The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-10-07
CALLS Them A
SCARED BUNCH
OF LAZY MEN
By LARRY CHISM
Theatrical Editor

Are local musicians true must
clans? Or are they merely men
trained to read and play music?
Do they have music in their souls?
Or are they merely lazy folks who
like music because there Is sense
OF glamour and excitement TO be
found in the music world?
wonder,
These and similar questions con-
corning the world OF local mu-
Sicians have puzzled this writer,
who has often asked: why hasn't
there been a good l5-piece band
recruited from Detroit willing TO
make an effort 10 join the bigtime
parade Of world renowned bands,
such as Basic, Ellington and nu-
merous other race musical organi-
zations?"
Last week during q conversation
with local musician, who has had
several small bands and who has
been on road tours, we at long last
found an answer 10 the above ques-
ton.
Raps Musicians
Our opinion. resulting from this
conversation, is: local musicians are
not true musicians. They have no
music in their soul. They are mere
ly men trained 10 read, perhaps
write and play music. They lack
courage, faith in themselves 10 &C.
complish great things in the world
OF music. They lack foresight to
realize that there is a great future
in the music world. And they are
afraid OF life Afraid to venture
too far from home.
Why" We asked our musica
friend, hasn't there been a recent
band combine TO 90 on the road and
attempt to make name for them
selves? Surely out Of 800 musi.
clans in Detroit there should a,
least be ten good musicians willing
TO make up such band"
Afraid To Leave Home
My musical friend shook his
head. You can't And" he ex-
planned, ten musicians out of the
800 who have the same kind OF
musical ideas and who are willing
to leave home.
II tried to get band once. !
had job all lined up in New
York. my friend continued. But
when the time came, one by one
the boys backed out. They said
they'd rather stay around home
and pick up some work."
Seems to me- we replied. that
out of 300 you could get ten men
willing TO do something together"
No" my good friend answered.
1T can't be done"
AT this point in the conversation
we ventured to give our candid
opinion OF local musicians, by say
ing: If they (musicians) can't get
ten men together with the same
ideas OF making a name band for
themselves -. II they are all
afraid to leave home II they
can't foresee great musical flu
ture in the postwar era And
II they aren't willing to make pres
ent sacrifices in favor OF a success
full future. then" we opined, they
aren't true musicians.
Merely Trained Fools
They're nothing more than
trained fools. They haven't any
music in their souls. They're a
bunch of dumb. near-sighted and
pathetic individuals. passing them
selves of as musicians"
why don't you try TO organize
a band?" my friend asked. To
which we answered, Music is out
OF my line But | still insist there
should be at least one good band
out OF the lot. All Of them can't
And work. in the two night clubs
here, so what'll they do?
You know where they are" my
friend answered. They work Al
Fords, in the other plants, drive for
DSR and do other odd jobs until
they get a call TO play here at
home"
My friend then told OF the good
work done for local musicians by
Lanky Bowman. "Oh yes" we
answered, isn't he a board men,
Der of the local union?"
No Negroes On Union Board
NO" my friend replied. There
are no Negroes on the board"
My friend then disclosed that
board meetings were held every
Friday in the building at Palmer
and Second avenue. You know.
he added. there's not a Negro en-
ployed in the building.