Dicky Wells

Dicky Wells (left) and his brother Henry Wells , Eddie Condon 's, New York, circa January 1947.
Photograph by William P. Gottlieb .

William Wells called Dicky (sometimes Dickie) Wells (* 10. June 1907 in Centerville , Tennessee ; † 12. November 1985 in New York City ) was an African-American leader ( big band ) Jazz - trombonist of Swing .

Wells grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and came to New York in 1926, where he became a member of the band of Lloyd Scott and Cecil Scott , with whom he also recorded. He also played in the bands of Elmer Snowden , Charlie Johnson and Luis Russell . In the 1930s he became known through his membership in the bands of Fletcher Henderson , Benny Carter , Teddy Hill , with whom he went on a European tour in 1937, where Wells recorded under his own name for the newly founded label Swing . He also played with Spike Hughes and in 1937 with Django Reinhardt (recording Sweet Sue ). He became known through his time from 1938 to 1945 (recordings Taxi War Dance , Dickies Dream ) and from 1947 to 1950 in the Count Basie Big Band. Even after that, he accompanied the singer of the Basie band Jimmy Rushing and also played in the TV program The Sound of Jazz in 1957 (in which Basie and Rushing also appeared, they played Dickies Dream , among others ). He toured Europe with Buck Clayton and played with Ray Charles (1961–63) in the early 1960s . From the mid-1960s, he had increasing difficulties getting engagements due to alcohol problems and worked as a messenger during the day. His last album was released in 1981. Wells also published memoirs with Stanley Dance ( The Night People - the Jazz life of Dicky Wells , 1971).

Discographic notes

Dicky Wells 1927-1943 (Classics) with Freddie Green , Jo Jones , Django Reinhardt , Ellis Larkins , Lester Young
The Stanley Dance Sessions (Lonehill, 1958/59) with Buck Clayton , Vic Dickenson , Buddy Tate , Kenny Burrell , Everett Barksdale
Chatter Jazz (RCA, 1959) with Rex Stewart , John Bunch , Leonard Gaskin

Fonts

Dicky Wells The Night People . Crescendo. Boston 1971.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Wells, Dicky
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Wells, William; Wells, Dickie
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American jazz trombonist
DATE OF BIRTH	June 10, 1907
PLACE OF BIRTH	Centerville , Tennessee
DATE OF DEATH	November 12, 1985
Place of death	New York City