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1941 |
Charlie Parker Chronology |
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Created by Leif Bo Petersen |
Last updated: December 9, 2022. |
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Date |
Event |
References/Further
Details |
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February 6 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Harold Bruce (tp);
Joe Taswell Baird (tb); John Jackson, Charlie Parker (as); Harold Ferguson,
Bob Mabane (ts); Jay McShann (p); Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Joe
Coleman (voc). Unidentified venue, Kansas City, MO. Promotional recordings by John Tumino. |
C. Haddix, Bird
–The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 48. John B. Tumino Collection. Marr Sound Archives.
University of Missouri-Kansas City. http://library.umkc.edu/marr-collections/archival/tumino For details see: http://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=410206 |
|
March late |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Casa Fiesta Club, Kansas City, MO. |
Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, March 29, 1941, 9: Direct from the Casa Fiesta Club. “On the Stand: Jay McShann,” Billboard, March
21, 1941, 11: Review. 4 brasses; 4
saxes; 3 in the rhythm. Mentions: Buddy Anderson (tp); John Jackson (as); Bob
Mabane (ts); Gus Johnson (d); Joe Coleman (voc); William Scott (arr). Scott
has recently been drafted and is out of the band. |
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March 29 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra King’s, Lincoln, NE. March 29–?, 1941. |
Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, March 29, 1941, 9: Tonight. |
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April 30 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Harold Bruce (tp);
Joe Taswell Baird (tb); John Jackson, Charlie Parker (as); Harold Ferguson,
Bob Mabane (ts); Jay McShann (p); Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter
Brown (voc). Unidentified studio, Dallas, TX. Commercial recordings for Decca Records. Dave Kapp
(prod). |
“McShann Cuts Six New Sides,” Down Beat, June 1, 1941, 15:
gives the personnel. http://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=410430 C. Haddix, Bird
–The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 47–50. |
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May 6 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Jubilee Junction, Jefferson City, MO. KWOS broadcast: 9:00—9:30 p.m.: Jay McShann Orchestra. No recordings of this broadcast seem to have survived. |
“KWOS Programs,” Jefferson City Post-Tribune (MO), May 6, 1941,
7: 9:00—9:30: Jay McShann Orchestra. “Where the Bands Are Playing,” Down Beat, June 15, 22: Jubilee
Junction, Jeff City. |
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May 11 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Probably: Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Harold Bruce (tp); Joe
Taswell Baird (tb); John Jackson, Charlie Parker (as); Harold Ferguson, Bob
Mabane (ts); Jay McShann (p); Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter Brown
(voc). Wilber Country Club Park, NE. |
Ad in Crete News, May 8, 1941, 5. |
|
May 18 |
Jay McShann and His
Recording Orchestra Venetian Ballroom, Lake Contrary Park, MO. |
Ad in Journal for Progressive Stockmen, Farming, and Businessmen (St.
Joseph, MO), May 15, 1941, 4. |
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May 19 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Kentucky Paradise, Kansas City, MS. May 19-24, 1941. |
Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas City, KS), May 16, 1941, 4:
Grand opening Monday May 9th [sic]. Added attraction: Jay
McShann and His Band. Matinee from 4:00–8:00. Music Nightly. Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas City, KS), May 23, 1941, 3. Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas City, KS), May 30, 1941, 5: Lawrence Keyes. |
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May 25 |
Jay McShann and His
Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. May 25-30, 1941. |
Ad in Kansas City
Star (MO), May 15, 12: Fairyland Park opening May 17. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), May 24, 27: Johnny Engro and His Orchestra. Coming May
31: Lou Breese. Sunday Night: Jay McShann’s Band. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), May 25, 2D: Jay
McShann’s Band. Ad in Kansas
City Star (Kansas City, MO), May 28, 1941, 21: opening May 31: Lou Breese
and His Orchestra. Thursday night (29) Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), May 29, 1941, 9: opening Saturday May 31: Lou Breese and
His Orchestra. Tonight, Ladies Night: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), May 30, 1941, 11: Tonight Jay McShann. |
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May 31 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra King’s, Lincoln, NE. May 31–June 7, 1941. June 4 and 6: MBS broadcast 9:15–9:30 p.m.: Jay McShann Orchestra. No recordings of these broadcasts seem to have
survived. |
Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, May 31, 1941, 3: Tonight. Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, June 3, 1941, 3: Tonight. Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, June 4, 1941, 4: Broadcast tonight 9:15–9:30 over KFOR (MBS). Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, June 6, 1941, 9: Broadcast tonight 9:15–9:30 over KFOR
(MBS). Ad in Nebraska
State Journal, June 7, 1941, 9: Tonight: Farewell Party. |
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June 11 |
Jay McShann and His
Decca Recording Orchestra Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Harold Bruce (tp); Joe Taswell Baird
(tb); John Jackson, Charlie Parker (as); Harold Ferguson, Bob Mabane (ts);
Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g)?;Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Carrie
Carr, Walter Brown (voc). Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. June 11-15, 1941. |
“Busy Week at the Park,” Kansas City Star, June 8, 1941, 3D: Johnny Ben Dover and his
Orchestra closes Tuesday. McShann opening Wednesday with a 14-piece band.
Walter Brown, Carrie Carr, Gene Ramey, and Gus Johnson are mentioned. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 11, 1941, 15: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 12, 1941, 16: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 13, 1941, 23: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 14, 1941, 23: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 15, 1941, 2D: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 16, 1941, 6: Tonight: Jesse Rodgers’ Lazy K’s
Oldtime Barn Dance. Tuesday [17]: Joe Venuti. C. McCarthy, Big
Band Jazz (1974), 152: The chronology is wrong and somehow confused here.
He states that Bob Merrill had replaced Harold Bruce in March and that soon
after Ferguson was replaced by Freddie Culliver and Lawrence Anderson and
James Coe added. |
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June 18 |
Jay McShann and His
Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. June 18-20, 1941. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 16, 1941, 6: Wednesday [18]: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 18, 1941, 12: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 19, 1941, 13: Tonight’s surprise: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 20, 1941, 14: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 21, 1941, 5: Tonight: Dee Courtney. |
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June 22 |
Jay McShann and His
Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. |
“Many Events at Park,” Kansas City Star (MO), June 22, 1941, 3D: Tonight: Jay McShann.
Tuesday: King Kolax. Friday: Al Donahue. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 23, 1941, 9: No orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 24, 1941, 10: Tonight: King Kolax. |
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June 25 |
Jay McShann and His
Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. June 25–26, 1941. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 25, 1941, 17: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 26, 1941, 17: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 27, 1941, 23: Tonight: Al Donahue and His Band. |
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June 28 |
Jay McShann and His
Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), June 28, 1941, 8: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 1, 1941, 9: Tonight: Don Kelly and His Orchestra. |
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June 29 |
Jay McShann – the
New Colored Orchestra Sensation Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Harold Bruce (tp); Joe Taswell Baird
(tb); John Jackson, Charlie Parker (as); Harold Ferguson, Bob Mabane (ts);
Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g)?;Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Carrie Carr,
Walter Brown (voc). Coconut Groove, Tulsa, OK. June 29–July 10, 1941- 9–?
am. |
Ad in Tulsa World, June 29, 192, sec. 5, 2:
Opening tonight. “Isham Jones,” Tulsa World, June 29, 192,
sec. 5, 3: Photo and caption: will be at Coconut Groove on July 11–12. “Local reports: Local no. 627,” International
Musician, August 1941, 26:
Probably referring June and July events: Transfers issued: Jay McShann,
Eugene Ramey, Charles Parker, Robert Mabane, Orville Minor, Harry Ferguson
Jr. Gus Johnson, Joe Baird, John Jackson, Bernhard Anderson, Harold Bruce,
Dan Minor. |
|
July 15 |
Jay McShann and His
Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. July 15-18, 1941. |
“McShann at Park Again,” Kansas City Star (Kansas City, MO), July 13, 1941, 3D: Jay
McShann opens Tuesday. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 16, 1941, 11: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 17, 1941, 13: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 18, 1941, 13: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 19, 1941, 8: Tonight: Lawrence Welk. |
|
July mid |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Release of Decca 8559 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded April 30, 1941. Jay McShann and His Orchestra Decca 8559 A Confessin’ the Blues Decca 8559 A Hootie Blues |
Decca ad in Billboard, August 2, 1941, 71. “Recorded Music,” Times-Picayune.
August 29, 1941, 14: Short mention: “Very earthy renditions of Hootie
Blues and Confessin’ the Blues.” “The New Records: Hot Jazz,” Des Moines Register, November 2,
1941, society sec. 12; Review: Jay McShann displays his prowess at Kansas
City Style piano playing. The band plays somewhat ragged but solid, earthy
music. “Record Reviews: McShann Debut Exiting,” Down
Beat, August 1, 1941, 14: Very positive review. |
|
July 20 |
Jay McShann and His
Decca Recording Orchestra Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 20, 1941, 2D: Tonight: Jay McShann. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 22, 1941, 9: Tonight: Don Kelly Orchestra. |
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July 24 |
Jay McShann and His
Decca Recording Orchestra Tootie’s Mayfair, Kansas City, MO. July 24–August?, 1941. |
Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 24, 1941, 8: Jay McShann’s Boogie piano and his 13-piece
recording Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), July 25, 1941, 12: Jay McShann’s Boogie piano and his
13-piece recording Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 1, 1941, 18: Jay McShann’s Boogie piano and his
13-piece recording Orchestra. |
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August 8 |
Jay McShann and His
Quartet Probably: Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g)?; Gene
Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter Brown (voc) Ernie Henderson (voc), Duke and Duchess (tap) Annette Gooch (shake dance) Blue Room, Street Hotel, Kansas City, MO. August 8—? 1942. Charlie Parker was probably not here. |
Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas City, KS), August 8, 1941, 5. Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas City, KS), August 15, 1941, 4. Ad in Plaindealer
(Kansas City (KS), August 22, 1941, 4. |
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August 19 |
Jay McShann and His
Decca Recording Orchestra Probably: Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Harold Bruce (tp); Joe Taswell Baird
(tb); John Jackson, Charlie Parker (as); Harold Ferguson, Bob Mabane (ts);
Jay McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g)?; Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter
Brown (voc). Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. Fairyland Park, Kansas City, MO. August 19-25, 1941. |
“McShann at Park,” Kansas City Star (Kansas City, MO), August 17, 1941, 3D: Jay
McShann opens Tuesday for a week. The band’s last appearance here this
summer. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 19, 1941, 8: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 20, 1941, 11: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 21, 1941, 10: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 22, 1941, 15: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 24, 1941, 2D: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 23, 1941, 8: Tonight: McShann Orchestra. Ad in Kansas
City Star (MO), August 24, 1941, 2D: Last appearance of Jay McShann
Orchestra. |
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August late |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Release of Decca 8570 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded April 30, 1941. Jay McShann and His Orchestra Decca 8570 A Swingmatism Decca 8570 B Vine Street Boogie |
“Jay McShann at Park,” Kansas City
Star, August 17, 1943, 3 D: The band’s latest record (Swingmatism/Vine
Street Boogie) will be released next week. “Record reviews: Jay McShann;” Down
Beat, September 15, 1941, 14: Positive review mostly concerning McShann,
but characterizing the band as a “gutty but rough and unclean colored
outfit.” “Recorded Music,” Philadelphia
Inquirer, September 14, 1941, a 12: short release notice. |
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August 30 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra King’s,
Lincoln, NE. August
30–September 5, 1941. Sunday Dawn Dance: 9 p.m.–? Monday: Holiday Dance. |
Ad in Lincoln Star, August 30,
1941, 2. Ad in Lincoln Star, August 31,
1941, D-6. Ad in Lincoln Star, September 3,
1941, 6. Ad in Lincoln Star, September 5,
1941, 4: Last night. |
|
September |
Charlie
Parker Charlie
Parker asks Rebecca for a divorce. |
G. Giddins, Celebrating Bird
(1987), 58. |
|
September 28 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Lincoln Hall, Kansas City, MO. |
C. Haddix, Bird
-The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 51. |
|
October 3 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra King’s,
Lincoln, NE. October
3–? |
Ad in Nebraska State Journal, October 3, 1941, 7: Including
Walter Brown (voc). Ad in Nebraska State Journal, October 5, 1941, D-6. |
|
October 4 |
Battle
of Music Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Nat
Towles and His 16 Colored Artists King’s,
Lincoln, NE. |
Ad in Nebraska State Journal, October 4, 1941, 3. |
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October 9 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Blue Room, Street Hotel, Kansas City, MO. October 9–?, 1941 |
“Kansas City Hot Spots ‘Leaping’,” Pittsburgh Courier, October 11, 21:
Oct. 9- McShann and His Orchestra at Street’s Blue Room with Floor Show. |
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October 18 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Students
Union, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE. Homecoming Dance. |
“Full
Calendar at U. N. in Honor of Homecoming Day,” Lincoln Star, October
27, 1941. |
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October 21 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Auditorium, Hutchinson, KS. |
"Bands on Tour," Billboard, October 25, 1941, 14. |
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October 22 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Trocadero, Wichita, KS. |
"Bands on Tour," Billboard, October 25, 1941, 14. |
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October 23 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Pla-Mor Pavilion, Bartlesville, OK. |
"Bands on Tour," Billboard, October 25, 1941, 14. |
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October 24 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Century Room, Tulsa, OK. |
"Bands on Tour," Billboard, October 25, 1941, 14. |
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October 25 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Langston University, Langston,
OK. |
"Bands on Tour," Billboard, October 25, 1941, 14. |
|
November |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Release of Decca 8583 10" 78 rpm. record. Recorded April 30, 1941. Jay McShann and His Orchestra Decca 8583 A Hold 'Em Hootie Decca 8583 B Dexter Blues |
“Recorded Music,” Times-Picayune,
November 14, 1941, 17: Special mention of Dexter Blues: “The McShann
band is in the making as a really outstanding aggregation.” “On the Records: Race Records,” Billboard,
November 29, 1941, 96–97: positive, but mostly concerning Hold ‘Em Hottie. “Record Reviews: Jay McShann,” Down
Beat, December 1, 1941, 14: Very positive review. Charlie Parker is
specially mentioned. |
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November early? |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Austin, TX. |
C. Woideck, Charlie
Parker: His Music and Life (1996), 19, 246 note 78: Austin, Texas: Parker
and Walter Brown required drug-related medical treatment. Source: Gene Ramey
interviewed by Phil Schaap. |
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November 10 |
Jay
McShann and His Orchestra Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor,
Harold Bruce (tp); Lawrence Anderson?, Joe Taswell Baird (tb); John Jackson,
Charlie Parker (as): Freddie Culliver?, Bob Mabane (ts); Jay McShann (p);
Lucky Enois (g)?; Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter Brown (voc). Library
Auditorium, San Antonio, TX. 9:00 pm. Fisher-Tease
(prod). The band recruits Al Hibbler in San
Antonio. |
Ad in San
Antonio Register, November 7, 1941, 7. “Jay
McShann brings “Confessin’ the Blues” to S. A., Monday Night,” San Antonio
Register, November 7, 1941, 6. Gene Ramey in S. Dance, The World of
Count Basie (1980), 278: The band picks up Al Hibbler in San Antonio.
Ramey dates May/June, but the November gig was McShann’s first in San
Antonio. Al Hibbler joined the band later in the
year (see November late?). “Local reports: Local no. 23, San Antonio, TX,” International
Musician, March 1942, 25: February report probably referring to November and December events: Travelling members: Jay McShann,
John Jackson, Bernhard Anderson, Orville Minor, Eugene Ramey, Joe Baird, Gus
Johnson, Harry Ferguson, Charlie Parker, Harold Bruce, Robert Mabane (627). |
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November 11 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Houston Civic Auditorium, Houston, TX. Jam session with Milton Larkin Orchestra, which was
in town at the same time. Larkin’s band included Arnett Cobb, Illinois
Jacquet, and Eddie Vinson. |
“Kaycee Ork Waxes Eight Decca Sides,” Down Beat,
December 15, 1941, 14: The band broke all records in Houston drawing 5500
paid admissions. C. Haddix, Bird
-The Life and Music of Charlie Parker (2013), 51, 170 note 25: McShann
interviewed by Haddix. |
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November 18 |
Jay McShann Band Orville Minor (tp); Joe Taswell Baird (tb); John Jackson
(as), Jay McShann (p); Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter Brown (voc). Unidentified studio, Chicago, IL. Commercial recordings for Decca. |
For details see: http://www.plosin.com/milesahead/BirdSessions.aspx?s=411118 It has been discussed if the alto sax heard on one
of the tracks is by Charlie Parker, but now there seems to be consensus that
it is John Jackson. |
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November 20 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra New Mirror Ballroom, Detroit, MI. October 20, 1941. |
Ad in Detroit
Tribune, November 11, 1941, 9, |
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November late? |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Probably: Buddy Anderson,
Orville Minor, Harold Bruce (tp); Lawrence Anderson, Joe Taswell Baird (tb);
John Jackson, Charlie Parker (as): Freddie Culliver, Bob Mabane (ts); Jay
McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g)?; Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter Brown,
Al Hibbler (voc). Unidentified venue, OK. |
Jay McShann interviewed by C. Haddix July 3, 1997, in
F. Driggs and C. Haddix, Kansas City Jazz (2005), (e-book ed.) Chapter
9 note 54.: Al Hibbler (voc) joins the McShann band here around this time. |
|
November 29 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Metropolitan Hall, Topeka, KS. Dance sponsored by Forget-Me-Not Girls. |
Notice in Kansas
Whip (Topeka KS), November 14, 1941, 2. |
|
December 1 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Municipal Auditorium, Junction City, KS. Dance for Fourth Brigadiers, Fort Riley, |
“Army Briefs from Camp Funston,” Morning Chronicle (Manhattan, KS),
December 6, 1941, 6. |
|
December 8 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Dreamland, Omaha, NE. December 8–?. |
“Confessin’ the Blues,” Omaha Guide,
December 6, 1941, 4: McShann at Dreamland December 8. |
|
December 26 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Danceland Ballroom, Davenport, IA. 10 pm.–2. Mayor of Bronzeville Holiday Dance. |
Ad in Daily Times (Davenport, IA), December
25, 1941, 5. |
|
December 27 |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, IA. |
“Jay McShann at the Surf Saturday,” Mason City Globe-Gazette, December 26, 1941, 5: Walter Brown
mentioned Ad in Mason City
Globe-Gazette, December 27, 1941, 3. |
|
December late |
Jay McShann and His
Orchestra Buddy Anderson, Orville Minor, Bob
Merrill (tp); Lawrence Anderson, Joe Taswell Baird (tb); John Jackson,
Charlie Parker (as): Freddie Culliver, Harry Ferguson, Bob Mabane (ts); Jay
McShann (p); Lucky Enois (g)?; Gene Ramey (b); Gus Johnson (d); Walter Brown,
Al Hibbler (voc). Austin, MN. |
“Local reports: Local no. 766, Austin, MN,” International
Musician, March 1942, 28: February report probably referring
November and December events: Travelling members: Jay McShann, John Joe
Baird, Gus Johnson, Charlie Parker, Robert Mabane, Lawrence Anderson, Freddy
Culliver, Harry Ferguson (627); Robert
Merrell (558). |
|
December 31 |
Jay McShann and His Orchestra Prom Ballroom, Minneapolis, MN. Dance. |
Ad in Minneapolis Star, December 31, 1941, 8. |