Al "Rags"Anderson Anderson began his musical career as a teacher and he returned to teaching throughout his life. Among his many students was the great jazz drummer Elvin Jones, who was stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base following World War II. In addition to teaching duties at Lazarus, he also was with Rusty Parker's Orchestra at the State Restaurant, the Ray Snouffer Band at Tom Johnson's Restaurant, and the Henry Lange Orchestra at Indian Lake, not to mention the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra while living in New York. Before becoming music director for WCOL radio, Anderson was a member of the Gilbert Novelty Six and the Kibler Clothiers band on WCAH, and the Graybar Merrymakers on WAIU. Not only could he play the drums, xylophone, and vibraphone, he was also a skilled comedian and a composer of note. Don Basham Basham was born in Columbus and began playing professionally with the Al Longstreth Band at Jefferson Gardens. He formed his own band in 1955 to work the Eagles Club, and a year later was playing the organ daily on WTVN's "Dialing For Dollars" television show, while appearing six nights a week at Main Lanes for 12 years. He finally moved onto the Clock Restaurant for 8 more years, followed by yet another 12 at the Aladdin Temple Shrine. Although Basham has gained fame as a true one-man-band, he was rated 14th on the vibraphone and 29th on the trumpet in the 1956 Downbeat poll, while his combo came in at number 26. He continues to play at clubs, private parties, and outdoor concerts. Forrest A. Becker An accomplished performer on both the clarinet and the saxophone, Becker graduated from South High School in 1942, and enrolled at the Capital University Conservatory of Music. After servicing in the Navy during WW II, he returned to Capital, graduating in 1948. While in college, Becker held first chair in the Capital University band and orchestra, and also sang in the glee club. Professionally, he was a member of the Frank LaRue and Ray Roop orchestras, appearing at the Seneca Hotel for many years. However, it is as a teacher that he has undoubtedly had the greatest influence. After 3 years at Hamilton Township High School, he spent the next 31 years in the Westerville school system, teaching at all levels. He currently gives private music instruction and is in his 26th year as assistant director of the Aladdin Shrine Band. John Delaney Clark Doubling on the violin and valve trombone, Clark formed his first band in Zanesville in 1912. But when the 1913 flood destroyed the theater in which he was working, he joined the Chatauqua circuit, touring Western Canada and Montana. Clark became a Columbus resident a few years later as owner/operator of the Columbia Theater on East Livingston Ave. In 1917, he formed a band that played The Far East Restaurant, State Fair Horse Shows, Easter Masses, and early radio. He also became conductor of the Palace Theatre band, taught at Wittenburg College, and, in the pre-Peppe brothers era, screened bands for Valley Dale. He passed away in 1961. Freddie Cunningham Guitarist, fiddler, bass player, and singer, Cunningham was a member of Montana Meechie's Cowboy Band, an enormously popular group which was heard regularly on WAIU radio. He also led his own groups, the Four Notes and the Buckeye Four, and played in The Tip Top Rangers, as well as the bands of Frank Ferneau, Paul Decker, Frank LaRue, and Chuck Selby at such venues as the Clown Inn, State Restaurant, Seneca Hotel, Arabian Gardens, Tavernel, and Valley Dale. Cunningham was playing country western music before there was a recording industry in Nashville. He has known and worked with many of the greats, and even gave a few of them some advice when they were working their way up. Chuck Dailey Dailey started on the accordion at age 3. He also studied mandolin, banjo, and violin, before settling on the guitar. He was just out of the service when the "garage band" era hit, and he found his services as a guitar teacher in high demand. In fact, from 1970-1984, he owned and operated Chuck Dailey Guitar Center in Columbus, the largest school for guitar in the midwest. In addition to teaching, he also led the Chuck Dailey Quartet for many years. Since 1985, Dailey has been composing music for health and relaxation, which through its unique structure, register, and rhythm is designed to lower the heartbeat and blood pressure. His music is being used in many schools to create an environment more conducive to learning. All in all, he has been performing, composing, and/or instructing for 57 years and shows no signs of slowing down. Leo Dworkin Dworkin studied trumpet with the best the late Sam Giammarco, who was a member of our first Hall of Fame class. As a result, he developed into an exceptional sight reader and ad lib jazz soloist. A 1942 graduate of South High School and life member of local 104, Dworkin hit the road early, working with the likes of Pee Wee Erwin, Bob Strong, and Al Kavelin. During World War II, Dworkin served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, then returned to Columbus, where he had no trouble finding work in many local groups -- the Ohio and Palace Theater Orchestras, Mac Tooill's Band, Joe Weisberg's Band at the Neil House, George Towne's Men About Town, and many others, including those of Tommy Lucas and Artie Kane. The 'sixties and 'seventies found him playing regularly in the house bands at the Maramor and Scot's Inn. Since then, he has jobbed with various bands, particularly so-called "ghost bands" for Cleveland-based contractor Rudy Scaffedi. Don Haines A native of Van Wert, Ohio, Haines entered the Ohio State School for the Blind in 1942, graduating at the head of his class in 1954. In 1952, he had begun filling in for organist at Rollerland Skating Rink (which at that time was regarded as a good career for someone who was visually impaired), but also worked solo or in combos to pay way through college. Following his graduation from The Ohio State University in 1958 with Bachelor's in music and elementary education, he soon found work at the Ohio School for Blind, where he taught for 30 years while continuing to perform evenings and weekends at Stouffer's Top of the Center (1966-1979), Hospitality Inn, Harley Hotel, Sheraton North, Hilton North, Steak and Ale, Christopher Inn, The Clock, etc., as well as many private parties. Artie Kane Kane has come a long way since, as Aaron Cohen, he was singing and playing piano with the Columbus Boychoir. At 13, he was hired by WBNS radio to play daily classical and jazz programs. Despite his youth, he also worked on weekends with Ray Cincione at the Club Gloria. Five years later, he performed Rhapsody in Blue with Izler Solomon and the Columbus Symphony, then headed out on the road with comedian Harry Jarkey. After two years on the road, Kane joined Holiday on Ice as show pianist for 8 years. Eventually landing in Holly-wood, he was hired by Dominic Frontiere to work as first-call pianist at MGM. He played for many MGM, Fox, Universal TV shows and on soundtracks of many movies, and recorded with Percy Faith, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones. A Gershwin album he did was nominated for a Grammy. After a time, Kane began composing music for television shows (Love Boat, Matlock, Dynasty, Matt Houston, Hotel) and movies (Looking For Mr. Goodbar, The Eyes of Laura Mars, Wrong Is Right, Night of the Juggler). Now in the "third phase" of his career, he conducts scores for innumerable movies. Christine Kittrell Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Kittrell had led the sort of life that movies are made of. She began recording in 1952, scoring hits with "I'll Help You Baby" and "Sittin' Here Drinking." Represented by Shaw Artists Corporation along with Charles Brown, Ray Charles, Little Walter, and Charlie Parker. Christine has recorded with John Coltrane and Little Richard among others and toured with Johnny Otis, Earl Bostic, Big Joe Turner, and Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams. The popular songwriting team of Lieber & Stoller wrote, "I'm A Woman" for her, but Peggy Lee's cover version edged hers off the charts. During the course of touring the country, she performed locally at the Cadillac Club, Club Jamaica, and New Frontier. Then, while entertaining troops in Vietnam in the late '60s, she was wounded. She later sustained two other serious injuries which forced her to retire from music. A Columbus resident for thirty years, she makes occasional guest appearances in clubs and at festivals. Morrie Kline Born in Marion, Ohio, Kline displayed a precocious talent on the piano. At 18, earned a superior rating as a piano soloist at regional contest held in Flint, Michigan. Following a stint in the Navy and degrees at Ohio Wesleyan and Ohio State (master's), he began playing organ at Hoover's Restaurant (alternating with Buddy Cotter) for 7 years. From 1955-1961, he was a member of the Al Myers Trio at the Everglades 6 nights a week. He also played piano at the WRFD tent at Ohio State Fair. Replacing Charlie Ces-ner as organist on Sally Flowers' TV show, he eventually appeared on more than 1,500 live TV shows altogether while working at WLW-C, in addition to working the organ/piano bar at the Virginia Hotel. However, just as the era of live TV was coming to an end, Kline was invited to return to his hometown where he became the music teacher in Marion public schools for 25 years. He passed away in 1998. Jerry K. Langston Langston came to Columbus in the 1940s from Pennsylvania, where he had been working with Columbus Senior Musicians Hall of Fame honorees The Georgia Crackers. Almost immediately found work as the staff guitarist at WBNS radio. Like many of the musicians who started in radio, Langston made the transition to television, continuing through the 'fifties and into the 'sixties. He was a member of the Ziggy Coyle Band for 15 years, and also worked regularly with Al Waslohn and others. A popular and respected member of the musical community who's talents were in high demand, he unfortunately passed away in 1995. Rose Thall Nafzger Known as "The Sunshine Girl", Nafzger sang and played the piano on Columbus radio during the 'twenties and 'thirties. She also traveled with her own group, Rose Thall and her Radio Girls Orchestra. A true pioneer in local broadcasting, she did not have anyone to emulate or copy. Apparently, she acquitted herself quite well because her popularity grew to the extent that she was able to take her Radio Girls Orchestra on the road, performing throughout New York and New Jersey. She was still in high demand when she gave up the music business to remain in Columbus with her husband. Eddie Nix A product of East High School, Nix clearly had drumming in his blood. He first began attracting attention with Eddie Nix and The Brown Bombers, a swing trio he formed in high school in the 1930s. In the late 1940s, he had the opportunity to leave home to tour with a number of major rhythm 'n' blues artists, including Billy Ward and the Dominos and Big Maybelle. During his career, he has also played with "Pop" Hines (7 months), Phil McDade (4 months), and Hall-of-Famer Percy Lowery (7 months). Replacing Art Coleman in Earl Hood's Orchestra, Nix found steady employment. Although retired since 1975, he continues to perform on occasion with Arnett Howard's Rocket 88's, The Listen for the Jazz All-Star Band, and the various Jazz & Egg Sessions. Lou Peppe Along with his brother Jim, Peppe owned and operated Valley Dale for nearly 50 years. They first leased it in 1932, exercising an option to buy three years later. The two of them were responsible for booking nearly every major (and many minor) band of the era to the Dale, as well as hiring many local groups, including Bob Royce, Paul Decker, Allen Hale, Ziggy Coyle, Don Crawford, Rusty Parker, Frank Ferneau, Dick Fidler, Earl Hood, Chuck Selby, etc. Valley Dale has the distinction of having been the only ballroom in the country to feature live radio broadcasts by two different networks: CBS and MBS. The history of music in Columbus cannot be written without reference to Valley Dale and the Peppe family. Although Lou passed away in 1983, Valley Dale lives on. Ray Racle While working at the Maramor, Racle had the opportunity to back everyone from Frankie Laine and Nelson Eddy to Phyllis Diller and Jack E. Leonard. As a drummer, he was called upon to provide the backbeat and the rimshots. A Columbus native, he joined the musicians union when he was just 16. A member of OSU Marching Band 1949-1950 and the 37th Division Band during the Korean War, he returned home in the 'fifties to pick up where he had left off. During his career, Racle played with Henry Cincione at Riviera Night Club and Joe Dunlap at Benny Klein's. He also played in the bands of Howdy Gorman, Chuck Selby, Marilyn Daye, and many others. He was also an integral part of Bob Allen's famous Christopher Inn trio before he passed away. Robert "Webb" Ricketts Multi-instrumentalist Ricketts has been playing for 70 years, and continues to play 2 to 6 nights a week. A long time resident of Lancaster, he was born in Shawnee, Ohio. He was a member of Sammy Kaye's band in Athens, as well as Capt. Ted Richardson's Night Hawks, the Jack Hammond Band, Walt Sears & His New Englanders, Gassco Concert Band, Strollers Dance Band, Dick Trimbles Band, John Grozas Eleganta. More recently, he has worked with the Cyndy Black Big Band, Golden Buckeye Band, Oliveraires, Nostalgics, Lancaster Com-munity Band. He still plays out two to six nights a week, frequently in Columbus. Among the Columbus bands to benefit from Rickett's sax, trumpet, or organ playing include Jack McAndrews, Jack Bama's Deja Vu, Allen Stahl's Deja Vu, Jim Keener's Pops Concert Band. Jimmy "Stix" Rogers At the age of 26, Rogers set a world record for marathon drumming in the window of Coyle's Music Store over 80 hours. The subject of articles in Ebony, Look, Life, Time, Downbeat, and others, he has many other accomplishments to look back on. A life-long Columbus resident, he joined Stomp Gordon's Band at 13. Hall-of-Famer Rusty Bryant, with whom he was later to work, also was a member of Stomp's band. Rogers was a competitor on Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour before he linked up with Rusty to form the Carolyn Club Band and make such popular recordings as "Nite Train" and "Pink Champagne". He also toured with Lester Young, Lionel Hampton, Ted Fioretto, and Sammy Davis, Jr., and has appeared on "I've Got A Secret", "What's My Line?", and the Dave Garroway and Steve Allen television shows. He has been recognized through the Society of Creative Artists Talent, Master of Jazz Arts Award, and Listen For The Jazz Keynote Award. Gene Walker A Columbus native and East High/Ohio State University graduate, Walker worked with Stomp Gordon early in his career. Through his friendship with King Curtis, he was hired for studio working, backing everyone from Byrdie Green and Freddie McCoy to Dave "Baby" Cortez and Cannibal and the Headhunters. In fact, there were so many recordings that Gene doesn't even have copies of them all. The Beatles, King Curtis, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, the Platters, the Drifters, Chris Columbo Quintet, Jimmy McGriff -- Walker has worked with them all and more. Since 1991, he has played in Europe annually. He also has been the featured soloist at Carnegie Hall and Town Hall, NYC, and Symphony Hall, Newark, NJ. Gene has also performed with the Jazz Arts Group, and at the Harlem Cultural Festival (1966-67). He was awarded a Silver medal at Downbeat Collegiate Competition in Vancouver (1986). More recently, he has been the leader of the 7-piece Cotton Club Orchestra, Gene Walker's Generations, and Gene Walker & the All-Stars. While still a teenager in Chicago, Wiley became the lead vocalist for The Dozier Boys, a popular vocal group which went on to record for Aristocrat, Okeh, United, Fraternity, and ABC Paramount. In addition to winning on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, the group toured and performed with Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Wes Montgomery, and Benny Carter before disbanding in the 'sixties. Coming to Columbus, he put his talents as a bass player to work, through his long association with the Bob Allen Trio. He also moved into the role of educator, opening The Jazz City Workshop, Central Ohio's first school for jazz. He also authored a popular text book on how to play the bass. Later he taught at Dennison University as well. More recently, Wiley has been leading his own small combo and has released a couple of CDs. |
Al "Rags"Anderson Anderson began his musical career as a teacher and he returned to teaching throughout his life. Among his many students was the great jazz drummer Elvin Jones, who was stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base following World War II. In addition to teaching duties at Lazarus, he also was with Rusty Parker's Orchestra at the State Restaurant, the Ray Snouffer Band at Tom Johnson's Restaurant, and the Henry Lange Orchestra at Indian Lake, not to mention the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra while living in New York. Before becoming music director for WCOL radio, Anderson was a member of the Gilbert Novelty Six and the Kibler Clothiers band on WCAH, and the Graybar Merrymakers on WAIU. Not only could he play the drums, xylophone, and vibraphone, he was also a skilled comedian and a composer of note. Don Basham Basham was born in Columbus and began playing professionally with the Al Longstreth Band at Jefferson Gardens. He formed his own band in 1955 to work the Eagles Club, and a year later was playing the organ daily on WTVN's "Dialing For Dollars" television show, while appearing six nights a week at Main Lanes for 12 years. He finally moved onto the Clock Restaurant for 8 more years, followed by yet another 12 at the Aladdin Temple Shrine. Although Basham has gained fame as a true one-man-band, he was rated 14th on the vibraphone and 29th on the trumpet in the 1956 Downbeat poll, while his combo came in at number 26. He continues to play at clubs, private parties, and outdoor concerts. Forrest A. Becker An accomplished performer on both the clarinet and the saxophone, Becker graduated from South High School in 1942, and enrolled at the Capital University Conservatory of Music. After servicing in the Navy during WW II, he returned to Capital, graduating in 1948. While in college, Becker held first chair in the Capital University band and orchestra, and also sang in the glee club. Professionally, he was a member of the Frank LaRue and Ray Roop orchestras, appearing at the Seneca Hotel for many years. However, it is as a teacher that he has undoubtedly had the greatest influence. After 3 years at Hamilton Township High School, he spent the next 31 years in the Westerville school system, teaching at all levels. He currently gives private music instruction and is in his 26th year as assistant director of the Aladdin Shrine Band. John Delaney Clark Doubling on the violin and valve trombone, Clark formed his first band in Zanesville in 1912. But when the 1913 flood destroyed the theater in which he was working, he joined the Chatauqua circuit, touring Western Canada and Montana. Clark became a Columbus resident a few years later as owner/operator of the Columbia Theater on East Livingston Ave. In 1917, he formed a band that played The Far East Restaurant, State Fair Horse Shows, Easter Masses, and early radio. He also became conductor of the Palace Theatre band, taught at Wittenburg College, and, in the pre-Peppe brothers era, screened bands for Valley Dale. He passed away in 1961. Freddie Cunningham Guitarist, fiddler, bass player, and singer, Cunningham was a member of Montana Meechie's Cowboy Band, an enormously popular group which was heard regularly on WAIU radio. He also led his own groups, the Four Notes and the Buckeye Four, and played in The Tip Top Rangers, as well as the bands of Frank Ferneau, Paul Decker, Frank LaRue, and Chuck Selby at such venues as the Clown Inn, State Restaurant, Seneca Hotel, Arabian Gardens, Tavernel, and Valley Dale. Cunningham was playing country western music before there was a recording industry in Nashville. He has known and worked with many of the greats, and even gave a few of them some advice when they were working their way up. Chuck Dailey Dailey started on the accordion at age 3. He also studied mandolin, banjo, and violin, before settling on the guitar. He was just out of the service when the "garage band" era hit, and he found his services as a guitar teacher in high demand. In fact, from 1970-1984, he owned and operated Chuck Dailey Guitar Center in Columbus, the largest school for guitar in the midwest. In addition to teaching, he also led the Chuck Dailey Quartet for many years. Since 1985, Dailey has been composing music for health and relaxation, which through its unique structure, register, and rhythm is designed to lower the heartbeat and blood pressure. His music is being used in many schools to create an environment more conducive to learning. All in all, he has been performing, composing, and/or instructing for 57 years and shows no signs of slowing down. Leo Dworkin Dworkin studied trumpet with the best the late Sam Giammarco, who was a member of our first Hall of Fame class. As a result, he developed into an exceptional sight reader and ad lib jazz soloist. A 1942 graduate of South High School and life member of local 104, Dworkin hit the road early, working with the likes of Pee Wee Erwin, Bob Strong, and Al Kavelin. During World War II, Dworkin served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, then returned to Columbus, where he had no trouble finding work in many local groups -- the Ohio and Palace Theater Orchestras, Mac Tooill's Band, Joe Weisberg's Band at the Neil House, George Towne's Men About Town, and many others, including those of Tommy Lucas and Artie Kane. The 'sixties and 'seventies found him playing regularly in the house bands at the Maramor and Scot's Inn. Since then, he has jobbed with various bands, particularly so-called "ghost bands" for Cleveland-based contractor Rudy Scaffedi. Don Haines A native of Van Wert, Ohio, Haines entered the Ohio State School for the Blind in 1942, graduating at the head of his class in 1954. In 1952, he had begun filling in for organist at Rollerland Skating Rink (which at that time was regarded as a good career for someone who was visually impaired), but also worked solo or in combos to pay way through college. Following his graduation from The Ohio State University in 1958 with Bachelor's in music and elementary education, he soon found work at the Ohio School for Blind, where he taught for 30 years while continuing to perform evenings and weekends at Stouffer's Top of the Center (1966-1979), Hospitality Inn, Harley Hotel, Sheraton North, Hilton North, Steak and Ale, Christopher Inn, The Clock, etc., as well as many private parties. Artie Kane Kane has come a long way since, as Aaron Cohen, he was singing and playing piano with the Columbus Boychoir. At 13, he was hired by WBNS radio to play daily classical and jazz programs. Despite his youth, he also worked on weekends with Ray Cincione at the Club Gloria. Five years later, he performed Rhapsody in Blue with Izler Solomon and the Columbus Symphony, then headed out on the road with comedian Harry Jarkey. After two years on the road, Kane joined Holiday on Ice as show pianist for 8 years. Eventually landing in Holly-wood, he was hired by Dominic Frontiere to work as first-call pianist at MGM. He played for many MGM, Fox, Universal TV shows and on soundtracks of many movies, and recorded with Percy Faith, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones. A Gershwin album he did was nominated for a Grammy. After a time, Kane began composing music for television shows (Love Boat, Matlock, Dynasty, Matt Houston, Hotel) and movies (Looking For Mr. Goodbar, The Eyes of Laura Mars, Wrong Is Right, Night of the Juggler). Now in the "third phase" of his career, he conducts scores for innumerable movies. Christine Kittrell Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Kittrell had led the sort of life that movies are made of. She began recording in 1952, scoring hits with "I'll Help You Baby" and "Sittin' Here Drinking." Represented by Shaw Artists Corporation along with Charles Brown, Ray Charles, Little Walter, and Charlie Parker. Christine has recorded with John Coltrane and Little Richard among others and toured with Johnny Otis, Earl Bostic, Big Joe Turner, and Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams. The popular songwriting team of Lieber & Stoller wrote, "I'm A Woman" for her, but Peggy Lee's cover version edged hers off the charts. During the course of touring the country, she performed locally at the Cadillac Club, Club Jamaica, and New Frontier. Then, while entertaining troops in Vietnam in the late '60s, she was wounded. She later sustained two other serious injuries which forced her to retire from music. A Columbus resident for thirty years, she makes occasional guest appearances in clubs and at festivals. Morrie Kline Born in Marion, Ohio, Kline displayed a precocious talent on the piano. At 18, earned a superior rating as a piano soloist at regional contest held in Flint, Michigan. Following a stint in the Navy and degrees at Ohio Wesleyan and Ohio State (master's), he began playing organ at Hoover's Restaurant (alternating with Buddy Cotter) for 7 years. From 1955-1961, he was a member of the Al Myers Trio at the Everglades 6 nights a week. He also played piano at the WRFD tent at Ohio State Fair. Replacing Charlie Ces-ner as organist on Sally Flowers' TV show, he eventually appeared on more than 1,500 live TV shows altogether while working at WLW-C, in addition to working the organ/piano bar at the Virginia Hotel. However, just as the era of live TV was coming to an end, Kline was invited to return to his hometown where he became the music teacher in Marion public schools for 25 years. He passed away in 1998. Jerry K. Langston Langston came to Columbus in the 1940s from Pennsylvania, where he had been working with Columbus Senior Musicians Hall of Fame honorees The Georgia Crackers. Almost immediately found work as the staff guitarist at WBNS radio. Like many of the musicians who started in radio, Langston made the transition to television, continuing through the 'fifties and into the 'sixties. He was a member of the Ziggy Coyle Band for 15 years, and also worked regularly with Al Waslohn and others. A popular and respected member of the musical community who's talents were in high demand, he unfortunately passed away in 1995. Rose Thall Nafzger Known as "The Sunshine Girl", Nafzger sang and played the piano on Columbus radio during the 'twenties and 'thirties. She also traveled with her own group, Rose Thall and her Radio Girls Orchestra. A true pioneer in local broadcasting, she did not have anyone to emulate or copy. Apparently, she acquitted herself quite well because her popularity grew to the extent that she was able to take her Radio Girls Orchestra on the road, performing throughout New York and New Jersey. She was still in high demand when she gave up the music business to remain in Columbus with her husband. Eddie Nix A product of East High School, Nix clearly had drumming in his blood. He first began attracting attention with Eddie Nix and The Brown Bombers, a swing trio he formed in high school in the 1930s. In the late 1940s, he had the opportunity to leave home to tour with a number of major rhythm 'n' blues artists, including Billy Ward and the Dominos and Big Maybelle. During his career, he has also played with "Pop" Hines (7 months), Phil McDade (4 months), and Hall-of-Famer Percy Lowery (7 months). Replacing Art Coleman in Earl Hood's Orchestra, Nix found steady employment. Although retired since 1975, he continues to perform on occasion with Arnett Howard's Rocket 88's, The Listen for the Jazz All-Star Band, and the various Jazz & Egg Sessions. Lou Peppe Along with his brother Jim, Peppe owned and operated Valley Dale for nearly 50 years. They first leased it in 1932, exercising an option to buy three years later. The two of them were responsible for booking nearly every major (and many minor) band of the era to the Dale, as well as hiring many local groups, including Bob Royce, Paul Decker, Allen Hale, Ziggy Coyle, Don Crawford, Rusty Parker, Frank Ferneau, Dick Fidler, Earl Hood, Chuck Selby, etc. Valley Dale has the distinction of having been the only ballroom in the country to feature live radio broadcasts by two different networks: CBS and MBS. The history of music in Columbus cannot be written without reference to Valley Dale and the Peppe family. Although Lou passed away in 1983, Valley Dale lives on. Ray Racle While working at the Maramor, Racle had the opportunity to back everyone from Frankie Laine and Nelson Eddy to Phyllis Diller and Jack E. Leonard. As a drummer, he was called upon to provide the backbeat and the rimshots. A Columbus native, he joined the musicians union when he was just 16. A member of OSU Marching Band 1949-1950 and the 37th Division Band during the Korean War, he returned home in the 'fifties to pick up where he had left off. During his career, Racle played with Henry Cincione at Riviera Night Club and Joe Dunlap at Benny Klein's. He also played in the bands of Howdy Gorman, Chuck Selby, Marilyn Daye, and many others. He was also an integral part of Bob Allen's famous Christopher Inn trio before he passed away. Robert "Webb" Ricketts Multi-instrumentalist Ricketts has been playing for 70 years, and continues to play 2 to 6 nights a week. A long time resident of Lancaster, he was born in Shawnee, Ohio. He was a member of Sammy Kaye's band in Athens, as well as Capt. Ted Richardson's Night Hawks, the Jack Hammond Band, Walt Sears & His New Englanders, Gassco Concert Band, Strollers Dance Band, Dick Trimbles Band, John Grozas Eleganta. More recently, he has worked with the Cyndy Black Big Band, Golden Buckeye Band, Oliveraires, Nostalgics, Lancaster Com-munity Band. He still plays out two to six nights a week, frequently in Columbus. Among the Columbus bands to benefit from Rickett's sax, trumpet, or organ playing include Jack McAndrews, Jack Bama's Deja Vu, Allen Stahl's Deja Vu, Jim Keener's Pops Concert Band. Jimmy "Stix" Rogers At the age of 26, Rogers set a world record for marathon drumming in the window of Coyle's Music Store over 80 hours. The subject of articles in Ebony, Look, Life, Time, Downbeat, and others, he has many other accomplishments to look back on. A life-long Columbus resident, he joined Stomp Gordon's Band at 13. Hall-of-Famer Rusty Bryant, with whom he was later to work, also was a member of Stomp's band. Rogers was a competitor on Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour before he linked up with Rusty to form the Carolyn Club Band and make such popular recordings as "Nite Train" and "Pink Champagne". He also toured with Lester Young, Lionel Hampton, Ted Fioretto, and Sammy Davis, Jr., and has appeared on "I've Got A Secret", "What's My Line?", and the Dave Garroway and Steve Allen television shows. He has been recognized through the Society of Creative Artists Talent, Master of Jazz Arts Award, and Listen For The Jazz Keynote Award. Gene Walker A Columbus native and East High/Ohio State University graduate, Walker worked with Stomp Gordon early in his career. Through his friendship with King Curtis, he was hired for studio working, backing everyone from Byrdie Green and Freddie McCoy to Dave "Baby" Cortez and Cannibal and the Headhunters. In fact, there were so many recordings that Gene doesn't even have copies of them all. The Beatles, King Curtis, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, the Platters, the Drifters, Chris Columbo Quintet, Jimmy McGriff -- Walker has worked with them all and more. Since 1991, he has played in Europe annually. He also has been the featured soloist at Carnegie Hall and Town Hall, NYC, and Symphony Hall, Newark, NJ. Gene has also performed with the Jazz Arts Group, and at the Harlem Cultural Festival (1966-67). He was awarded a Silver medal at Downbeat Collegiate Competition in Vancouver (1986). More recently, he has been the leader of the 7-piece Cotton Club Orchestra, Gene Walker's Generations, and Gene Walker & the All-Stars. While still a teenager in Chicago, Wiley became the lead vocalist for The Dozier Boys, a popular vocal group which went on to record for Aristocrat, Okeh, United, Fraternity, and ABC Paramount. In addition to winning on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, the group toured and performed with Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Wes Montgomery, and Benny Carter before disbanding in the 'sixties. Coming to Columbus, he put his talents as a bass player to work, through his long association with the Bob Allen Trio. He also moved into the role of educator, opening The Jazz City Workshop, Central Ohio's first school for jazz. He also authored a popular text book on how to play the bass. Later he taught at Dennison University as well. More recently, Wiley has been leading his own small combo and has released a couple of CDs. |
1998 Columbus Senior Musicians Hall of Fame Honorees |
July-September 1998 issue of WCBE's quarterly magazine Et Cetera featured an article on the CSMHOF. The radio station has been a long timer supporter of The Columbus Senior Musicians Hall of Fame, Inc. |
Index of Musicians |
Anderson, Al "Rags" Becker, Forrest A. Cunningham, Freddie Dworkin, Leo Kane, Artie Kline, Morrie Nafzger, Rose Thall Peppe, Lou Ricketts, Robert "Webb" Walker, Gene |
Basham, Don Clark, John Delaney Dailey, Chuck Haines, Don Kittrell, Christine Langston, Jerry K. Nix, Eddie Racle, Ray Rogers, Jimmy "Stix" Wiley, Cornell |
