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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSNOWDEN, Elmer(b 9 October 1900, Baltimore MD; d 14 May 1973, Philadelphia PA) Banjo, guitar, saxes, leader. Played banjo and guitar from childhood, competing with Clarence Holiday for jobs (he said he was Billie's unofficial godfather); worked for Eubie Blake '15, Claude Hopkins '21, formed own band and began to play reeds. To NYC '23 (the combo included Sonny Greer and Otto 'Toby' Hardwick) hoping that Fat Waller would join; he didn't, they sent for Duke Ellington, became the Washingtonians, and made Victor test records as Snowden's Novelty Orchestra. Snowden rejoined '24 after Duke had taken over. He ran bands in NYC late '20s-early '30s; short films included Smash Your Baggage '32; his popular bands included variously many of the best jazzmen of the era, recorded for various labels as Sepia Serenaders, Red Hot Eskimos, etc, backed blues singers including Bessie Smith; finally got in trouble with the musicians union for running so many bands. He went to Philadelphia, continued leading small bands (union dispute eventually settled with help of John Hammond). He worked on West Coast '60s (also played with Turk Murphy); toured Europe '67, moved back to Philadelphia. |