[Dixielandjazz] Kid Howard biography project
JimDBB@aol.com
JimDBB@aol.com
Tue, 26 Nov 2002 13:04:08 EST
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In a message dated 11/26/02 6:45:43 AM Central Standard Time,
brian.harvey5@ntlworld.com writes:
> In connection with the Kid Howard book I am trying to locate the jazz writer
> Berta Wood who at one time reported the George Lewis band's appearances at
> Club Hangover. That band did of course feature Howard
HI Brian: We are in the middle of a real blast of snow here in the
Chicago area.
I told you in my correspondence with you that I caught the George Lewis
band with Kid Howard in New Orleans in about 1950-51. You mentioned the Club
Hangover and I believe that I heard them there as well. In 1952 I found
myself in the Marine Corps with the Korean War going on. After boot camp in
San Diego I was sent to a Marine Corps Band on Treasure Island, A US Navy
base off of San Francisco. I soon discovered the real treasure island at the
Hangover club in Frisco. I always wore my uniform as I was under age and no
one questioned you if you had a uniform on. Also it brought forth free
drinks from kindly patriotic souls. I couldn't afford the Hangover on my pay
but I seldom had to actually buy a drink.
Many a wonderful night there. A parade of top bands came through the
Hangover. Wild Bill Davison, KId Ory, Louis Armstrong, Muggsy Spanier,
George Lewis and others. The setup was perfect with a long curved bar and the
bandstand up and behind the bar. And there was an extended table area away
from the bar. Sitting for long sets at the foot of these great bands with a
nice drink at hand was life at its best for me. Jim Robinson blasting his
trombone 20 ft. away......
An amusing recollection. I was just out of high school a couple of years
and pretty green as a jazz fan and musician. I had started collecting
records, still the beloved 78s then. I had Muggsy Spaniers commodore
recording of "Snag It" and I loved it with Pee Wee and all. So, one night at
the Hangover with Muggsy Spanier's band on deck I got up my nerve and
approached Muggsy. I asked him if he would play "Snag It." Muggsy looked at
me and said, "I'm sorry but we can't play it." I was dumb founded and I
said, "Well, I have your recording of it." Muggsy replied that it had been
recorded with a different band and he couldn't do it with his present band.
In my naivete I couldn' t understand this and I continued to stammer along
about having his recording of it and why couldn't he play it. Muggsy finally
got exasperated with his explanation not getting through to me and he walked
away.
Great memories.
Jim Beebe
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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 11/26/02 6:45:43 AM Central Standard Time, brian.harvey5@ntlworld.com writes:<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">In connection with the Kid Howard book I am trying to locate the jazz writer<BR>
Berta Wood who at one time reported the George Lewis band's appearances at<BR>
Club Hangover. That band did of course feature Howard</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
<BR>
HI Brian: We are in the middle of a real blast of snow here in the Chicago area.<BR>
<BR>
I told you in my correspondence with you that I caught the George Lewis band with Kid Howard in New Orleans in about 1950-51. You mentioned the Club Hangover and I believe that I heard them there as well. In 1952 I found myself in the Marine Corps with the Korean War going on. After boot camp in San Diego I was sent to a Marine Corps Band on Treasure Island, A US Navy base off of San Francisco. I soon discovered the real treasure island at the Hangover club in Frisco. I always wore my uniform as I was under age and no one questioned you if you had a uniform on. Also it brought forth free drinks from kindly patriotic souls. I couldn't afford the Hangover on my pay but I seldom had to actually buy a drink.<BR>
<BR>
Many a wonderful night there. A parade of top bands came through the Hangover. Wild Bill Davison, KId Ory, Louis Armstrong, Muggsy Spanier, George Lewis and others. The setup was perfect with a long curved bar and the bandstand up and behind the bar. And there was an extended table area away from the bar. Sitting for long sets at the foot of these great bands with a nice drink at hand was life at its best for me. Jim Robinson blasting his trombone 20 ft. away......<BR>
<BR>
An amusing recollection. I was just out of high school a couple of years and pretty green as a jazz fan and musician. I had started collecting records, still the beloved 78s then. I had Muggsy Spaniers commodore recording of "Snag It" and I loved it with Pee Wee and all. So, one night at the Hangover with Muggsy Spanier's band on deck I got up my nerve and approached Muggsy. I asked him if he would play "Snag It." Muggsy looked at me and said, "I'm sorry but we can't play it." I was dumb founded and I said, "Well, I have your recording of it." Muggsy replied that it had been recorded with a different band and he couldn't do it with his present band. In my naivete I couldn' t understand this and I continued to stammer along about having his recording of it and why couldn't he play it. Muggsy finally got exasperated with his explanation not getting through to me and he walked away.<BR>
<BR>
Great memories.<BR>
<BR>
Jim Beebe<BR>
<BR>
</FONT></HTML>
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