I have read that Cab Calloway could have his pick of any music arranger in his day, and unlike Duke Ellington he looked to others to create the compostions he performed. It is written that Will Hudson was the only "white" arranger Calloway ever used. Yet, from Mario Bauza's lips John Bartee was Calloway's arranger while he was with the band. Uh... John was at least 95% white.
Will Hudson
b. March 8, 1908, Barstow, California
d. July 1981 Isle of Palms, South Carolina
Will Hudson is best remembered as a bandleader and composer. In the late 20's, Hudson wrote scores for a great many famous bands of the day, including Cab Calloway, Don Redman, Fletcher Henderson, Ina Ray Hutton, Jimmy Lunceford, Earl 'Fatha' Hines, Erskine Tate and McKinney's Cotton Pickers. In the mid to late 1930's, he was active as an orchestra leader, first by himself, and then in partnership with Eddie DeLange.
Hudson's family moved to Detroit, MI, and there in the mid 1930's, he formed his very first band. In 1936, he and Eddie De Lange got together and formed the 'Hudson-DeLange Orchestra'. The band was well drilled and had a good sound, but trouble was brewing in the wings. Eddie was very extroverted and Will was just the reverse, very quiet. Due to this personality difference, the two did not get along and they disbanded in 1938, somewhat acrimoniously. In 1939, Will formed his own Will Hudson Orchestra, which lasted until 1940. In 1941, Hudson and DeLange again formed a band, but it was short-lived. Interestingly, Will studied Composing at New York's Juilliard School of Music in 1948. Never-the-less, he was musically inactive during the 1950's decade.
As a team, Will Hudson's songs with Eddie DeLange's lyrics were "Deep in a Dream"; "Remember When"; and perhaps their most successful work, "Moonglow". Separately, Will Hudson wrote some very successful instrumentals, such as: "Sophisticated Swing"; Love Song of a Half Wit"; "Monopoly Swing"; "Eight Bars in Search of a Melody"; and perhaps his most successful was "Organ Grinder's Swing".
Later, he arranged scores for music publishers. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Force. Joining ASCAP in 1935, his popular-music compositions include "Moonglow", "Tormented", "Sophisticated Swing", "Organ Grinder's Swing", "Mr. Ghost Goes to Town", "White Heat", "Jazznochracy", "Hocus Pocus", "Devil's Kitchen", "You're Not the Kind", and "Witch Doctor".
Irving Mills published their music, recorded it on his Master Records label, and took a little "piece of the action" by making them put his name on the music as one of the composers. That was the way the industry operated in those days. Irving did the same thing with the Duke Ellington Orch., and others.
Moonglow ~ By Will Hudson with lyrics by Eddie Delange Performed by Judy Judd
Will Hudson
b. March 8, 1908, Barstow, California
d. July 1981 Isle of Palms, South Carolina
Will Hudson is best remembered as a bandleader and composer. In the late 20's, Hudson wrote scores for a great many famous bands of the day, including Cab Calloway, Don Redman, Fletcher Henderson, Ina Ray Hutton, Jimmy Lunceford, Earl 'Fatha' Hines, Erskine Tate and McKinney's Cotton Pickers. In the mid to late 1930's, he was active as an orchestra leader, first by himself, and then in partnership with Eddie DeLange.
Hudson's family moved to Detroit, MI, and there in the mid 1930's, he formed his very first band. In 1936, he and Eddie De Lange got together and formed the 'Hudson-DeLange Orchestra'. The band was well drilled and had a good sound, but trouble was brewing in the wings. Eddie was very extroverted and Will was just the reverse, very quiet. Due to this personality difference, the two did not get along and they disbanded in 1938, somewhat acrimoniously. In 1939, Will formed his own Will Hudson Orchestra, which lasted until 1940. In 1941, Hudson and DeLange again formed a band, but it was short-lived. Interestingly, Will studied Composing at New York's Juilliard School of Music in 1948. Never-the-less, he was musically inactive during the 1950's decade.
As a team, Will Hudson's songs with Eddie DeLange's lyrics were "Deep in a Dream"; "Remember When"; and perhaps their most successful work, "Moonglow". Separately, Will Hudson wrote some very successful instrumentals, such as: "Sophisticated Swing"; Love Song of a Half Wit"; "Monopoly Swing"; "Eight Bars in Search of a Melody"; and perhaps his most successful was "Organ Grinder's Swing".
Later, he arranged scores for music publishers. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Force. Joining ASCAP in 1935, his popular-music compositions include "Moonglow", "Tormented", "Sophisticated Swing", "Organ Grinder's Swing", "Mr. Ghost Goes to Town", "White Heat", "Jazznochracy", "Hocus Pocus", "Devil's Kitchen", "You're Not the Kind", and "Witch Doctor".
Irving Mills published their music, recorded it on his Master Records label, and took a little "piece of the action" by making them put his name on the music as one of the composers. That was the way the industry operated in those days. Irving did the same thing with the Duke Ellington Orch., and others.
Moonglow ~ By Will Hudson with lyrics by Eddie Delange Performed by Judy Judd
Thanks you for your recent very good mini bio of Will Hudson including information about my father Eddie DeLange. I am chiming in here with just one fact correction. Eddie co-wote the 1938 song "Deep In A Dream" with Jimmy Van Heusen, not Will Hudson. Van Heusen & DeLange had a string of hits in 1938 and 1939 including "Darn That Dream" the jazz standard that survives their 1939 Broadway musical "Swingin' The Dream". Eddie also co-wrote the 1934 Duke Ellington tune "In My Solitude" which was published by Irving Mills and therefore was in the same situation you describe: a publisher takes writer credit. Again, thanks for the mention. Stephanie DeLange
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteI have to admit the bio is a cut and paste. I have been looking at individuals with Calloway & Mills. Hoping I would stir a response from someone who had more first hand information. Seems to have worked, I will take a closer look into your father's career.
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteCan't help asking. What brought you to be interested in Calloway, Mills & Bartee?
Stephanie
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteThe short answer is Mario Bauza who played with Calloway put it out there that John was Calloway's arranger while he was with the band. Mills basically owned the band, and creative credits are truly hard to establish when such situations exist.
I am a lover of Music but I have come to believe that the system of creative credits is an illusion. I truly am dishearted when it comes to this aspect of my research. I have no problem with anyone buying rights outright as an investment on possible future financial earnings.
But buying the right to claim title to artistic & creative abilities is a true insult to the actual artist & the listener.
Like music publisher Jack Robbins, Mills had close ties to his performers finances by supplying the arrangers and having a link for new songs to publish with his name on them.
Money has a lot of Power.
Hey David,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the short answer, but I have a feeling the long answer would make a good story. Sounds like you are a super music biz researcher, digging in to corners not often visited.
So interesting!
Stephanie