[Dixielandjazz] Tony Spar or Tony Spair?

[Stephen G Barbone]

On Oct 4, 2009, at 8:54 PM, Bill Haesler wrote:

> Stephen G Barbone wrote [in part]:
>> Tony Spar or Tony Spair, not sure of correct spelling, did indeed  
>> exist.
>
> Dear Steve,
> My file note for this musician gives the spelling as Spars.
> Sorry to muddy the water.
> 8>)
> Very kind regards,
> Bill (who sometimes has trouble spelling his own name).

Dear Bill:

Very muddy water. I can find nothing about Tony Spar, or Tony Spars  
through Google. However can find a slight bit of information about  
Tony Spair on Google.

There is also these two paragraphs from Johnny Varro on the Riverwalk  
Jazz website, concerning Varro's time at Nick's and his time with the  
Empire City Six, and his spelling of the name as SPAIR. Quotes about  
the fabled Nick's from Varro, (and me) were heard on the Jim Cullum's  
Riverwalk Jazz Program.  Varro's quotes below from:
"I first played at Nick's in 1954 with Phil Napoleon for about eight  
months. Then Billy Maxted and his band came in there. In 1955 I  
returned with Pee Wee Erwin. Kenny Davern joined the band at this  
time. We were the kids of the group although I was five years older  
than Kenny. For several years after that, Pee Wee and/or Phil Napoleon  
would alternate with Maxted."

"One summer we (The Kids) put a co-op band together with Tony Spair on  
trumpet, Harry Di Vito on trombone, Kenny on clarinet, Pete Rogers on  
bass, Phil Failla on drums, and myself on piano. We called the band  
the Empire City Six and recorded two albums on LP for ABC Paramount.  
Oh, yes—regarding the photo on the internet—Pee Wee altered the bass  
each time he went in there so the piano man was probably me. They  
always leave out the piano for the lenses are never wide enough.  
Curses. The bass player I didn't recognize. There was always a new guy  
on bass. It may have been Charlie Traeger, seeing how young he seemed,  
but I can't be sure."

SOURCE: http://www.riverwalkjazz.org/stories/StoriesfromNIcksJohnnyVarro/index.shtml



Regarding the photo Varro speaks about, it was not Charlie Traeger. It  
was Jack Fahey. Back in those days I gigged with both of them in New  
York City and on Long Island. Some of my stories about Nick's may be  
seen at. And you can hear the rest of my comments if you click on the  
audio button, top right.

http://www.riverwalkjazz.org/html/eng/public/564.shtml

Cheers,

Steve Barbone

www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband