Trombonist who entered the Jenkins Orphanage in 1915 and learned to play the trombone by Eugene “Buddy” Aiken and Jacob “Jake” Frazier; gigged regularly at John O’Conner’s Club…
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Author Archives: jamerson
Delaney, “Tom” Thomas Henry (1889-1963)
March 18, 2010 – 2:09 am
Born in Charleston; sang in the Jenkins Orphanage choir in the early 1900s; a popular and prolific blues composer/songwriter on Tin Pan Alley and in the 1920s whose songs were used by recording artists of the era…
Dash, St. Julian Bennett (1916-1974)
March 18, 2010 – 1:58 am
Tenor saxophonist, composer and stylist; graduate of Avery, 1934; oldest of seven sons of Ethel Capers and Charles St. Julian Dash of Charleston; at Avery, he played with the Night Hawk’s Orchestra, the Royal Crusaders, and the Carolina Cotton Pickers…
Carolina Cotton Pickers
March 18, 2010 – 1:50 am
The Carolina Cotton Pickers was the seminal touring band created in the 1920s from the roster of Jenkins Orphanage Band musicians. Some of the earliest musicians included Alonzo Mills, Walter Bash, John “Shadow” Wilson…
Briggs, “Pete” Peter (b. 1900? – death date unknown)
March 18, 2010 – 12:50 am
Thought to be a South Carolina native; cousin of [James] Arthur Briggs; played the tuba in the Jenkins Orphanage Band; in 1928, he recorded with Louis Armstrong’s Hot Seven and was closely associated with the New Orleans jazz scene where he often played the bass…
Briggs, [James] Arthur (1899-1991)
March 18, 2010 – 12:34 am
Considered one of the best trumpeters in Europe; spent some of his childhood in Charleston and studied music at Jenkins Orphanage along with his cousin and tuba player, Pete Briggs; as a youth, he began playing trumpet with James Reese Europe’s 369th U.S. Infantry Band…
Benford, “Tommy” Thomas (1905-1994)
March 18, 2010 – 12:18 am
Ace drummer who studied drums with Herbert and Stephen Wright, Jenkins Orphanage Band musicians; born in Charleston, West Virginia (passed away in Mt. Vernon, New York); enrolled in the Jenkins Orphanage in 1913 and toured with the Jenkins Orphanage Band when they performed at the Anglo-American Exposition in London in 1914; [...]
Benford, “Bill” William (b. 1902)
March 17, 2010 – 11:51 pm
Born in Charleston, West Virginia with younger brother Tommy; entered the Jenkins Orphanage as a child and toured with the band’s musical traveling show in 1915; led his own band and played regularly with Jelly Roll Morton and recorded with him as well; he also recorded with Ethel Waters, Jimmy Dunn, [...]
Baxter, Quentin (b. 1970)
March 17, 2010 – 11:42 pm
Quentin Baxter, drummer, is a native Charlestonian who comes from a family of drummers. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Theory and Composition from the College of Charleston (C of C) and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Jazz Percussion and recording engineer in the Department of Music at C of [...]
Anderson, “Cat” William Alonzo (1916-1981)
March 17, 2010 – 10:55 pm
Began musical studies on brass instruments, notably the trombone then later the trumpet; born in Moscow, Indiana states a CJI supporter who knew/played with Anderson (though some say Greenville, South Carolina) and later, a resident at Jenkins Orphanage; his brother, “Kitty” played trombone …
