Jake Harper
Nat King Cole and Chick Webb are two of the most influential jazz musicians of their time. Cole, a jazz pianist, formed the King Cole Trio in the late 1930s, which became the top-selling group on Capitol Records in the 1940s. He also hosted the first nationally broadcast television show by a Black American, The Nat King Cole Show, in 1956. Chick Webb, born William Henry Webb, was an American jazz and swing music drummer and band leader. Despite facing challenges due to his physical disabilities, Webb became known as one of the most powerful drummers of the classic era. He formed the Chick Webb Orchestra, which became the house band at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, breaking racial barriers and paving the way for drummer-led bands. Both Cole and Webb have left a lasting legacy in the world of jazz and swing music.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | William Henry "Chick" Webb |
| Birth Date | February 10, 1905 (disputed) |
| Death Date | June 16, 1939 |
| Birthplace | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Occupation | Jazz and swing music drummer and band leader |
| Notable Achievements | Discovered Ella Fitzgerald, competed in "Battle of the Bands" at the Savoy Ballroom, first jazz artist to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House |
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What You'll Learn
Chick Webb's early life and career
William Henry "Chick" Webb was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on February 10, 1905 (disputed). He was one of four children; he had three sisters: Bessie, Mabel, and Ethel. When Webb was an infant, he fell down some stairs in his family home, injuring his spine and requiring surgery. As a result, he never regained full mobility. As a toddler, Webb showed an interest in drumming, initially using pots and pans and other surfaces found in his neighbourhood to drum out rhythms.
At age eleven, he bought his first set of drums with money earned from odd jobs and selling newspapers. He worked as a street musician before joining the Jazzola Orchestra, which performed aboard the Chesapeake Bay steamers. In 1924, at the age of 17, Webb moved to New York City, and by 1926 he was leading his own band, the Jungle Band, in Harlem. In 1927, he formed the Harlem Stompers, an eight-piece band that eventually expanded to eleven pieces before being renamed the Chick Webb Orchestra. Webb was a virtuoso drummer, despite never learning to read music. Instead, he memorised all the band arrangements.
In 1931, Webb's band became the house band at the Savoy Ballroom, an integrated venue in Harlem. They were the most popular band at the venue and consistently drew crowds of thousands. Webb was one of the best-regarded bandleaders and drummers of the new "swing" style. His powerful technique and virtuoso performances influenced many other drummers, including Buddy Rich, who referred to Webb as "the daddy of them all". Webb used custom-made pedals, goose-neck cymbal holders, a 28-inch bass drum, and other percussion instruments.
In 1935, Webb began featuring a teenage Ella Fitzgerald as a vocalist. They performed hits such as "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", composed by Van Alexander. Webb is credited with discovering and mentoring Fitzgerald, who became known as the First Lady of Swing. In 1938, Webb's health began to decline, but he continued to perform to support his band during the Great Depression. He died on June 16, 1939, in Baltimore, from Pott disease.
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Webb's influence on jazz drumming
William Henry "Chick" Webb, born in Baltimore, Maryland, was a celebrated jazz and swing music drummer and
Despite being unable to read music, Chick Webb is remembered for his powerful technique and virtuoso performances. He memorized all the band arrangements and conducted from a platform in the center. Webb used custom-made pedals, goose-neck cymbal holders, a 28-inch bass drum, and other percussion instruments. He was also one of the first bandleaders to sign with Decca Recording Company and the first jazz artist to be featured at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Webb's influence extended beyond his technical prowess and included breaking down racial barriers. He led the most popular house band at the integrated Savoy Ballroom, consistently drawing crowds of thousands. Webb was also credited with discovering and mentoring Ella Fitzgerald, who he hired as his lead vocalist. Together, they performed hits such as "A-Tisket, A-Tasket."
Chick Webb's short life, which was tragically cut short by chronic spinal tuberculosis at the young age of 34, left a lasting legacy in the world of jazz drumming. His contributions to music, strength in the face of racism, and resilience against severe physical ailments have earned him a place in the history of jazz as one of the "Immortals of Jazz."
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Webb's work with Ella Fitzgerald
Jazz drummer Chick Webb collaborated with Ella Fitzgerald, who he hired as his lead vocalist. Webb is credited with discovering and mentoring Fitzgerald, who would later be known as the First Lady of Swing.
In 1934, Webb was already the reigning king of Harlem's Savoy Ballroom when he discovered the 17-year-old Fitzgerald after she won the Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater. In 1935, Webb began featuring the teenage Fitzgerald as a vocalist, and they recorded hits such as "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" and other swing-era songs like Hoagy Carmichael's "Sing Me a Swing Song."
Webb and Fitzgerald's collaboration is considered incredibly important, with Webb's powerful drumming and the orchestra's musicianship complementing Fitzgerald's vocals. Their partnership is documented in Mosaic Records' box set, "The Complete Chick Webb & Ella Fitzgerald Decca Sessions (1934-1941)".
After Webb's untimely death in 1939, Fitzgerald led the Chick Webb band until 1942 when she left to focus on her solo career, causing the band to break up.
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Webb's health issues and early death
William Henry "Chick" Webb, born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1905 or 1909, was a celebrated jazz and swing music drummer and band leader. As a toddler, Webb showed interest in drumming, initially using pots and pans, and different surfaces found in his neighbourhood to drum out rhythms. He worked as a street musician before joining the Jazzola Orchestra, performing aboard the Chesapeake Bay steamers.
Webb suffered from poor health his entire life, having been afflicted at birth with spinal tuberculosis, which caused him to have a hunched back and restricted growth. When he was an infant, Webb fell down some stairs in his family home, crushing several vertebrae and requiring surgery, from which he never regained full mobility. In 1938, his health began to deteriorate due to his chronic spinal condition, and he collapsed several times after shows. Despite his declining health, he continued to perform, refusing to stop touring so that his band could remain employed during the Great Depression. His dedication to his performances meant he often passed out from physical exhaustion after finishing sets.
In 1939, Webb underwent a major operation at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, but he never recovered. On June 16, 1939, Chick Webb died from Pott's disease, with his last words reportedly being, "I'm sorry, I have to go." Webb's death came as a blow to the jazz and swing community, and he is remembered as a pioneering musician who broke through racial barriers and influenced many other artists.
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Webb's legacy and impact on other musicians
William Henry "Chick" Webb, born in Baltimore, Maryland, was an American jazz and swing music drummer and band leader. Despite facing challenges due to racism and segregation in the music industry, Webb became one of the most influential and renowned drummers and bandleaders of his time. Known as the "King of Swing," Webb broke through racial barriers and left a lasting impact on the world of jazz and swing music.
Webb's musical career began as a young teenager when he performed with dance bands in Baltimore theaters, clubs, and on excursion boats in the Chesapeake Bay area. At the age of eleven, he purchased his first set of drums, and his passion for drumming continued to grow. In his teenage years, Webb was inspired by pianist and composer Eubie Blake's success in New York City, which motivated him to move to Harlem, New York, in 1924 when he was around seventeen years old.
In Harlem, Webb immersed himself in the vibrant jazz scene, befriending musicians like alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges and collaborating with the likes of Duke Ellington, who offered him his first bandleading job. Webb's talent and perseverance led to the formation of his own bands, including the Jungle Band and the Harlem Stompers, which later evolved into the renowned Chick Webb Orchestra. This orchestra became the most popular house band at the integrated Savoy Ballroom, attracting thousands of fans and competing with other renowned bands of the time.
Webb's impact extended beyond his own performances; he was also a talent scout who hired and mentored young musicians who went on to become significant trendsetters. The most notable of these was Ella Fitzgerald, whom Webb hired as an unknown vocalist in 1935. Together, they created hits such as "A-Tisket, A-Tasket." Webb is credited with discovering and nurturing Fitzgerald's talent, and she remained an integral part of his band even after his death in 1939.
Webb's influence on other musicians was profound and wide-reaching. Drummers like Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, and Gene Krupa cited Webb as a pivotal influence on their own drumming styles. Art Blakey and Duke Ellington also acknowledged Webb's impact on their music. Webb's powerful technique, energetic solos, and ability to memorize complex band arrangements without reading music left an indelible mark on the world of drumming.
In addition to his musical contributions, Webb was a community-minded individual who used his platform to support various causes. The Savoy Ballroom, where Webb's band held residency, became a central place for fundraisers during the Great Depression, raising money for hunger relief, unemployment support, and social justice initiatives. Webb and his band also performed at events to raise funds for children's hospital funds and summer camps. Webb's legacy continues to be honored, and his impact on the evolution of jazz and swing music remains undeniable.
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Frequently asked questions
William Henry "Chick" Webb was an American jazz and swing music drummer and band leader. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1905 and died in 1939. He was severely handicapped by a childhood illness and stood at less than five feet tall, but he is considered one of the most powerful drummers of the classic era.
No, there is no evidence that Chick Webb performed with Nat King Cole. Cole was a jazz pianist and singer who started his career in the late 1930s and became a solo singer in 1950. Webb, on the other hand, moved to New York in 1924 and formed his first band in 1926. They may have performed in the same clubs in New York during the late 1920s, but there is no indication that they performed together.
Chick Webb performed with his own band, the Chick Webb Orchestra, which was the resident band at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Webb is also known for performing with singer Ella Fitzgerald, whom he hired as his lead vocalist in 1935. They performed hits such as "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" and "Stompin' At The Savoy".
