Walter Barnes (musician)
Walter Barnes (born July 8, 1905 in Vicksburg (Mississippi) , † April 23, 1940 in Natchez (Mississippi) ) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist and band leader.
Walter Barnes grew up in Chicago and studied with Franz Schoepp , as well as at the Chicago Musical College and the American Conservatory of Music . From the beginning of the 1920s he led his own bands; he also played with Detroit Shannon and its Royal Creolians . When Shannon's musicians became dissatisfied with his management, Barnes took control of the ensemble. He played mostly in Chicago, although the band also had an engagement at the Savoy Ballroom in New York City . He played for almost two years in the Cotton Club in Cicero (Illinois) , a club that belonged to Al Capone's brother Ralph. 1928/29 recordings were made for Brunswick Records . In the 1930s he successfully toured the southern states of the USA annually ; In 1938 his orchestra had 16 members.
Barnes was one of the victims of the Rhythm Club Fire in Natchez, Mississippi , on April 23, 1940 . He was performing there at night in the rhythm club with an eight-member band when a fire broke out in the wooden building, a former converted workshop with only one exit. His band members Paul Stott and singer Juanita Avery were among the 201 victims of the fire.
The tragedy and Barne's death were thematized in numerous songs, such as in "We The Cats Shall Hep You" by Cab Calloway ; "For You" by Slim Gaillard ; "You're A Heavenly Thing" by Cleo Brown ; "The Death Of Walter Barnes" by Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston ; "The Natchez Burnin" by Howlin 'Wolf ; or "Natchez Fire" by John Lee Hooker .
Web links
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- George T. Simon: The Golden Era of Big Bands ("The Big bands"). Hannibal-Verlag, Höfen 2004, ISBN 3-854-45243-8 ,
- Leo Walker: The Big Band Almanac . Ward Ritchie Press, Pasadena. 1978
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Barnes, Walter |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz musician and big band leader |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 8, 1905 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Vicksburg, Mississippi |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 23, 1940 |
| Place of death | Natchez, Mississippi |