Mia Patel
Known as the King of Swing, Drum King, King of the Savoy, and the first true drumming idol, Chick Webb was an American jazz and swing music drummer and band leader. In 1931, Webb's band became the house band at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York City. Webb's band included vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, who started her career as the Savoy's house vocalist. Webb and Fitzgerald performed hits such as A-Tisket, A-Tasket and Stompin' at the Savoy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ella Fitzgerald |
| Birth Date | April 25, 1917 |
| Death Date | June 15, 1996 |
| Nicknames | First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz, Lady Ella |
| Relationship with Chick Webb | Performed with Webb's orchestra from 1935 to 1942 |
| Notable Performances with Chick Webb | "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", "Love and Kisses", "Stompin' at the Savoy" |
| Awards | An award was named after her by the Society of Singers |
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What You'll Learn
Ella Fitzgerald joined Chick Webb's orchestra in 1935
In 1935, Chick Webb hired the young vocalist Ella Fitzgerald to join his orchestra. Fitzgerald, then a teenager, had already won talent competitions at the Apollo Theater and had performed with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House. Webb, a jazz and swing music drummer and bandleader, was known for his powerful technique and virtuoso performances, which influenced many other drummers. Despite his own physical challenges—Webb had spinal tuberculosis, which left him with a hunched back and mostly disabled legs—he created innovations in jazz drumming, using custom-made pedals and other percussion instruments.
Fitzgerald's rendition of the nursery rhyme "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" helped boost both her and Webb to national fame. The song, composed by Van Alexander at Fitzgerald's request, showcased her trademark youthful vocals and became a huge hit. She also recorded several other hits with Webb's orchestra, including "Love and Kisses" and "(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)".
Ella Fitzgerald and Chick Webb performed together at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, which was known for providing an environment where Black and White patrons could forget their differences and become equal in the blare of the music and the thrill of the dance. Webb's orchestra was the house band at the Savoy, and the song "Stompin' at the Savoy" was named for the iconic venue. Webb's version of the song, with its round of solos, was hard-swinging, and it became a theme song for the dance hall.
After Webb's death in 1939, Fitzgerald took over the band and continued to lead it until 1942, when she left to start her solo career. She recorded nearly 150 songs with Webb's orchestra between 1935 and 1942.
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Webb and Fitzgerald performed hits such as A-Tisket, A-Tasket
In 1935, Chick Webb hired the young vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, who had already won talent competitions at the Apollo theatre. Fitzgerald was to receive her big break with Chick's band. Webb's orchestra was signed to Decca Records, and in 1938, they recorded the song "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", which was composed by Van Alexander at Fitzgerald's request. The song was a huge hit, with Fitzgerald delivering sugary sweet vocals that became her trademark.
"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" was a rendition of a nursery rhyme, and it helped boost both Fitzgerald and Webb to national fame. The song was composed by Van Alexander, but Fitzgerald also contributed to the writing. Webb and Fitzgerald's rendition of the song is credited with helping to advance racial equality, with people of all races humming the tune and feeling "transformed as if by a bolt of lightning, not caring that the players were not Caucasian".
Ella Fitzgerald performed with Chick Webb and his orchestra, often at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Webb's band became the house band at the Savoy Ballroom in 1931, and he was one of the best-regarded bandleaders and drummers of the new "swing" style. Webb was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and suffered from spinal tuberculosis, which left him with a hunched back and mostly disabled legs. Despite this, he went on to lead one of the most swinging big bands of the 1930s, regularly performing at the Savoy Ballroom.
Fitzgerald and Webb recorded nearly 150 songs together between 1935 and 1942. In addition to her work with Webb, Fitzgerald performed and recorded with the Benny Goodman Orchestra. She also had her own side project, known as Ella Fitzgerald and Her Savoy Eight. After Webb's death in 1939, Fitzgerald took over the band and led it until 1942, when she started her solo career.
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Webb's band became the house band at the Savoy Ballroom in 1931
In 1931, Chick Webb's band became the house band at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York City. Webb, born in Baltimore, Maryland, was an American jazz and swing music drummer and band leader. He was known for his powerful technique and virtuoso performances, which were influential on other drummers. Webb's band played at the Savoy during the swing era, and their performances helped create an environment where people of different races could forget their differences and come together through music and dance. Webb's band competed in battle of the bands contests with other orchestras, including those of Benny Goodman and Count Basie.
Webb's band was also known for its performances with vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, who started her career as the Savoy's house vocalist. Fitzgerald joined Webb's orchestra in 1935, and they performed hits such as "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" and "Love and Kisses". Fitzgerald's rendition of "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" helped boost both her and Webb to national fame. Despite her success, Fitzgerald was notoriously shy, and she dedicated herself to her music.
In addition to their performances with Fitzgerald, Webb's band also featured other talented musicians. One notable member was Edgar Sampson, who composed the song "Stompin' at the Savoy". Sampson originally wrote the song for another orchestra but brought it with him when he joined Webb's group in 1933. Webb's recording of the song rose to number ten on the charts in 1934, and it became a jazz standard.
Webb's health began to decline in 1938, and he passed away in 1939. Fitzgerald continued to lead the band until 1942, when she started her solo career. Webb's influence extended beyond his death, with drummers such as Buddy Rich and Art Blakey citing him as an inspiration.
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Webb was known for his hard-swinging rendition of Stompin' at the Savoy
"Stompin' at the Savoy" is a 1933 jazz standard composed by Edgar Sampson. It is named after the famed Harlem nightspot the Savoy Ballroom in New York City, where Chick Webb performed with his orchestra. Webb's rendition of "Stompin' at the Savoy" is particularly notable for its hard-swinging style and tempo. The song was originally written and arranged by Sampson, who played the saxophone in Earl Magee's orchestra at the Empire Ballroom. The number was composed to showcase the trumpet skills of Rex Stewart, who was Sampson's bandmate at the time.
After Sampson's band broke up, he joined Webb's group at the Savoy Ballroom and took the song with him. Webb was the first act to take the instrumental to the pop charts, with Mario Bauza on the trumpet solo. Webb's version peaked at #10 in 1934, and the single was re-issued in 1936, hitting #18. Webb's recording is also notable for its faster tempo compared to Benny Goodman's later version. Webb's band also employed a choppy, up-and-down phrasing style that was common in the early to mid-1930s.
Chick Webb was an influential American jazz and swing music drummer and bandleader. He was known for his powerful technique and virtuoso performances, which inspired other drummers such as Buddy Rich. Webb was also renowned for creating an inclusive environment at the Savoy Ballroom, where people of all races were welcome during an era of racial segregation. Webb's performances with his orchestra helped to popularise swing music and contributed to the cultural significance of the Savoy Ballroom in the history of jazz and swing.
Webb's career included collaborations with notable vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, who performed with him at the Savoy Ballroom. Despite not being adopted by Webb, Fitzgerald was rumoured to have a close relationship with him and his wife, Sally. Webb's health declined in 1938, and he passed away in 1939 at a young age. His legacy continues to be celebrated through documentaries, films, and tributes by other musicians.
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Webb was an influential drummer and band leader
William Henry "Chick" Webb, born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1905 (though the year is disputed), was an influential drummer and band leader. He was one of four children, and as an infant, he fell down a flight of stairs in his family's home, injuring his spine and requiring surgery. Despite never regaining full mobility, he went on to become a renowned musician.
At the age of 17, Webb moved to New York City, and by 1926, he was leading his own band in Harlem. In 1931, his band became the house band at the Savoy Ballroom, and he became one of the best-regarded bandleaders and drummers of the new "swing" style. Webb's band regularly defeated other major swing bands in musical contests, and they maintained a stable roster of band personnel and developed ensemble discipline through their steady engagements at the Savoy.
Webb's drumming was noted for its swing, taste, and virtuoso technique, and he is said to have had a powerful technique and memorable performances. Drummers Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa cited Webb as a major influence on their own drumming, with Rich referring to Webb as "the daddy of them all". Webb was unable to read music, so he memorised the arrangements played by the band and conducted from a central platform. He also used custom-made pedals, goose-neck cymbal holders, a 28-inch bass drum, and other percussion instruments.
At the Savoy, Webb competed in battle-of-the-bands contests with the likes of the Benny Goodman Orchestra and the Count Basie Orchestra. Webb's jamming with singer Ella Fitzgerald elevated both of their reputations, and in 1935, he backed her on her biggest-selling record at the time, "A-Tisket, A-Tasket". Webb's work was particularly impressive given his physical stature and the challenges he faced due to his injury.
Webb died from tuberculosis in 1939, and after his death, Fitzgerald led the Chick Webb band until she left to focus on her solo career in 1942. Webb's influence extended beyond his lifetime, as he inspired future musicians and helped create an environment where people could forget their differences and come together through a shared love of music.
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Frequently asked questions
Ella Fitzgerald often performed with Chick Webb at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. She was the house vocalist at the Savoy and recorded nearly 150 songs with Webb's orchestra between 1935 and 1942.
Ella Fitzgerald and Chick Webb performed hits such as "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", "Love and Kisses", and "(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)".
Chick Webb was a drummer and bandleader who is known for his swing style. Webb is also known for his performances at the Savoy Ballroom, which was known for providing a space where people could forget their differences and become equal through music and dance.
