[Dixielandjazz] Billy Bergs

Fri Jan 16 15:10:40 PST 2009

Thad McArthur wrote:
> Dear Mr. Forsberg, 
>
> Your list of facts has really made me challenge my memory which has always been pretty good, albeit I may have a slight amount of slippage over the past 80 years.  The first time frame you cite, August 13 to September 11, definitely fits the time of year, but I have always thought of the year as 1948.  The fact that this engagement was  thought of as a "premier" also fits my recollection.  But,  there was no Dick Cary or Mort Cobb at this engagement.  These places were definitely filled by Earl Hines and Arvell Shaw, at least 3 nights.  This would match up with the 1948 date.  I am also trying to fit in Louis Armstrong and his big band at an all-University of Washington dance which we had at the old Seattle Civic Auditorium.  I was remembering that as probably the Spring of 1947 which makes it even more likely that I was at Berg's in my previously-remembered, 1948.  At this point I have not tried to access any old, packed-away memorabilia which may or may not shed further light on these time frames.
>
> Later in your your letter you mention "there is room for a summer engagement at Billy Berg's in the period June 13 to July 1", 1948.  This is too early in the year to mesh with my recollection.  I was in Los Angeles late July thru August.  How firm is your information on the "July 30-August 26 spent at the Nomad in Atlantic city, NJ"?  This would fit my remembered time-frame but is a continent removed.
>
> You also mentioned Velma Middleton as part of the All-Stars at one of the Berg engagements.  She was definitely not there on the occasions I saw them.  I have seen Velma, was she part of Benny Goodman's band when they left Seattle for their "Mission to Moscow"? 
>
> So here we are Mr. Forsberg.  Have I caused more problems than given corroborating information?  I made trips to Los Angeles in the summers, perhaps 6 or 7 times in the 10 years between 1946 and 1956 and tried to pack in as much music and legitimate entertainment as I could during these visits.  I have a great many memories and the All-Stars at Billy Berg's is one of the greatest, 60 years later.  Perhaps you have other questions that might spark my brain to remember something of interest to you.  You have prompted me to reflect on on some very pleasant times, thank you. 
>
> My best regards to you,     Thad McArthur
>
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Håkan Forsberg 
>   To: wthadmc at whidbey.com 
>   Sent: 01/16/2009 12:20 AM
>   Subject: Louis Armstrong at Bily Bergs
>
>
>   Dear Mr McArthur.
>
>    
>
>   Yesterday I received a copy of an e-mail from you where you relate watching Louis Armstrong and the All Stars for several nights at Billy Berg's in Hollywood in the Summer of 1948.
>
>    
>
>   Until I go further I will tell you that my name is Håkan Forsberg and  I am living in Sweden. For about 50 years I have collected the music of Louis Armstrong  and I took an active part in Jos Willems'  work with the new and "complete" Armstrong discography "All Of Me" that came on the bookshelves two years ago. Presently I am trying to establish an as complete as possible day-by-day schedule for Louis Armstrong and therefore I got very interested in your account of Louis at Billy Berg's in the summer of 1948.
>
>    
>
>   Louis' All Stars premiered at Billy Berg's in 1947 - August 13 to September 11 - and came back a few months later for an engagement that lasted from December 24, 1947 to January 19, 1948. 
>
>   At the first stay at Billy Berg's the band had Louis, Teagarden, Bigard, Dick Cary on piano, Mort Corb on bass and Sid Catlett on drums. When they came back in December Arvell Shaw had replaced Mort Corb and Velma Middleton had been added as vocalist. Dick Cary remained on piano.
>
>   After a period in New York in early 1948 the band left for the Nice jazz festival, remaining in France until early March. From mid-March through April they had 2-week engagements in Chicago (Blue Note) and Springfield, IL (The Orchid) plus a few short dates inbetween.  May 11 through May 31 they were at the Riptide in Calumet City and thereafter, until June 12 they performed at Ciro's in Philadelphia.
>
>    
>
>   The next long engagement was July 2-29 at the Martinique (or the Surf - possibly both?) in Wildwood, NJ and July 30-August 26 were spent at the Nomad in Atlantic City, NJ. In early September they went back to Philadelphia for two weeks but this time at the Click. 
>
>    
>
>   As you see of this list (that I believe to be correct) there is "room for" a summer engagement at Billy Berg's  in the period June 13 to July 1 but I have not heard of such a third period at that venue . There is, on the other hand, a report of an engagement at Club Bali in Washington, even  a photo in Down Beat for July 28, 1948, but the exact date and length for such an engagement is not known by me.
>
>    
>
>   You mention Earl Hines on piano. He joined in February 1948 and remained for a couple of years.
>
>    
>
>   I don't question your memory at all but would nevertheless be much obliged if you would help me to rule out the possibility that you had seen and heard the All Stars in 1947 or December 1947-January 1948 by thinking the following questions over: 
>
>   - are you certain that Earl Hines was on piano and not Dick Cary
>
>   - ditto, regarding Arvell Shaw on bass and not Mort Corb, and
>
>   - do you remember Velma Middleton in the band at the time?
>
>   - if you answer "yes" to these questions - could the second half of June 1948 be the period when you heard and saw the All Stars at Billy Berg's?
>
>    
>
>   Best wishes and thanks in advance for taking your time with this matter
>
>    
>
>   Håkan Forsberg                          hakan.forsberg at umea.bonet.se
>
>    
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>    
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>    
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>
>
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>   
I recall Billy Berg's from my late teens in L.A. where bop was first 
making the scene regularly in the late 40's early 50's. Went there to 
hear such players as Shelly Mann, Barney Kessel and others who were 
getting notice. I also heard Slim and Slam there, Slim Gaylord and Slam 
Stewart, a great act. Gaylord was getting big plays on "Cement Mixer" 
and other mouth mania of the hip. Harry the Hispster also made the 
bandstand at Billy Berg's. But every so often they brought in a more 
traditional swing performer or vocalist, and they presented some era 
bridging sounds for young ears to listen to.
We could get in at 18 but at 16 and 17 we passed as long as we didn't 
try to buy a drink (21 age limit).
Back up the slope on Vine was the Hangover and I spent most of the time 
there hearing my mentor and first teacher, Red Nichols. The great 
"Blizzardhead" (Joe Rushton ) on bass sax was considered the best on 
that horn since Rollini. He had litterally known me since I was a baby 
and took delight in kidding about my youthful foibles. All in all it was 
a good -place and time to  grow up and to have been on the scene 
learning by listening to great players who always had time to pass it on.
Don Ingle