[Dixielandjazz] Re: nicknames (was Bird)

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Jim.
Johnny Hodges was called both 'Rabbit' and 'Jeep'.
"Jeep's Blues" (28 March 1938)
"The Jeep Is Jumpin'"(24 Aug 1938)
"The Rabbit's Jump" (1 Sept 1939)
All by Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (And all bloody marvellous!)
The 'Jeep' name was taken from the little 'thing' in the 1930s Popeye comic
strip. Hodges was a small man.
'Rabbit', because Hodges liked lettuce and tomato sandwiches. 
Well, that's what 'they' say.
Kind regards,
Bill.