Clef Club personnel
Ed Berlin
become obscured among other responses, so here it is again with a new
title.
>
> I'd be grateful if anyone could post a list of as many known members
> of the Clef Club as possible.
>
> Joseph Scott
The membership was constantly changing, but here's how it stood in
early 1912. A few of the names should be familiar; most are of
forgotten musicians.
President, James Reese Europe, vp, Frank Price; financial vp, Chandler
Ford; recording sec., Lou Fuller; treasurer, William H. Tyers;
sergeant-at-arms, William Brown; chairman of house committee, William
Jordan; librarian, Percy Robinson; examining physician, Dr. A. A.
Kellogg. Members: Luther Blake, Earl Bumford, Jos. Grey, Harry Hill,
William Johnson, William Jordan, Seth Jones, J. Peter Staples, William
Brown, Clarence Bush, Wm. Blacklock, Carrol Morgan, Irving Williams,
Joseph J. Jordan, Charles Verona, Daniel Murray, Al Brown, Frank
Price, Tom Bethel, Ferd Allen, F. S. Beaumont, Thomas Harris, Fred
Jackson, Percy Robinson, Andy Richardson, Ed J. Brown, Herbert
Washington, James Banks, Chandler Ford, Egbert E. Thompson, Nat
Toomey, Dennis Johnson, Will H. Dixon, William Cole, C. Lewis Fuller,
William F. Jackson, Woodford Kelly, Edward H. Ransom, William H.
Tyers, Theodore Wilson, Fred Bryan, James Hodge, Walter Grey, Edward
Harper, W. Mortimer Jones, Clarence Jackson, Jos. Meyers, Anthony
Tuck, Wm. Washington, Frank Beaudary, John W. Ellison, George Docinet,
Geo. W. Bennette, Holcomb Reid, J. Eddy Wise, Wm. Parquette, Wm.
Tyler, Arnold J. Ford, Arthur Surwar, Wm. Humphreys, C. Arthur Brown,
Andrew A. Brown, Sidney Helms, Millard Jackson, James Rivers, Kelly
Thompson, Frank S. Warren, Thomas Brandon, Jeff Demant, John R.
Burroughs, Wesley Johnson, Lawrence Morris, Charles Wilson, Wm. Riley,
Barry Simmons, Thomas C. Harris, Robert C. Coleman, William J. Carle,
Ford Dabney, Louis Finley, Plennie Heath, Arthur Jackson, Al Johns,
Emery B. Smith, Herman Thomas, John N. Europe, Joe Furber, Louis
Gearing, William Bettus, Jesse Hope, William H. Hughes, Howard Harris,
Fred Johnson, Lloyd Smith, C. Waters, Edward Fields, Arthur S. Shan,
William B. Cooley, Wm. C. Thomas, Stephen Young, James Lightfoot,
David Irwin Martin, Henry H. Williams, Alfred W. Ross, Isaac Johns,
William Pope, Al Seaman, Arthur Desverney, George Henry, Van Johnson,
Fred Miller, Jack Springs, David Walker, Henry Sales, Arthur Payne,
Alex Fennar, Jesse Wilson, Jacob Pease, T. Tim Brymn, Hampton Rogers,
Arthur Polsom, Ira Horrington, Joe Harris, Cyril Gittens, E. Irving
Jones, Daniel Kildare, Charles Mills, Sam Patterson, James M. Shaw,
Clarence Williams, Ollie White, Hugh Woolford.
Ed Berlin
ToddLeeR
referred to Hughie as his competitor in Baltimore. It looks like Hughie beat
Eubie in moving to New York.
As a side note, there is a Fatty Arbuckle film called At the Waiter's Ball. It
was made circa 1916 in the New York area. In the ball scene there is a black
string orchestra playing. The group wasn't very large. Since there were not
much in the way of black actors working a Mack Sennett studio in those days,
it's possible that these were real musicians from the Clef or Tempo Club. It's
been a few years I have seen the movie, but I do recall looking for James
Europe and not seeing him on the bandstand.
Does anyone know anything about this group?
Todd Robbins
Stefano Zenni
a friend of mine mantains that the Clef Club worked as a masonic lodge
for black musicians. What do you think?
Stefano Zenni
--
Stefano Zenni
Joseph Scott
about some of those musicians:
Ferd[inand] Allen -- banjo player, member of the Ciro's Club Coon
Orchestra, the first "black" artists to record a vocal blues
Tom Bethel -- composed "That Moaning Trombone"
Fred[erick] Bryan -- composed "The Bell Hop Rag"
J. Tim Brymn -- recorded at least seven "Blues" as a leader
Clarence Bush -- born in Louisiana in 1880
William J. Carle -- arranger associated with Tim Brymn and Chris Smith
Ford Dabney -- pianist, cowrote "Shine," one of the most prolific
"black" recording artists of the '10s
Will H. Dixon -- conductor of the Memphis Students
John N. Europe -- b. 1874 or 1875 in Alabama
Alex[ander] Fennar -- b. 1873 or 1874 in North Carolina
Arnold J. Ford -- banjoist, recorded with Wilbur Sweatman
Chandler Ford -- cellist, played on Europe's recording of "Castle
House Rag"
Al Johns -- composer who worked with Alex Rogers
Seth Jones -- member of the Ciro's Club Coon Orchestra
Joseph J. Jordan -- friend of Turpin and Chauvin, wrote rags, major
figure in "black" entertainment, famous before Jim Europe, later
recorded blues and led a jazz band
Daniel Kildare -- pianist born in Jamaica, many recordings as
bandleader in '10s beginning in May 1914, including in Dan and
Harvey's Jazz Band, died in 1920
David Irwin Martin -- b. 1878 (1918 draft card says "Musician", "Owns
own school")
Jos. Meyers -- banjo player, member of Ciro's Club Coon Orchestra
Charles [Wenzel] Mills -- pianist, recorded as a member of the
Versatile Three and Four during 1916-1926 including "Circus Day In
Dixie" and "Down Home Rag" in 1916 and "Bo-Bo-Beedle-Um-Bo" in 1920
Wm. Parquette -- recorded with Europe
Sam Patterson -- ragtime pianist, good friend to Joplin, composed
"Dandy Coon"
Edward H[enry] Ransom -- pianist, b. 1885
Holcomb [Alexander] Reid -- b. 1878
Alfred W. Ross -- played violin on Europe's recording of "Castle House
Rag"
Emery B[oardman] Smith -- b. 1876
Anthony Tuck -- banjo player born in 1879 or 1880 in Virginia, member
of Versatile Three and Four
Wm. Tyler -- violinist, played on Europe's recording of "Castle House
Rag"
Joseph Scott
Ed Berlin
> Dear Ed,
> a friend of mine mantains that the Clef Club worked as a masonic lodge
> for black musicians. What do you think?
> Stefano Zenni
I don't understand what you mean by "worked as a Masonic lodge". Do
you mean it was a social organization as well as a union and booking
organization? Probably. I don't recall if Reid Badger says anything
about that. African Americans also had their own Masonic lodges, and
I don't know if the Clef Club assumed other prominent features of
fraternal organizations, such as burial benefits.
Ed
Ed Berlin
> Thanks very much Ed. Here is some assorted info I could dig up today
> about some of those musicians:
Good additions, Joseph. Of course, there's much more we could say
about some of these figures. I won't take the time to speak of the
more celebrated members, but here are a few more small items:
> . . . .
>
> John N. Europe -- b. 1874 or 1875 in Alabama
Pianist, and brother of James Reese Europe.
> David Irwin Martin -- b. 1878 (1918 draft card says "Musician", "Owns
> own school")
This would be the Martin-Smith Music School, at 139 West 136 Street.
It was here that Joplin's "Frolic of the Bears" (renamed "Dance of the
Bears"), from "Treemonisha", was performed on May 5, 1915.
Smith was Helen Elise Smith, who married Nathaniel Dett.
Ed
ToddLeeR
Angeles called the Clef Club. I think it was part of the musican's union and
it might still be in existence. Dave Bourne told me about years ago. I wonder
if it had any affilation with the original group?
Todd Robbins
Reginald H Pitts
Down in Philly, black musicians formed their own union local
(Musicians' Protective Union Local #274, American Federation of
Musicians [A F of M])as they were denied entry into Local #77; the
Clef Club, or more officially, the Philadelphia Clef Club of the
Performing Arts, was established as the "social unit" of Local #274.
Although the local itself eventually merged with the other local
(around 1973), the Clef Club here is still active and thriving. They
don't play much ragtime there, but they do jam constantly.
You can see their website at
http://www.clefclubofjazz.8m.com/
The late Tom Fletcher in "One Hundred Years of the Negro in Show
Business" (New York: Burdge, 1954, reprint ed. New York: DaCapo Press,
1984) goes into detail about the organization and early operation of
the New York Clef Club. If memory serves, he was one of the early
members of both the local and the club itself.
Reg Pitts
Blank...@yahoo.com
Lucy
Clef Club members than to you Reginald, but I can't find a reply link
for his posting anymore.
I've come across a couple items in NY papers that relate to this
thread. One is an advertisement in the Middletown Times Press
(4-16-18) for the New York Clef Club Orchestra, 20 Jazz Kings of
Syncopation, The Greatest Ragtime Musical Organization in Existence,"
performing with William Rock and Frances White. On 9-10-1918, an
article appears in the Syracuse Herald, revealing that the Clef Club
is again performing with Rock and White, now at the Wieting in
Syracuse. The article talks mainly about Rock, White, and Jack
Gardner, but says this about the Clef Club and one of the musicians,
Edward H. Ransom, on the Clef Club roster:
"As for the Clef club, which is a whole entertainment in itself and a
mighty good one at that, it wouldn't be fair to say too much unless
one knew the name of the pretty girl who played the saxophone solo and
the young men who sang the 'goofer' song and the other plantation
melodies. One name we have, that of Eddie Ransom who started a most
wonderful piano number with Liszt's Second Rhapsodie and ended it with
rag time and yet did it so artistically that if there were any
high-brow musicians in the house they didn't have to be carried out in
a faint."
On 12-8-18, the Syracuse Herald prints an ad for the Clef Club Jazz
Band at the Empire Theater for the week of Dec. 9-14. The accompanying
article comments, "This engagement marks the first time that the
original Clef Club Jazz band has ever been taken on tour. This group
of twenty expert syncopators--all spades--contibutes melodies,
ensemble and solo, that range from symphony ot jazz. A slide trombone
specialty and a selection of clarinet blues are included. "Dancing
------," [blurred word]a tricky pianologue, is another feature.
Lucy
blank...@yahoo.com (Reginald H Pitts) wrote in message news:<65ebd7a2.04101...@posting.google.com>...
Joseph Scott
Frank Douglas Withers, who recorded with Mitchell's Jazz Kings and
with Sweatman, gave his employer as Rock & White on his '18 draft
card. (Born 10/19/1880 in KS.) So did Ransom, naturally, and his draft
card was filled out in Buffalo on 9/5/18.
Eubie Blake's employer on his June '17 draft card was "Cleff Club J.R.
Europe."
John Newton Europe, definitely our man because he gives his mother's
name as Loraine, registered in Boston on 9/12/18 giving his birth date
as 10/9/1875 (seems to be 1874, then 5 written over the 4) and his
employer as U.S. Quartermastery Dept.
Joseph Scott
Lucy
No problem. Where do you find the draft cards? Is this information
available online? Not something I've ever looked at or for.
Lucy
j_ns...@msn.com (Joseph Scott) wrote in message news:<a2d52481.04111...@posting.google.com>...
Joseph Scott
> Joseph,
>
> No problem. Where do you find the draft cards? Is this information
> available online? Not something I've ever looked at or for.
>
> Lucy
My wife and I subscribe to www.ancestry.com. There are some quirks
about what databases get searched on from what page, and the like, so
it takes some patience to figure out where to go to look for what and
how to search (e.g. by focusing on "Manhattan" -- if you're on one of
the pages that for some reason will let you -- or what), but it can be
done with enough trial and error.
Joseph Scott
Lucy
year to the newspaper archive, part of it to census records. The
census records were really a headache because, much of the time, hits
with supposed links to the census worker's field record failed to
work. Or, rather, the link would take me to a hand-written census
page, but not to one with the record I was seeking. Ancestry.com
advised that I navigate to the page or two before and after the linked
page, but rarely did that help. A few of the links to printable
original records did work; overall, it was frustrating, and I didn't
renew my membership.
My neighborhood library now has ancestry.com access although, so far,
I haven't found it very usable. The library's policy of cutting off
the patron's Internet connection after an hour doesn't help. When
searching online databases, I quickly learned to go armed with a
couple of spare libary card numbers for use when other people aren't
waiting for a computer. Only a few feet away, the librarians don't
seem to pay any attention or to care.
Lucy
j_ns...@msn.com (Joseph Scott) wrote in message news:<a2d52481.04111...@posting.google.com>...
Reginald H Pitts
following:
Joseph Francis Lamb (in Brooklyn)
James Sylvester Scott (in Indianapolis)
Artie Matthews (in Chicago)
Aubrey Lee Lyles (of "Miller & Lyles")
James P. Johnson (in Manhattan; note date of birth)
J. Hubert Blake (note date of birth)
Charles "Lucky" Roberts (note date of birth)
Lorenzo Tio, Jr (New Orleans jazzman; in Chicago)
Percy Wenrich
Jack Norworth
Irving Berlin
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (in Chicago)
Henry Fillmore (James Henry Fillmore, Jr)
Charles Theodore Straight
George Michael Cohan
note that this is a work in progress--NYC,Boston, Philly and Chicago
as well as the respective states they're located in--are online; New
Orleans or St Louis aren't--I'm waiting for those.
Reg Pitts
Blank...@yahoo.com
Ed Berlin
Blake's registration is included on the website of the Maryland
Historical Society, but despite the corrected, documented birth date,
the website continues to show Eubie living until age 100.
I believe placing James Scott in Indianapolis in 1917 is new.
Ed Berlin
blank...@yahoo.com (Reginald H Pitts) wrote in message news:<65ebd7a2.04111...@posting.google.com>...
Lucy
Birthdates also appear on 1920 and 1925 passports and a 1925 alien
registration issued in the UK. All say Feb. 7, 1887. Later pages,
such as 3 and 5, include certificates issued on his alleged 90th and
100th birtdays in 1973 and 1983.
http://www.mdhs.org/eubieblake/subs/catbrowse.asp?cat=Other
EdBe...@optonline.net (Ed Berlin) wrote in message news:<5b1c85b6.04111...@posting.google.com>...
Reginald H Pitts
I'll certainly do that once I get the chance. There is a wealth of
information there.
I believe Eubie
> Blake's registration is included on the website of the Maryland
> Historical Society, but despite the corrected, documented birth date,
> the website continues to show Eubie living until age 100.
>
Mike Meddings has also documented Eubie being four years younger than
he led everyone to believe:
http://www.doctorjazz.freeserve.co.uk/portlater.html
<snip of rest of post>
Thanks so much!
Reg Pitts
Blank...@yahoo.com