[Dixielandjazz] Avon Long (was "Bad Boy" by Lil Armstrong)

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Harry,
I've never ceased to be amazed at where a simple jazz query will take  
us.
Up until this "Bad Boy" thread, I had not come across Avon Long,  
probably because he wasn't a Tin Pan Alley composer or a jazz/swing  
musician.
He was a Broadway man. An actor, dancer and singer.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland on 18 June 1910 – died in New York City on  
15 February, 1984.
The Internet Movie Data Base, in a mini-biog by Ted Thompson, provides  
the following information:
   "Avon Long was a featured singer and dancer in the Cotton Club in  
New York in 1934. Lena Horne credits him with bringing her out of the  
chorus line to a featured spot. In the 1940's, he won critical acclaim  
as "Sportin' Life" in the Broadway production of "Porgy and Bess". He  
also appeared in featured roles on Broadway in "Bubbling Brown Sugar".  
Was nominated for Broadway's 1973 Tony Award as Best Supporting or  
Featured Actor (Musical) for 'Don't Play Us Cheap'."

Additional research through my own files reveals that Avon Long  
recorded "There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York" (from Porgy  
and Bess) with Leo Reisman and His Orchestra for Decca on 15 March 1942.
He appeared, soft-shoe shuffling in the  Broadway musical flop  
'Memphis Bound'. A hip version of 'HMS Pinafore' which featured a 67- 
year-old Bill Robinson dancing like a 35-year-old to great acclaim.
Avon was a villain in the 1945 musical 'Carib Song' where he appeared  
along with the Katherine Dunham dancers.
He was in 'Beggar's Holiday', a 1947 Broadway musical featuring the  
music of Duke Ellington.
In 'Bubbling Brown Sugar' (mentioned above) he sang Bert Williams'  
"Nobody"; and in the 1972 'Don't Play Us Cheap' was one of two demons  
who terrorised a house rent party.
Avon Long was featured on 'The Eddie Condon Floor Show' TV series in  
May and June 1950 with the band which included Wild Bill Davison,  
Peanuts Hucko and Cutty Cutshall. There was an audio cassette release  
of both shows which will no doubt resurface on CD in the future.
There is also an appearance with Duke Ellington on the 'The Kreisler  
Bandstand' TV program in May 1951 where he sings "I Got It Bad'.
It is on LP and an French Accord CD 302282.
He can also be heard on an LP compilation 'Cotton Club Stars' (Stash  
ST 124) singing "Liza (All The Clouds’ll Roll Away)" accompanied by a  
familiar (to me) pianist, unk. guitar and string bass.
Unfortunately, this and 4 other tracks were left off the CD reissue of  
this LP
And lastly, a CD reissue by singer Thelma Carpenter on which she sings  
with Avon Long on "I’m Just Wild About Harry' and "Gypsy Blues", for  
which I have no personnel or recording date details.
All this and we have yet to discover the details of Avon Long's  
association with Lil Armstrong.
Which is what started it all.
8>)
Very kind regards,
Bill.