Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-10-19
THE LoWpoWN
Bill oossetts life From
Phlily honkY ToNks
To "honky Tonk" Fumo

William Ballard Doggctt, ana you
were born on Feb, ID, 1915 In Phil |
adelphia As u child, and long he.
fore YOU knew the difference be-
tween a sharp and a flat, YOU had
a burning ear for music, But or,
gans were played only IN churches,
caruivals and theatres IN those
days. 50 YOU became interested in
the trumpet at the ripe old age ot
nine hut your family was poor
and unable TO help you launch the
career YOU wanted as u trumpet
player So the poggetts perman-
ent household fixture "a battered
upright piano---was the next logt,
cal outlet for your budding must,
cal genius,
Years later Jimmy German gave
you your first professional job
with band. and paid YOU SIS for
your first weeks work, II wasn't
much even in those days. but YOU
were in your element 50 you he.
cided 10 stick Il out You began
To gain stature as an accomplished
musician In Philadelphia, and
more Jobs came your way Top
bandleadera OF the day called upon
You as u sidcman, Soon you were
good enough TO organize your own
band and the year was 1888,
For a few months YOU played at
some Of the top theatres and
clubs Then hard times struck the
band business and you were forced
To sell your entire band The buyer
was Lucky Millindcr, and youll
never forget that deal You were
hard pressed for cash. and debts
were pllng up all around YOU, ~
you told Lucky I'm settle for n
coke" Today you and Millindcr
laugh about that sale. and Lucky
says. Il got better deal than
when the Indians sold the Island Of
Manhattan for S2I
In 1910 YOU Joined Jimmy
Mundy's band. hut In October 81
the same year you went back to
Millinder ~ pianist -arrnnger.
You were having your moments
of INDIGESTION, and your future.
~ seemed, was somewhat I'm
certain, Your association with
MIiiindcr lasted for two years,
Then your first real happiness
came into your life You married
Angelyn Darlington, the dream
girl YOU loved so much Through
AnEclyns faith, devotion and pa.
thence you were able 10 accomplish
much on your blueprint for Sue
cesE which you both know would
come some day
Some years later. after a brief
stay with the original Ink Spots
aH Pianist -arranger, you found
| yourself on n plane headed for Los
| Angeles, Calf, whore you be-
came the chief arranRer for Lionel
Hampton's orchestra Now you
were really flirting with bigtime
and SUGGEST After the Hampton
band had finished n series ~ one.
nightera In the San FrAnciaco-
Oakland area and returned 10 LA.
for a recording session, you learn.
Cd from Billy Jones that Louis
Jordan was looking for . pianist
and organlst, an unknown guy
named Bill Davis, was the muai.
clan whose place you took Davis
was leaving the band because he
had an idea about using the organ
NJ an instrument Of swing Before
he left. you and Davis became
lasting friends
I Several years later when you
met Davis again he was tho rage
~ the Hammond organ. and you
I were still plauist-arranger for
Jordan, Then something happened
which was destined IA change your
whole caroer Louis Jordan hired
( Bill Davis 10 go on tour NJ three
times the salary you were getting
. Tor arranging and playing tho
piano. Within q year you left J1rs
/ ian 10 study the Hammond organ
In August 1851 you got a
long distance call from Bin Ia
+ We. who told You that Fila Fitr-
gerald had a recording date set
for Decra Records and wanted
an orKabisi. sine. BIn Davis
was under contract 10 Columbia
Records and couldn't accept III"
job. he offered u Ia you.
This was you big chance Voc
I hhd never played organ Du'sid"
. your house. but luck and sheer
talent paid off Smooth Sailing
ymr FIRST record with Ella was
. bii, and the public Vas arDJF"f
over tho smooth organ Wgrk IN tho
/ background other recording Win
Ella included Rough EidIn md
Air Mail Special Your popular.