Seeking contact with Tony Martin. John's oldest sister's daughter passed on a story that he had once dated Alice Faye. I never put too much into this other than it might have happened, maybe at least one date of some kind.
She married Tony Martin in 1937 divorced in 1940. She married Phil Harris in 1941 so I believe it would have been prior to this, as Harris & Faye had a long partnership, and marriage. John was married himself in December 1938, and not separated from his wife until at earliest mid-1940. So, at least legally they both were in relationships after 1937. Prior to Faye's marriage to Martin might have been the case. An even earlier time period between 1932 -1934 when Miss Faye was a radio singer; living in New York, prior to movies & Hollywood seems more possible. Official Alice Faye Website
On January 8, 2009, Tony Martin, a 95 year old widower, returned to the stage at San Francisco's Hotel Nikko in the Rrazz Room to sing many of his hit songs from the motion pictures he had been in. Mr. Martin is known to have many memories of the era, and the musicians & actors of the day. He himself picked up a saxophone at age 10.
If anyone can reach him for me and allow him to know of my search and anything he might be able to share it would be greatly appreciated.
Alice Faye & Phil Harris
Although Alice Faye ended up with Phil Harris. Mr. Martin seemed to have found the Fountain of Youth in his marriage with Cyd Charisse.
Tony Martin sang the theme song in the movie Party Girl
Often we start out on a journey believing we have a clear understanding of our destination. Though as our trip unfolds we may start to realize Life has a way of allowing opportunities to venture down paths with breathtaking beautiful scenery. More often though...we humans are in a rush, and feel the best route is the shortest distance from point A to B at the speed of light, many times missing possible joys & rewards.
Sometimes we get lucky, and an event slows us down so that we get a taste of the riches around us. The sad part is these times seem to be something we can't always plan or predict.
Life slowed me down recently. from a constant focus on designing & building cabinetry. A profession that has many times just been directed at getting the job done and trying to leave the client smiling from the results, then rushing right on to a list of wants & challenges of the next project.
One constant distraction from the world of creating & building has been the search for my great-uncle John Bartee. So a few months back when my body made me listen.... No longer could I continue to fix bleeding hands & fingers with duct tape, or a bad knee with a brace, and ignore all other health issues just to complete a day's work. I had to finally realize what was going on inside me could do two things... kill me or lead me to a stroke unable to care for myself. I could deal with death, though it's a done deal... it's a new beginning. But the possibility of being unable to have the freedom to explore and live yet you are still breathing, well that just didn't seem to be like something I wanted to try out. I stopped right that second... and allowed Life to retake control of my journey.
And it was weird the stuff that I had searched to find answers for about John's life had a chance to finally find me. Now my body had created a situation that allowed me the opportunity to sit down and pull out all the notes & research in an attempt to make something out of them.
This blog seemed like a format that would allow me to take one subject at a time and organize what I had found, without being overwhelmed with the challenge. I didn't know that it would also start to unveil what I had learned about myself.
I am not a Writer... At my expense, I failed to learn sentence structure and punctuation while in school, and I am aware that this fact alone probably drives readers away from my words. But still I try to convey the thoughts and images that reside within my heart & mind even if I am my only reader.
The search for John has opened many new doors I may have never walked through. One new door I have arrived at is that of Chris Albertson... His blog, Stomp Off opens a reader and listener to the many lives, and voices of the music world. In my previous post I tried to express my ideas about John's music... the world in which he lived as it has started to make itself known to me.
Through Chris... I feel I have been shown the lyrical Voice of Life's Music... Susannah McCorkle... A name that had cross my path years ago, but apparently I was too busy planning my life to truly hear her. She not only gives Music a voice with her ability to vocalise the poetry of her lyrics, but she breaths heart felt emotions into her songs, allowing us to be a part of them. Watching a partial interview she did with Charlie Rose one can easily see she was her Music. The music she felt guided her journey, allowing the influences of others, travels, and language all to be a part of her voice.
I can understand how a person's life could have been enriched by crossing paths with her, sharing a conversation or maybe just a glance into her eyes... she was a beautiful person in so many ways... I so thank technology for creating the means to save her feelings for us to enjoy... She truly speaks for the emotions of life in her Music.
The Love of Susannah McCorkle is truly a part of Life's journey that I think we all should allow ourselves the time to experience.
I thought I'd put up this post in hopes that it might bring in some information on another individual with ties to Artie Shaw, along with Harry James, Charlie Barnet & Pete Rugolo off the top of my head. Russell Brown, a trombonist (& sometimes vocalist). Mr Brown's name was stuck in my head as he is listed as a copyist on many of the Shaw Scores from the 37-38 time period, while also playing in the band. Many of the scores that have his hand on them have had a 3rd trombone added. It also just happens he is listed with John on Back Bay Shuffle.
In the past few days, his grand-daughter Marci has started posting for information on this long lost family member that not even her father got to know. Back in 2007 another grandchild, E. Brady was also seeking information on him through a daughter he may also have had.
As in my own search I have come cross many people in the music business that were lost to families they once had for many reasons & life didn't allow them to find their way back. And, many talented musicians that never received their ovation for work we still enjoy today. I will keep an open post available here for people to acknowledge & tell the stories of those that never got their 15 minutes in the spotlight. Somewhere someone cares where they are.
As a family member that has searched to pull together the pieces of a relative's life, I know many times there are good & bad stories about the persons we seek to find. But it is more important to just find anything so as to have a remembrance of them. Small clues can led to great rewards.
My search of John Bartee's life has had a happy reward, two months ago I was finally able to find the son he spoke of to the Nun who cared for him the last years of his life. A son that had not known anything of John since he was a boy of 8, he is now 70 with a different name which made him all the harder to locate. This man now has the knowledge of who John's parents & siblings were, and a little about the music John heard.
Please feel free to post & exchange information here.
Update August 10, 2010: I recently found on the Social Security Website that the S.S.Administration will forward a letter at no charge to a missing relative. This is only in the case of a family emergency and if that member has no other way of receiving word of a death, illness, etc. You will need to know legal name , date of birth, & the full names of both parents. The letter will be opened & read by the S.S.Administration to verify that it is an emergency situation, so keep this in mind. If the individual is working & paying into S.S. or receiving benefits, the letter will be forwarded to their last know address. It will be up to the individual contacted if they want to respond. I could have found John prior to his death if I had known about this.
An in depth study of hundreds of songs and their origins from Chick Webb & Cab Calloway in 1934 to Artie Shaw in 1949.
The evolution of Latin / Afro-Cuban has a hidden cousin.
Song by song I will work to identify, or clarify the Composer / Arranger & dates associated with recording.
I will start by addressing this recording, Roots of Mambo. A series of tunes that the producers of this album seemed to feel played some roll in the evolution of the Mambo. This is a French production and until recently many European Countries only acknowledged 50 years of copyright, England has extended this, but many re-recording productions do not honor the rights of the original performers & composers.
Translated French Album Notes: The Mambo - also known as Afro, Latin jazz or Cubop - is the result of a marriage between Afro-Cuban and American jazz. He continues to swing the years the United States before moving to bebop.Explosive cocktail of mirth, music of all busty, Mambo provides an irresistible feeling of nostalgic warmth for years that dancing is inextricably linked.
Eric Remy & Patrick Frémeaux This album, issued by the world-famous publishers, Frémeaux & Associés, has been restored using the latest technological methods.This album, Issued by the world-famous publishers, Frémeaux & Associates, has-been restored using the latest methods technologique.An explanatory booklet of liner notes in English and a guarantee are included. Audio Rights: Frémeaux & Associates - The Audio Library (Our collective memory to listen).
. The books sound Frémeaux & Associates are produced by the best specialists to receive analog and digital restoration recognized worldwide, are subject to an explanatory booklet in French and a certificate of guarantee.. The mark Frémeaux & Associates has received over 800 awards for his work in museum preservation and dissemination of audio heritage.
1. No Noise - Recorded Dec 1948 Mercury Released 1949 / Previously Titled Killer Joe Recorded 1947. (Previous Detailed Post) Never a question of Composer - John Lewis Bartee
(The Individuals/Corporations receiving John's Composer Royalties please step forward to acknowledge how you came about ownership.)
2. Rhapsody in Rhumba - Cab Calloway / Released 1940 I originally connected this tune to Artie Shaw's - Hold your Hat, or Hold your Hats depending on the arrangement or performance. John is given Arranger credits for HYH in 1937-38, Yet in the early radio recording the announcer clearly gives complete credit for this original number & arrangement to Shaw. And a year or two later the melody within it, is in Rhapsody in Rumba. Here we see Rhapsody included in Roots of Mambo - Were Shaw, Calloway & Bauza working together, or was John Bartee the common link in the creation of this number. Also, considering John's involvement in this Mambo Sound started with a melody in Hold your Hats and continued at least until Shaw recorded the Latin numbers in 1949. I'd say a blind man could see he was in the middle of the mix from the beginning.
(Mambo#3 recorded by Machito & No Noise appear to have music files reversed on preview site)
CD
Piste
Titre
Artiste principal
Durée
Enregistré en
1
1
Saint louis blues
Havana Yacht Club Orchestra
00:02:41
1931
1
2
The peanut vendor 1
Sebastian New Cotton Club Orchestra
00:03:23
1930
1
3
The peanut vendor 2
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra
00:03:21
1931
1
4
Doin the rumba
Cab Calloway And His Orchestra
00:02:58
1931
1
5
Moonlight fiesta
Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra
00:02:54
1935
1
6
Caravan 1
Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra
00:02:43
1937
1
7
Conga brava
Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra
00:02:59
1940
1
8
The congo conga
Cab Calloway And His Orchestra
00:03:01
1938
1
9
Chili con conga
Cab Calloway And His Orchestra
00:03:05
1939
1
10
Rhapsody in rumba
Cab Calloway And His Orchestra
00:02:47
1940
1
11
Yo eta cansa
Cab Calloway And His Orchestra
00:03:00
1940
1
12
Goin conga
Cab Calloway And His Orchestra
00:02:51
1940
1
13
No quiero swing
Mariano Merceron Y Sus Muchachos Pimient
00:03:32
1943
1
14
Caravan 2
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra
00:02:51
1945
1
15
Bijou
Woody Herman And His Orchestra
00:03:23
1945
1
16
Mambo 1
Arcano Antonio
00:03:06
1946
1
17
Mambo 2
Orch Noro Morales
00:02:47
1948
1
18
Cubana be cubana bop 1
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra
00:05:57
1947
1
19
Cubana be cubana bop 2 afro cuban suite
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra
00:07:11
1947
1
20
Algo bueno
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra
00:03:00
1947
2
1
Swedish suite
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra
00:02:51
1949
2
2
Tabu
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra
1948
2
3
Manteca 1
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra
00:03:07
1947
2
4
Manteca 2
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra
00:07:46
1948
2
5
Guarachi guaro 1
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra
00:03:13
1948
2
6
Guarachi guaro 2
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra
00:08:53
1948
2
7
Caravan 3
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra
00:02:57
1951
2
8
Tin tin deo 1
Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra
00:02:42
1951
2
9
Tin tin deo 2
Burns Dave
00:02:48
1948
2
10
Mambo 3
Machito And His Afro Cubans
00:06:06
1950
2
11
No noise
Machito And His Afro Cubans
00:04:55
1949
2
12
How high the moon
Machito And His Afro Cubans
00:03:51
1949
2
13
Bop champagne
Machito And His Afro Cubans
00:05:16
1949
2
14
Mambo is here to stay
Machito And His Afro Cubans
00:03:11
1949
2
15
U bla ba du
Machito And His Afro Cubans
00:03:16
1949
2
16
Gone city
Machito And His Afro Cubans
00:02:52
1949
2
17
Tropicana
Walter Gil Fuller And Orchestra
00:02:58
1949
2
18
Hey pretty baby
Erskine Hawkins And His Orchestra
00:02:45
1950
2
19
Opportunity
Erskine Hawkins And His Orchestra
00:02:45
1950
2
20
Casbah
Tadd Dameron And His Orchestra
00:03:00
1949
2
21
Lamento
Aime Barelli Et Son Orchestre
00:02:51
1949
Credits for the above:
Havana Yacht Club Orchestra , Castro Andres, Castro Antonio, Castro Manolo, Gonzalez Daniel, Portela Guillermo, Castro Juanito, Suao Luis, RubioMc Clure Red Mac Morris, Scott Harold, Graven Luther, Hite Les, Johnson Marvin, Jones Charlie, Prince Henry, Simons Moises, Duke Ellington And His Orchestra , Whetsol Arthur, Jenkins Freddy Posey, Williams Charles Cootie, Nanton Joe Tricky Sam, Tizol Juan, Hodges Johnny, Carney Harry, Bigard Albany Barney, Cab Calloway And His Orchestra , Culley Wendell, Dickerson Roger Quincey, Wright Lammar, Wheeler De Priest, Harris Arville, Brown Andrew, Thomas Walter, Prince Earess, Kenny , Perkins , Irving Mills, Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra , Stewart Rex, Brown Lawrence, Ellington Duke, Hardwick Otto, Cheatham Doc, Collins Shad, Randolph Irving, Johnson Keg, Jones Claude, Coots , Davis , Haughton Chauncey, Berry Chu, Mills Irving, Baron , Tuvim, Payne Benny, Barker Danny, Hinton Milton, Calloway Cab, Harding , Socarras , Iznaga , Mariano Merceron Y Sus Muchachos Pimient , Merceron Mariano, Anderson Cat, Hemphill Shelton, Jordan Taft, Nance Ray, Woody Herman And His Orchestra , Berman Sonny, Candoli Secondo Conte, Candoli Pete, Hefti Neal, Lewis Irv, Harris Willard Bill, Kiefer Ed, Pfeffner Ralph, Burns Ralph, Arcano Antonio, Antonio Arcano Y Sus Maravillas , Inconnu , Lopez Orestes, Orch Noro Morales , Morales Noro, Buenos Ruben, Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra , Gillespie Dizzy, Bailey Benny, Burns Dave, Wright Elmon, Kelly Ted, Shepherd Bill, Brown John, Russell George, Cook Willie, Harris Benny, Duryea Andy, Hurt Sam, Tarrant Jess, Fuller Walter Gil, Tarrant Jesse, Henry Ernie, Lecuona Ernesto, Pozo Gonzalez Chano, Gayles Joe, Payne Cecil, Wilson Gerald, Graham Bill, Smith Stuff, Jackson Milton, Heath Percy, Jones Al, Coltrane John, Burrel Kenny, Forman James, Moody James, Boyd Nelson, Blakey Art, Machito And His Afro Cubans , Bauza Mario, Davilla Frank, Edison Harry, Stewart Al, Woodlen Bob, Johnson Gene, Parker Charlie, Skerritt Fred, O Farrill Chico, Madera Jose Pin, Bartee , Phillips Flip, Johnakins Leslie, Hamilton , Sampson Edgar, Becke Pepe, Walter Gil Fuller And Orchestra , Dalee Mustapha, Massey Bill, Salaam Abdul, Johnson Charles, Rasheed Haleen, Ross Clarence, Tarrant Rip, Erskine Hawkins And His Orchestra , Hawkins Erskine, Johnson Bobby, Lowe Sam, Sulieman Idrees, Hall Rene, Range Bob, Wood Michael, Mitchell Jimmy, Smith B, George D, Tadd Dameron And His Orchestra , Navarro T Fats, Winding Kay, Shibab Sahib, Gordon Dexter, Dameron Tadd, Russell Curley, Clarke Kenny, Aime Barelli Et Son Orchestre , Barelli Aime, Caturegli Alex, Mauclair Jean, Gay Georges, Simino Marcel, Vasseur Benny, Migiani Armand, Aldegon Jean, Bartel Joe Works of Cab Calloway
1939 - 1941
1. For the Last Time I Cried Over You
2. Twee Twee Tweet
3. Pluckin' the Bass
4. I Ain't Gettin' Nowhere Fast
5. Chili Con Conga **
6. Tarzan of Harlem
7. Jiveformation, Please
8. Vuelva **
9. Bee Gizendt
10. Give, Baby, Give
11. Sincere Love
12. Do It Again
13. Pickin the Cabbage
14. Chop Chop Charlie Chan
15. Paradiddle
16. Boog It
17. Calling All Bars
18. Do I Care, No No
19. Lone Arranger **
20. Feelin' Tip Top
21. Topsy Turvy
22. Hi Di Hi Serenade
23. Who's Yehoodi?
24. Fifteen Minute Intermission
25. Rhapsody in Rhumba **
26. Come on With the 'Come On'
27. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance
28. Bye Bye Blues
29. Papa's in Bed With His Britches On
30. Silly Old Moon
31. Boo Wah, Boo Wah
32. Sunset
33. Yo Eta Cansa
34. Cupid's Nightmare
35. Levee Lullaby
36. Are You Hep to the Jive
37. Goin' Conga **
38. Hot Air
39. Lonesome Nights
40. Chicken Ain't Nothin' But a Bird
41. Worker's Train
42. North of the Mohawk
43. Make Yourself at Home
44. Run Little Rabbit
45. Willow, Weep for Me
46. You Are the One in My Heart
47. Are You All Reet?
48. Ebony Silhouette
49. Hep Cat's Love Song
50. Jonah Joins the Cab
51. Geechie Joe
52. Special Delivery
1935 - 1940
1. Good Sauce from the Gravy Bowl
2. Keep That Hi-De-Hi in Your Soul
3. Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable to Lunch Today)
4. I Ain't Got Nobody
5. Nagasaki
6. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
7. I Love to Sing-A
8. You're the Cure for What Ails Me
9. Save Me, Sister
10. Love Is the Reason
11. When You're Smiling
12. Jes' Natch'ully Lazy
13. Are You in Love With Me Again?
14. Copper Colored Gal
15. Frisco Flo
16. Wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Swing
17. Hi-De-Ho Miracle Man
18. Don't Know if I'm Comin' or Goin'
19. My Gal Mezzanine
20. That Man Is Here Again
21. Reckin'
22. Congo
23. Swing, Swing, Swing
24. Wake Up and Live
25. Manhattan Jam
26. Moon at Sea
27. I'm Always in the Mood for You
28. She's Tall, She's Tan, She's Teriffic
29. Go South Young Man
30. Mama, I Wanna Make Rhythm
31. Hi-De-Ho Romeo
32. Queen Isabella
33. Savage Rhythm
34. Every Day's a Holiday
35. Jubilee
36. In an Old English Village
37. (Just an) Error in the News
38. Minor Breakdown (Rustle of Swing)
39. Bugle Blues
40. One Big Union for Two
41. Doing the Reactionary
42. Rustle of Swing
43. Three Swings and Out
44. I Like Music (With a Swing Like That)
45. Foolin' With You
46. Azure
47. Skrontch
48. We're Breakin' Up a Lovely Affair
49. Peck-A-Doodle-Do
50. At the Clambake Carnival
51. Hoy-Hoy
52. Miss Hallelujah Brown
53. Conga-Conga
54. Boogie Woogie
55. There's a Sunny Side to Everything
56. Shout, Shout, Shout
57. Mister Paganini, Swing for Minnie
58. Jive (Page One of the Hepster's Dictionary)
59. Penguin Swing
60. Do You Wanna Jump Children?
61. I'm Madly in Love With You
62. April in My Heart
63. Blue Interlude
64. F.D.R. Jones
65. Deep in a Dream
66. Tee-Um, Tee-Um, Tee-I, Tahiti
67. Angels With Dirty Faces
68. Long, Long Ago
69. Afraid of Love
70. Ratamacue
71. Ad-De-Dey
72. New Moon and an Old Serenade
73. One Look at You
74. Ghost of Smokey Joe
75. Floogie Walk
76. Trylon Swing
77. Utt-Da-Zay
78. Crescendo in Drums
79. (Hep-Hep!) The Jumpin' Jive
80. For the Last Time I Cried Over You
81. Twee-Twee-Tweet
82. Pluckin' the Bass
83. I Ain't Gettin' Nowhere Fast
84. Chili con Conga
85. Tarzan of Harlem
86. Jive Formation, Please
87. Vuelva
88. Bee Gezindt
89. Give, Baby, Give
90. Sincere Love
91. Do It Again
92. Pickin' the Cabbage
93. Chop, Chop. Charlie Chan
94. Paradiddle
95. Boog It
96. Calling All Bars
97. Do I Care? No, No
98. Lone Arranger
99. Feelin' Tip Top
100. Topsy Turvy (Hard Times)
101. Hi-De-Ho Serenade
102. Who's Yehoodi?
103. Fifteen Minute Intermission
104. Rhapsody in Rhumba
105. Come on With the "Come On"
106. Ghost of a Chance
107. Bye Bye Blues
1938 - 1939
1. Skrontch
2. We're Breakin' Up A Lovely Affair
3. Peck-A-Doodle Do
4. At The Clambake Carnival
5. Hoy-Hoy
6. Miss Hallelujah Brown
7. The Congo-Conga
8. The Boogie-Woogie
9. There's A Sunny SIde To Everything
10. Shout, Shout, Shout
11. Mister Paganini-Swing For Minnie
12. Jive (Page One Of Hepster's Dictionary)
13. Do You Wanna Jump, Children
14. I'm Madly In Love With You
15. April In My Heart
16. Blue Interlude
17. F.D.R. Jones
18. Deep In A Dream
19. Tee-Um Tee-Um Tee-I, Tahiti
20. Angels With Dirty Faces
21. Long Long Ago
22. Afraid Of Love
23. Ratamacue
24. Ad-De-Dey
1938 - 1941
1. Rustle of Swing
2. Foolin' With You
3. Floogie Walk
4. Trylon Swing
5. Utt-Da-Zay
6. Crescendo in Drums
7. (Hep-Hep!) The Jumpin' Jive
8. Pluckin' the Bass
9. Jiveformation, Please
10. Bee Gezindt
11. Pickin' the Cabbage
12. Chop, Chop, Charlie Chan (From China)
13. Lonesome Nights
14. Chicken Ain't Nothin' But a Bird
15. Workers' Train
16. Willow Weep for Me
17. Are You All Reet?
18. Hep Cat's Love Song
19. Jonah Joins the Cab
20. Take the "A" Train
21. Chattanooga Choo Choo
22. St. James Infirmary
1930 - 1939
1. St. Louis Blues
2. St. James Infirmary
3. Minnie The Moocher
4. Sweet Georgia Brown
5. You Rascal, You
6. Strickly Cullud Affair
7. Aw You Dawg
8. The Man From Harlem
9. Eadie Was A Lady
10. The Lady With The Fan
11. Zaz Zuh Zaz
12. Kickin' The Gong Around
13. Keep That Hi-De-Hi In Your Soul
14. Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Lunch Today)
15. I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me)
16. Nagasaki
17. Jess's Natu'lly Lazy
18. Jive (Page One Of The Hepster's Dictionary)
19. The Ghost Of Smokey Joe
20. Utt-Da-Zay
21. (Hep-Hep!) The Jumpin' Jive
22. Tarzan Of Harlem
Post Updates: Aug 8, 2010
Le Mambo – encore appelé Afro, Cubop ou Latin jazz – est le fruit d’un mariage entre les musiques afro-cubaines et le jazz américain. Il prolonge les années swing aux Etats-Unis avant d’évoluer vers le be-bop. Cocktail explosif de gaieté, musique plantureuse entre toutes, le Mambo procure un irrésistible sentiment de chaleur teintée de nostalgie pour les années dansantes auxquelles il est indissociablement lié. Eric Rémy & Patrick Frémeaux Droits audio : Frémeaux & Associés - La Librairie Sonore (Notre mémoire collective à écouter).
Les ouvrages sonores de Frémeaux & Associés sont produits par les meilleurs spécialistes, bénéficient d’une restauration analogique et numérique reconnue dans le monde entier, font l’objet d’un livret explicatif en langue française et d’un certificat de garantie. La marque Frémeaux & Associés a obtenu plus de 800 distinctions pour son travail muséographique de sauvegarde et de diffusion du patrimoine sonore.
This album, issued by the world-famous publishers, Frémeaux & Associés, has been restored using the latest technological methods. An explanatory booklet of liner notes in English and a guarantee are included.
Years ago when my search began I came across an ASCAP registration for music titled "Killer Joe" that John composed. Popular Music Company founded by the late Mort Browne held the publishing rights for a tune that ASCAP was listing as having no known recordings. I found one in the Library of Congress & another copy in Dr. Diaz-Ayala's musical archives in Miami, Florida. The tune was originally recorded on Gabriel Oller's original CODA label prior to the formation of his SMC (Spanish Music Center) label.
Killer Joe / Bartee-Hernandez. Performed by Rene Hernandez orchestra. Swing-mambo. recording #1207 on Coda Album 5099 (78A)
The article refers to 6 Cuban Musicians that were honored at the Smithsonian Institute on February 27, 1999, for their contributions to the evolution of the Mambo & Afro Cuban jazz. One of these six men being Mario Bauza the director of the Machito Orchestra. As Mr. Salazar spoke at the ceremony of the history of Afro-Cuban jazz and the specific individuals being honored. The original recordings of the tunes Tanga, Manteca, Killer Joe, Cubop City, Con Poco Coco and Intermission Riff were heard throughout the auditorium.
In published accounts and interviews over the years Mario Bauza referred to the "White Arranger", John Bartee who was arranging for Cab Calloway while Mr. Bauza & Dizzy Gillespie were part of the Calloway organization. In 1941 Mr. Bauza left Cab Calloway while on the road to join the already existing Machito Orchestra, lead by his brother-in-law Frank Grillo, he brought along the idea to merge the big band jazz sound with the elements of the Cuban rhythms. To this goal he enlisted the jazz music arrangers John Bartee & Edgar Sampson to develop and orchestrate a Big Band sound for Machito. Both Bartee & Sampson had links to Bauza thru Chick Webb's Band which Bauza was involved prior to Calloway. John's links being his original arrangement of Teddy McRae's "Back Bay Shuffle". McRae was working with Webb in Boston at the same time Artie Shaw was also playing there around 1937. In June of 2010 I was informed by John's ex. sister-in-law that he was also arranging for Ella Fitzgerald, I do not know if this was before Mr. Webb's death or after when Ms. Fitzgerald directed the Webb Band.
Returning to the recording of Killer Joe, when I originally came across this tune the name jumped off the page. Immediately... the version of "Killer Joe" that we all know of composed by Mr. Benny Golson. came to mind. Not knowing what to think... I did what I always do, I continued to search. During this time I discovered an online Web page referring to Popular Music Company & their musical catalog. I think great... I'll contact the person who posted the site http://www.fyicomminc.com/mort/mortbrowne.htm and maybe they will make the original score of John's Killer Joe available to me so I can see if there are any similarities to Mr. Golson's great tune or what it might be. A woman representing herself as the creator of the website with first hand knowledge of the boxes of Popular Music Company archives responds to my phone call. I tell her my relationship with John Bartee and the research I am doing on his life while noting the Killer Joe composition that ASCAP has listed. She tells me that she will get back with me after she makes some contacts. What does she do... she contacts Mr. Golson herself (see below) saying she has been in touch with a relative of a composer that published a tune also titled Killer Joe previous to his original version.
BEST
(NOTE in the time since I have learned that years ago musicians when they would sit around and create if a fellow musician came up with a hot riff or melody they would say, "That's a Killer Joe". )
When I got her email back telling me what she had done along with Mr. Golson's response it was just one more time I shook my head in amazement over the motives others had when I have shared information. My motivation has always been to discover some facts of a man's life so as to remember him. Like many things in this world the dreams of fame & fortune tend to be the motivation for many. As for Mr. Golson I do appreciate how he set this individual straight. In regards, to a "Killer Joe", what was HOT in 48' was much HOTTER a decade later when Mr. Golson created a true "KILLER JOE".
Hello, Benny,
I am a musician and website designer
I am a friend of the late Mort Browne who owned Popular Music Co.
I got a call from the grand nephew of John Bartee who published with Mort. The conjecture is that John wrote a version of KILLER JOE and that his predated your composition.
Can you clarify this for me?
Diva Joan Cartwright
FYI COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
VERSION is not an original melody of a composition. It is merely a version, not the melody.
The melody of this composition came from the creative thoughts of my imagination alone,
and is registered with the bureau of copyrights in Washington, DC. for all time. There is
wrote the composition. You are speaking of something that is absolutely impossible and
ridiculous. I don't know what you have in mind, but... BE CAREFUL ! I am well prepared
for ANY eventuality.
Yours truly,
Benny Golson
Sun, Aug 17, 2003 05:34 PM
Benny, no danger of infringing on your copyright. Just inquiring as to if you knew a song written by Bartee entitled the same as yours. Didn't mean to offend.
Thanks
Joan Cartwright
Ms. Cartwright,
I am kind of numb from the email I have received from you. I was trying to approach the
"Killer Joe" composition quietly. And as I stated to you on the phone I wanted to have all my
facts straight first.
John Bartee had a composition named "Killer Joe" possibly named for "Killer Joe" Piro a dance
instructor at the Palladium where Machito was a regular dance band. Its a swing mambo.
I don't know that it shares anything in common with Mr. Golson's "Killer Joe" but the title.
I had emailed Mr. Golson before speaking with you, asking him about Tadd Dameron and
John Bartee. But now I have an idea why I received no response.
I contacted you first, looking for the sheet music of Popular Music and once I listen to the
actual recording if it bares any similarity to Mr. Golson's Killer Joe I will allow the recording
to speak for itself.
My reasons for this search revolve around making a record of the life of John Lewis Bartee.
They are not financial, I am interested in knowing your reason.
Sincerely,
David M. Wade Jr.
Mon, Aug 18, 2003 12:50AM
David, I thought you were trying to learn if it was the same Killer Joe
I did what I thought was helpful
Excuse me if I was wrong.
There are many songs with different melody and same name
I suppose this is one of them. Like Duh...
On March 24, 2004 I sat in a listening booth at the Library of Congress prepared to hear the original Coda #5099 recording of Killer Joe / Composed by John Bartee as performed by The Rene Hernandez Orchestra (this was basically the Machito Orchestra but to get around recording contracts many bands would take on a different identity to record with other labels). The remote operator ask me over the speaker if I was ready to listen, I answer, "YES... finally!" The music started and within seconds I knew it was... No Noise , a one sided version of the composition that Charlie Parker soloist part 2 & Flip Phillips soloist part 1 backed up by the Machito Orchestra recorded in December 1948 under the supervision of Norman Granz. My original 78 version is on a Mercury Label although Granz's Verve record label seems to be the one that currently re-releases this Parker Classic. The playback operator ask at the end of the recording, "You want to hear it again?" Sure lets listen one more time.
In his article he states what a trip to Washington DC. and a pair of headphones had shown me.
"In 1947, the Machito orchestra, under the direction of its pianist, René Hernández, recorded
Killer Joe,which one year later was retitled No Noise and featured sax soloists Flip Phillips &
Charlie Parker."
Mort Browne's widow was the owner of the Popular Music Company, upon her death
she left it to her Nurse / Caretaker. Having recently spoken with the new owner, any records for Popular Music Company & its music library have disappeared in the time since I have spoken to the previously noted website owner. Is it another case of history in a storage unit disposed of as trash? Like the story of Gabriel Oiler's warehouse cleared of cases of new albums and historial documents of recording sessions for the Coda & SMC music labels after his death. The new owner of Popular Music Company & her family were planning on stopping at ASCAP Nashville, Tennessee offices while on vacation this month to see what she does control. She seemed like a very nice lady, maybe ASCAP will look into any claim of royalties she has for the original musical publishing rights for "Killer Joe" before & after it was
re-titled and recorded as "No Noise"
Parts 1 & 2.
Now that would be a
"Killer Joe" !!!
Update: as of August 2, 2010, ASCAP has opened an inquiry of the composition Killer Joe
A Question for the readers, does anyone know how a tune that originally was classified as a Swing Mambo became Afro-Cuban Bop part of the Cubop movement? Does it just take a minimum of 12 months of time to pass and a title change? Or was it because when it was originally recorded they had not yet discovered they had created Cubop so there was no official name. Kind of like... you get called what we got at the time. But... if it was part of Cubop wouldn't the minute it was created be the point of discovery or creation? But I thought it was a Swing Mambo at creation... I hate evolution it just causes problems.
Mmmm... Hope that question doesn't confuse 60 years of Cubop history because I see alot of John's work labeled Swing Mambo that was good for the dance bands. If anyone has a dance video to "No Noise" please send it to me.
