[Dixielandjazz] Fats Waller Story

[Robert S. Ringwald]

Zeke Zarchy, the lead trumpet player for many of the big bands including 
Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Bob Crosby & the Glen Miller Army Air Force band, 
told me the following story.

Zeke was playing with Benny in a large ball room in Chicago.  It probably 
was around 1935 or '36.  Way down at the other end of the room, Zeke noticed 
a group of people coming through the crowd.  the crowd was parting as they 
got nearer & nearer to the stage.  It was Fats Waller with an entourage. 
Fats was carrying a suitcase in each hand.

Zeke said that he walked up onto the stage, opened up the suitcases.

In one suitcase he had an entire bar set up, glasses, ice, mix, etc.  In the 
other suitcase, was all kinds of bottles of liquor.  He proceeded to mix 
drinks for the whole band.

That is how Zeke first met Fats.

 Incidentally, Zeke is 90 years old & while not playing any more, is still 
as sharp as a tack.  He has great stories about the big band era.

In 1934 or '35, Zeke was working with the Joe Haymes Orchestra.  He said 
that all of the big dance bands across the country used to take their breaks 
so that they all could rush out to their cars & listen to Benny Goodman on 
the car radio.

This one night, after listening to Benny & then going back on the job, Zeke 
had a phone call at the end of the night.  It was Benny, asking him to join 
his band.

Zeke joined them the first night out of los Angeles.  It was in Salt lake 
City.  Benny's little brother was band boy.  He forgot the book on the train 
so had to go back to get it.  So, Zeke had to play the first set on the 
first night, without the book.

He said that, while listening to the radio, Benny & Helen Ward was the star 
of the band.  But in person, it was Gene Croopa who stole the show.

Someone should interview Zeke before it is too late as he is just about the 
only musician from that era left alive today.  I think Floyd Levin did an 
interview some years ago.

--BR

  .
--Bob Ringwald K6YBV
The Fulton Street Jazz Band
The Boondockers (Jazz and Comedy)
530/642-9551