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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 ZWOODING, Sam(b 17 June 1895, Philadelphia PA; d 1 Aug. '85) Pianist, arranger, bandleader. Served in US Army during WWI, playing tenor horn in service band; in '25 already a prominent bandleader, he went to Europe leading band accompanying revue Chocolate Kiddies, left revue and continued touring, playing in Eastern Europe incl. Russia, UK, Italy etc, then South America before returning home mid-'27, One of the first to take black music to Europe, he was a sensation, playing top venues with sidemen like Tommy Ladnier, Doc Cheatham, Gene Sedric (later with Fats Waller); but it was at the expense of fame at home. He turned down the Cotton Club job '27 that made Duke Ellington's reputation; Wooding's favourite reedman Garvin Bushell (b 25 Sep. '02, Springfield OH; still working '90s) said many years later that if they'd known how important the radio exposure was, they'd have paid to play at the Cotton Club. Wooding toured Europe again '28-31; back in the USA he had been overtaken by Fletcher Henderson and others as well as Ellington. He led a band until '35, then studied music formally, led Southland Spiritual Choir on tours, worked as full-time teacher, led a vocal group that sang at Carnegie Hall '49, taught and ran Ding-Dong record label '50s, toured the world in duo with his wife, vocalist Rae Harrison '60s, went to Japan '67, lived in Germany '68, was still touring '70s. Sam Wooding's Chocolate Kiddies on Biograph has '25-9 tracks made in Europe. |