[Dixielandjazz] Re: Radio days

[Don Ingle]

Yeah, Bob, it was me that asked about Opie Cates, whom I recalled from his
spot on the old Judy Canova radio show with Mel Blanc. Opie also was a
character on the show with lines as well as his solo spot.
How neat to see Zeke Zarchy amongst us, and welcome to a great player I
heard often growing up in the L.A. area, thanks to my dad knowing so many of
the fine players there and introducing me to many of them, even before I
became a player myself..
I recall Zeke's time at the Hangover. I used to sneak in and Duncan (owner)
used to stick me in a corner where the booze inspectors wouldn't see me,
underage as I was to be there. Loved the big full-keyboard,two-fisted piano
of Stan Wrightsman. His Jump album with Van Epps and Eddie Miller (trio)
still gets some play time thanks to the 10" reissue LP that Clive put out.
I had all the old 78 singles he put out, and the forgotten Chuck Mackay
sides were the most worn. Chuck later went to work with dad's band for
several years, and I was somewhat in awe to have been his replacement when
he left. (Nepotism still gets you gigs.) Way over my head compared to Chuck,
but it helped pay my college bills.
This news that Zeke is aboard is good to hear. His work on your Great
Pacific band was terrific. He did some of the Armstrong tunes better than
anyone I'd heard in many moons. What chops.
Thanks for the news.
Don Ingle

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert S. Ringwald" <ringwald at calweb.com>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 11:42 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Re: Radio days


> 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
> >
> > ____________
>
>
>
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