[Dixielandjazz] Championship of Jazz

[Bill Haesler]

> climax at idirect.com wrote:
> Championship of jazz was early seventies in Indianapolis. I played there
> with our Climax Jazz Band. Wild Bill was there, Kid Thomas, Joe Venuti
> to name a few. From what I remember, it was organised by an American
> guy Sam...(don't remember last name) with involvement of Max Collie...
> Except I believe Wild Bill got paid because he went to the bank early enough.

Dear Jack,
It was Sam Johnson, nephew of your President Lyndon B Johnson.
Listmate Dick Baker was also there and has memories of the controversial event.
Your mention of Wild Bill Davison, struck a lost chord.
It was in the book 1996 'The Wildest One. The Life of Wild Bill Davison' by Hal Willard that I read the full story of World Championship of Jazz. Four-and-a-half pages (395-99).
According to Hal, who was a judge and voted for Max, nobody got paid.
Cheers,
Bill.
PS: The Climax Band gets a mention.