Chicago world. (Chicago, Ill.) 1918-????, 1948-07-17
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BARNEY
0---'A'AA
CLAZER

STAR
GAZER
> Caricature by Xavier Cueaf

s>S~@-~s ~~>~ $50 - -. -
A ten year old drummer boy
is filling mans skins. There
isn't a drummer in the business
today who can beat a better path
to your door than little Joey
Preston.
You'll remember Joey most re-
Gently for his role in MGM's
Fiesta" starring Esther Will
liams. In that film, Joey played
Mario, the child bullfighter. He
also played opposite Van John
son in, mo Leave, No Love-.
Benny Goodman described joey
perfectly when he said: He is
the greatest drummer in the
country which would indicate
that the little jazz drummer rides
herd over. even Gene Krupa and
Buddy Rich. To tear Joeys IN
credible drumming is the believe
Goodman's incredible statement.
Joey is the exception to the
rule that child musicians can't
hold the beat. Not only can joey
hold the beat, but nell never
play with other youthful musl-
clans. Instead, the whiz KID OF
the drums plays like a volcano
erupting with the biggest name
bands in the BUSH 4ss-Stan
Kenton, Krupa, the Fabulous
Dorseys, Buddy Rich, ct al. And
he amazes his elders with the way
he rocks with rhythm.
Other children have talked and
sung on records, but the NINA
ture of the drums is the first
youngster to cut him own instru-
mental talents on wax. Joey's al |
bum by Modern Music Records, n
which he works with some OF our !
upper crust musiciSns, is made |
almost awe-inspiring by his work !
of fire and birthstone on the
drums, topped off by his piano
capers and surprisingly plea
SAINT singing voice.
One ambition fostered by the
young skin-man is to play Carne
gle Hall this fall. Only last sum-
mer, at the age Of 9, he loosed all
his energies in the st. Louis
Municipal Light Opera fairyland
extravaganza, "BabeS in Toyland
and Vox Populi responded with !
an all-time attendance record.
Most recently Joey performed
in San Francisco and Oakland
concerts with his own Sextette,
all grown men and tOp-line mu
sicians in their fields. Instead OF
on the engaging curry |
haired drummer as a precoclous
youth, they regard him as legl-
innate musical attraction.
Before reaching his Carnegie
Hall goal, Joey will rock many 4,
other cities to their very .toun- ,
dations with a series OF concerts !
by Ted Ryan, his able |;
manipulation of business strings |
with the open sesame persuatlon. !
The magnetic yOungster leans
to other talents. His work on the
is far beyond his years.
But. he's no ivory tower sissy, !
and he wants me to make that \
point clear. Joe plays golf with
a special set of clubs and only
a few weeks ago he pitched
ho-hit game for his grammar
school baseball team.
When asked what he owes his
success to, the little skln-beater
VIII invariably reply with beam
ing pride: "To my mother" Al
though Mrs. Preston is not mu-
sically inclinde, her faith and
efforts have insured the boys
future.
The Archduke of the drums
was only two years old when ms
mother heard him beat cigar
box with perfect rhythm. she
recognized that this was no usual
rattle banging of baby, so she
let his talent take root with the
aid of spoons.
At the age of four, Joey's
cheeks blazed when his father
gifted him with his first set OF
drums.
Yes, kids, Joey is selling you
out for 80 pieces Of silver by
that he, too, must
His minimum is two