[Dixielandjazz] Re: Radio days

[Robert S. Ringwald]

Listmates,

A month or so ago, there was some mention of Opie Kates & Billie Mills.  I
believe that someone said that Oppie on the Andy Griffith Show was named
after Opie Kates?

I sent the e-mail to Zeke Zarchy.  Zeke was a lead trumpet player in the big
bands in the 30s, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Bob Crosby & others &
especially through WW II in the Glenn Miller Army Airforce Band.

After the war, Zeke moved to LA & began work in the studios.

In aprox 1980, when I moved to LA, I became aquainted with Zeke & when I
formed my Great Pacific Jazz Band, Zeke was my trumpet player.  In 1984, Bob
Havens joined the band.

I know this reply is a little old but Zeke just got a new computer & just
answered the post.

Bob
mr.wonderful at ringwald.com
Placerville, CA, USA, Earth, Sol's System, Milky Way


 From: "Rubin Zarchy"
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 3:53 PM
Subject: Radio days


> Hi Bob-
>          Sorry you didn't get the letter. Here is the
> substitute as close as I can remember. Opie Cates
> spelled wih one P) was a fine jazz player and as you
> know was a featured player. After radio rode off into
> the sunset he dropped out of sight and nobody knows
> where he went. Probably back to his home town in
> retirement.   Yes, he was a very good player.
>
>           Billy Mills always had a good band because
> he was a good musician himself. I knew him quite well.
> In fact I got him to write a few things for Red
> Nichol's band that were really neat. Red was working
> at a place on Hollywood Blvd that a lot of us hung out
> in. We became really good friends because of the first
> radio show I did after the Frank Sinatra  was the
> Charlie McCarthy show with Ray Noble and Red was also
> in the band sitting next to me. Anyway, One night at
> the joint he asked me to sit in a set. I said "I'm not
> a jazz player" and he said "Don't worry, evrythings
> written out." So I played the next set and as I got
> off the bandstand Joe Rushton said to me,"In all the
> years I've known Red, NOBODY has ever been asked to
> sit in.
> Anyway, He said that I should get some of the guys we
> work with and he will talk to the owner about us
> playing on his off night. So I did and my band was me,
> Heinie Beau, Lou McGarity, Nick Fatool Stan Wrightsman
> and whoever showed up with a bass. The gig payed $11
> for the sidemen and $18 for leader. I furnished the
> booze for all. Within a month we were doing twice the
> business Red on the rest of the week. It lasted for
> almost a year until Lou McGarity moved back to New
> York and that was the end of my band.
>       Forgive my rambling Bob . Its just that I'm
> enjoying my new G4 MAC.
>                           Best as always  Zeke
>
> ____________