Austin High School gang
The Austin High School Gang , also Austin High Gang , is the name of a group of white jazz musicians in the middle-class Austin suburb of Chicago , most of whom knew each other from Austin High School . They began in 1922 based on the musical model of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings (around Paul Mares , Leon Roppolo and George Brunies ), whose pieces they practiced measure for measure after their records, and to play Bix Beiderbecke 's The Wolverines together. In 1924 they renamed themselves Blue Friars , after the Friar's Inn , where the Rhythm Kings played in Chicago, and later formed under the name of their manager Husk O'Hares Wolverines . They were soon very popular and attracted other jazz enthusiasts (white) musicians to play with them, such as Eddie Condon and the young Benny Goodman . Many white Chicago-style musicians who later became famous were part of the gang, specifically:
- Jimmy McPartland - Cornet
- Dick McPartland - banjo, guitar
- Frank Teschemacher - clarinet, saxophone (and other instruments)
- Bud Freeman - tenor saxophone
- Jim Lanigan - bass, tuba
- Dave North - piano
- Dave Tough - drums (he didn't go to Austin High , he went to a neighboring high school)
- Frank Josh Billings - (suitcase as) drums