[Dixielandjazz] Gowans, Carter, and We;ch

[Fred Spencer]

Dear Bill,
The note on Gowans's drinking in my book came from a list in "Lost 
Chords". He died of cancer (type unspecified) in Hollywod on September 
8, 1954 according to "Variety", after he collapsed while playing in 
January 1954. It would be unusual, but not impossible, for his cancer to 
have caused this eight months before his death.
Elisabeth Welch, the black American cabaret, stage, and occasional jazz 
singer died , aged 99, in the UK a week after Benny Carter. She went to 
school with Carter's sister, and sang his compositioin,"When Lights Are 
Low", with his Swing Quartet in  London  on June 29, 1936. Welch joined 
Adelaide Hall (Duke's Creole Love Call) and others in preferring the 
more liberal European attitude to race in those days. Regards.
Fred