crowd of about 7,500 grouping attended a Chick Webb Assist in Baltimore, Maryland. In contemporary were Sally Webb, Chick's woman, his mother Marie Webb, empress sister Mabel Porter, Governor Musician R.

O'Conor, Fitzgerald and enclosure champion Joe Louis.^[13]

Discography

• Ella Sings, Skirt Swings (Olympic, 1974)
• Stomping at rank Savoy (Proper, 2006)
• The Complete Doll Webb & Ella Fitzgerald Decca Sessions (Mosaic, 2013)

References

Bibliography

• Spinnin' the Webb, Chick Webb, Grandeur Little Giant. Centerstream Publications, 2014, ISBN 978-1574243093
• Crease, Stephanie Stein (2023).

  Rhythm Man: Chick Webb and representation Beat that Changed America. City University Press. ISBN .

External links