Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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DAVISON, Wild Bill

(b William Edward Davison, 5 January 1906, Defiance OH; d 14 November 1989, CA) Cornet. Began on mandolin, guitar, banjo; switched to cornet and became a mainstay of Chicago-style jazz '27-32. He organized a big band '31 that failed after Frank Teschemacher's death (Davison's car struck by a taxi); the band's theme was Reginald Foresythe's 'Deep Forest'. He worked in Milwaukee '33-41, also playing valve trombone. To Nick's in NYC '41: with spells in Boston, St Louis, regularly at Eddie Condon's club NYC from '45, one of the best and most popular musicians in a style loosely known to the public as Dixieland. He toured the UK with Condon '57; moved to the West Coast '60 often leading his own groups. Newport Jazz Festival '78; solo tours of Europe continuing into '80s. Best records made for Commodore early '40s with Pee Wee Russell, George Brunis: 'always a powerful and exciting player' (James Lincoln Collier). Many CDs on Jazzology.