Panama Francis

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David Albert "Panama" Francis (born December 21, 1918 in Miami ; † November 13, 2001 in Orlando (Florida) ) was an American swing jazz drummer and a well-known studio musician in rock 'n' roll and rhythm and blues .

Live and act

Francis played in nightclubs in Miami (where his mother picked him up afterwards) and played a.o. a. in the band of saxophonist George Kelly . At the age of 19, after his parents separated, he went to New York with his Haitian father, where he played "Sizzling Six" with Tab Smith , Billy Hicks and the orchestra of Roy Eldridge , who nicknamed him "Panama" because of his hat. gave. 1940 to 1947 he was in the band of Lucky Millinder and then until 1952 with Cab Calloway . After that he was briefly with Slim Gaillard , played briefly with Duke Ellington and Tommy Dorsey and in 1953 led his own band in Montevideo , but then mainly worked as a much sought-after studio musician. He is u. a. on " Peggy Sue " by Buddy Holly , "The Wanderer" by Dion & The Belmonts , "What a Difference a Day Makes" with Dinah Washington , on records from The Platters , The Coasters , The Four Seasons ("Big Girls Dont Cry" , “Walk Like a Man”), the Platters (“Only You”, “The Great Pretender”, “ Smoke Gets in Your Eyes ”), Bobby Darin (“Splish Splash”) and Ray Charles (“Drown in my own tears ") And to be heard on" Prisoner of Love "by James Brown . In 1959 he also played on recordings with the Ray Conniff Orchestra . At the same time he took part in sessions with Mambo King Pérez Prado . He also arranged Prado's biggest hit, Patricia. He also played with Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald , Mahalia Jackson , Big Joe Turner , Eubie Blake , John Lee Hooker and Illinois Jacquet .

From 1963 to 1968 he toured with singer Dinah Shore and then moved to California, where he a. a. Played with Teddy Wilson in 1972 . In 1973 he went back to New York, where he played in Sy Oliver's band for two years . In the 1970s he participated in various projects of the "Harlem Renaissance", u. a. in new editions of the band of Chick Webb in the Apollo Theater and - initiated by him - the " Savoy Sultans " (in the 1940s Millinder's band and the Savoy Sultans in Harlem's " Savoy Ballroom " alternated) sporadically from 1974 and permanent band from 1979 In 1980 they won the “New York Jazz Award” as the best new group. 1980 to 1985 they resided in the "Rainbow Lounge". They released six records (e.g. "Grooving" in 1982 and "Everything swings" on Stash), two of which were nominated for a Grammy . In 1978 he played at the 50th anniversary of Lionel Hampton at the Newport Jazz Festival and in 1982 in a new edition for the Benny Goodman Quartet (with Teddy Wilson and Hampton). He was also a member of the "New York Jazz Repertory Company" in the 1970s and of "The Statesman of Jazz" in the 1990s. Francis occurred until kidney failure due to diabetes in 1996 (he died of a stroke in 2001). In 1999 his autobiography "Davis Gets his Drum" was published.

Francis was married and had two sons and four daughters. He was inducted into the Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame (where his drumsticks are on display), honored by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1993, and by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Francis was also seen in several films with Cab Calloway in 1950, but also z. B. in "Angel Heart" with Mickey Rourke and "Lady sings the blues" with Diana Ross as well as in the Madonna video "Secrets".

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personal data
SURNAME Francis, Panama
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Francis, David Albert
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz drummer
DATE OF BIRTH December 21, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH Miami
DATE OF DEATH November 13, 2001
Place of death Orlando (Florida)