         |
|
|
|
|
|
L.A. HISTORY BOOK Volume#1 |
|
|
Cleveland lays claim to Alan Freed and his famous phrase "rock 'n
roll" - but rock really came of age in Los Angeles circa 1949, before
Freed applied the term to the same kind of music, at the hands of
Jimmie Maddin, and guys like Bob Sherman of Tampa Records, John
Dolphin, his store-window DJ Lonnie Johnson, and Flash Records on
Vernon.
L.A. was the land of "make 'em today, sell 'em tomorrow" record
production. A strange amalgamation of club owners providing the
battleground for the warrior class musicians, arrangers and composers
from the world of jazz that were also creating popular teen craze
music of the day.
Love songs, novelty tunes, independent productions and radio made
up the landscape. Players would record during the day and rove from
city to city at night. L.A. was not the uninterrupted cement plain of
today - individual cities existed then - Pasadena, Wilmington, San
Pedro, Gardena, Long Beach, Eagle Rock, Glendale and Burbank.
(Editor's Note: Many of these are still seperate cities from L.A.,
it's just without a sign telling you so, you'd never know it!) This
was the route that the invaders slogged from night to night, playing
tunes and selling singles.
Names like the Trenier Twins, Jimmy Witherspoon, Mabel Scott, Gene
Gilbeaux, Plas Johnson and Ernie Freeman all took part. Johnny
"Guitar" Watson, Jeanette Baker, Jimmie Maddin, Don Hill and others
would gather at 103rd in Watts, at the Trenier Twins house, which
became a meeting place for white and black musicians, strippers and
entrepeneurs. Even blowing off steam after a hard night's work became
an integral part of rock's creation. The great and dignified Benny
Carter held forth at his home as well, where the big band headliners
and the rock 'n roll upstart Maddin would swap ideas in this rarefied
world of world-wide success.
Clubs were the entertainment of the day - no TV yet. Even bowling
alleys had to entertain - way pre Lava Lounge - Billy Berg's on Vine,
The Downbeat, The Last Word and Jack's Basket on Central Avenue. The
Melody Room on Slauson (near Crenshaw) was the Trenier's hangout. The
Mural Room at Hollywood and Western later became Jazz City. The Onyx
Club on 5th and San Pedro would host a talent night and bandleader
Jake Porter (later to release Chuck Higgins' "Pachuco Hop" on his
Combo label) would be blown away by Maddin's honking every time.
Jimmie would live off his winnings - $10 for the week.
At the Peacock Alley, Maurice Duke and Jack Hampton booked in Herb
Jeffries to sing and Maddin to lead the band. The LaMadelon hosted
jitterbug contests - on Cahuenga, the Tail Spin hosted them too - Race
Music. Later, after hours clubs like the Midnight Club in Burbank and
the Pink Pussycat on Santa Monica Blvd. opened at 2:00 AM and went
until 5:00 AM entertaining all who hadn't yet had enough, including
the likes of Hollywood stars Ray Bolger, Donald O'Connor and John
Carradine.
Maddin liked too honk - just lay on that low B-flat. The sax was
moving to a new sound across races - Gil Bernal, Big Jay McNeely and
Jimmie Maddin were creating the sound in 1949. The honking tenor went
down in strip clubs like the York Club and night clubs like the
Starlight - featuring acts like Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom, Dagmar and
Sid Fields performing in front of Jimmie Maddin's bandleading antics.
He was on radio too. Live from Walsh's Grill in Pasadena on KWKW,
and later on as DJ on KBLA and the Mighty 690. Also, a little later
Jimmie was on early TV - KTLA, KCOP, Saturday Night Bandstand on KABC
with Al Jarvis, and the Larry Findley Show five nights a week.
This series of notes from the past will continue - and don't be
surprised if the truth written in this column conflicts with popular
legends thought to be the straight story - these are the words of the
man who was there - the real deal. So, until next time, keep your reed
soakin' and your ax tuned up....it's L.A. comin' straight at ya!
read Volume#2 |
|
 |
Record Convention News is a bi-monthly magazine for
record collectors and other interested folks. An advertising vehicle
for record stores and related businesses, it is now in it's eighth
year. It's FREE at record shops and collector conventions. A
subscription (first class mail only) for one year/six issues is
$12.00 in the U.S.A, $18.00 for Canada or Mexico, and $24.00 for all
other countries. Foreign subscriptions are sent via air-mail.
Payable in U.S. funds ONLY, to: Jim Philbrook, P.O.Box 6359,
Crestline, CA 92325 |
