Musicians' Association of Jacksonville
American Federation of Musicians Local 444
FOLLIES AWARDS OPEN DOOR TO
JAX PAST
Local 444 member and trumpeter Teddy
Washington has opened the gateway to Jacksonville's bustling musical
past with his Follies Awards. In the 1980's, he hosted the Teddy
Washington Show, which ran for over 550 episodes, featuring interviews
with and performances by many groups and individuals, including
Marcus Roberts and Longineau Parsons. His guests included many
musicians who either lived or got their start in Jacksonville.
In early to mid-century (1900's that is!), downtown Jacksonville
was a center of musical culture, featuring jazz clubs on Ashley
Street (near where the La Villa Arts Magnet School now stands)
such as the Strand Theater, Club Eldorado, and the K.P. Hall.
The owner of the Hollywood Music Store, Joe Higdon, created a
popular venue for touring artists at the Two Spot . Greats the
likes of B.B. King, Ray Charles, James Brown, Charlie Singleton,
to name a few, actively participated in this thriving musical
renaissance. Teddy established the Follies to pay tribute to these
Jacksonville-connected artists, many of whom today's residents
may have either forgotten or even never known about. Many toured
with the great jazz bands of the era. This page touches on those
honored so far in Follies.
1999 Follies Award Recipients
MEMBERS OF THE FULL COUNTS BAND
Singing quartet, they toured nationwide,
ended up back in Jacksonville. Temptations type style. They are
still active today.
Thomas "Tom" Edwards - Singer, worked in New York, Europe,
still alive and active in Jacksonville
Norm Trice, singer for 20-30 years
Ernest "Fort" Johnson, singer
Clifton "Lawdy" Alexander, singer
OTHER INDIVIDUALS
Johnny Shaw - Jazz guitarist, from Nashville
to attend Fisk University, noted for their choral groups. Moved
to Jacksonville, big-time disc jockey for WOBS, on the road with
different bands, , his son is a drummer living in Detroit
Marie Buggs - blues/jazz singer, frequented
Jax nightclubs. Her international reputation was largely unknown
locally. She worked in the Apollo Theatre in New York, and toured
with Josephine Baker in Paris. She was the subject of a PBS special.
Joe Grant -A music agent and partner
of Joe Higgin, owner of the Hollywood Music Store. He is credited
with bringing many of the big bands to perform at the K.P. Hall
and later the Two Spot -- Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway in the
1920's, and Billy Eckstine Count Basie and Earl Hines in the 1940's.
This was the era when Eckstine featured artists such as Fats Navarro,
James Moody, Dizzie Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Dizzie and Charlie
also played together in the Earl Hines band with Pester Young
and Sarah Vaughn. Duke had performed only in white clubs such
as the Timiquana Golf Course until this venue was created. Joe
had the Sunset Royals Band in the 1920's and 30's, a very popular
Florida band that appeared before the Governor among others.
Jackie Davis - One of the finest jazz
organists, he was featured in the movie Caddyshack, and toured
worldwide with Louis Jordan and the Timpani Five. He worked for
the Hammond Organ Company. In his travels, he was authorized to
donate Hammond Organs, one of which is now housed at Edward Waters
College.
Virginia Atter Keyes - singer and TV
personality, she hosted a local variety show in the early days
of TV, on the first Jacksonville station. Her guests included
Russell George, and Ross Tompkin, and Dick Stratton.
John Stanberry - blues guitarist and
singer, famous for the 1960's song "Hokie-Pokie", of
the Doowop style.
Ken Knight - Promoter, and the first
black disc jockey in Jacksonville, on WIVY, he had his own TV
show on Channel 3 (now Channel 4) . He was the first to bring
a show featuring black culture to white TV.
Ethel Bannister - gospel singer, nationally
known, her group's modus operandi was to work with local choirs
while on tour.
Frank Legree, Jr. - An dancer/entertainer
with a dance partner working out of Tampa, they performed in Florida
and the Carribbean. He then joined the Jacksonville-based Tiny
York Band.
Gene White - keyboardist, choral director
at Ribault High Sxhool, currently a minister as well. He had a
Doowop style band that toured Florida, with Robert Mitchell, former
Edward Waters College President.
Billie Daniels - famed for the song
"Old Black Magic", also a movie star. His daughter,
Yvonne, was a big jazz singer and radio personality in Chicago,
which named a street after her.
Frank Williams - tenor saxophonist,
featured in the Ritz Theatre history gallery, played locally and
on the road. He founded a nightclub and orchestra, Frank Williams
and the Rocketeers, which featured the young singer "Little
Beaver", known for the song "Soul Train".
Nadine Brown - Jazz/blues singer and
recording artist with quite a few bands, featured on TV shows,
and popular in New York.
Charlie "Hoss" Singleton -Songwriter
most known for "Strangers in the Night", wrote for Pat
Boone, Nat King Cole, and the Beatles, among others. His son,
Warner, plays the sax, and lives in Jacksonville.
Bubba McGruder - Trumpeter with Count
Basie. He played in the Henry Washington Band. In Jacksonville,
he frequented the Two Spot Club.
William "Sleepy" Gillard -
A Big Band drummer and singer who has worked with Otis Redding
and B.B. King.
Tiny York - A tenor player. Many artists,
including Ray Charles, Ross Tompkins, Dwight Mitchell, Geno Gonzalez
and Teddy Washington played in the Tiny York Band. He went with
Russell George to New York .
FOLLIES SPECIAL AWARDS
B.B. King - Renowned jazz guitarist.
Bobby Glenn - Clarinetist, club owner
of All That Jazz, he passed away since receiving his award.
Ray Charles - Legendary blind singer/pianist.
He moved here from Georgia to live with his aunt.and attend the
St. Augustine School for the Deaf and Blind.
Dr. W.W. Shell, Jr. - A music lover,
who hosted all night jam sessions at his home, attracting some
of the biggest names in jazz.
Bob Merendino - Rana small jazz nightclub
in Five Points, Riverside Lounge, for 20 years or so.
E.J. "Lawdy" Norman - Singer,
dancer and comedian of the mid-forties. He was Charlie Singleton's
co-partner in the April Follies, a park event that offered a venue
for local talent. After Charlie left to New York and "Stranger's
in the Night" fame, E.J. went in to politics in Jacksonville.