Here's a lovely tribute to trumpeter Jane Sager that I received from Dave S. in an email.
Great website! Jane Sager was my trumpet teacher 1956-58 at her Selma Ave studio in Hollywood. Jane was quite a fascinating and interesting person and a terrific and patient trumpet teacher. Her studio faced Selma (a block South of Hollywood Boulevard and a couple doors East of Highland). When the door to the practice room was open, it was not infrequent that well known musicians and other personalities would casually wave to her if they walked by and she would wave back and say to me, "that was Henry Mancini, he has a studio down the block"...etc.
She really knew music, understood musicians and entertainer lifestyles ... how they became successful, and success priorities. Although my life has worked out quite well, I wish I had paid more attention to some of her ... >> full...
my mother was a sweetheart of rhythm. she went to piney woods at the age of 7and stayed until completing high school. her sister was dr. jones' secretary for many years.. i remember some of the band members visiting us in las vegas. this was quite interesting.
And now I'll add a bit of information about Georgianna, aka Pat Spann.
Georgianna Spann Lewis, aka Pat Spann, a native New Yorker, born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens, started singing in church at age ten. She was introduced to the world of jazz through a program called "The House that Jazz Built," run by Ms. Maxine Sullivan.
Pat Spann began her professional singing career in 1960 as a member of the R&B group "The Cleftones," recorded the hit single "Heart & Soul" with them, and toured and recorded with the group until 1965. During this time, Pat performed throughout the U.S., including New York City’s Apollo Theater, The Howard Theatre in Washington, DC and the "American Bandstand" television show hosted by Dick Clark. In 1966 Pat left the group to raise a family.
In 1972 she re-entered the music business, combining her love of music with her strong desire to ... >> full...
Thanks to native New Yorker and vocalist Georgianna Spann Lewis for sending me a terrific message with information about a jazz pianist I didn’t know about.
BERTHA HOPE was born and raised in Los Angeles. During the 1960’s she and her late husband, pianist Elmo Hope, collaborated on some fine jazz music. Over the years Bertha transcribed many of Elmo Hope’s compositions to pay tribute to one of “be-bop’s” underrated contributors. To perform his compositions Bertha formed a group called ELMOllennium,” which featured, Walter Booker (bs) (now deceases), Leroy Williams (dr), Virgil Jones (tr), Charles Davis (ts), Roni Ben-Hur (g), and Amy London (guest vocalist).
Bertha now lives in New York City. For a number of years she was an artist-in-residence under the auspices of “The New Jersey State Council on the Arts.” Through that program, she performed in New Jersey state-wide workshops with such distinguished musicians as Dizzy Gillespie, Frank ... >> full...
Just found your site when doing a little research about my grandmother!!! Love the articles. I will return for sure.
My grandmother was Valeria Evenson, and she was a saxophonist in the Bobby Grice bands Parisian Red Heads and Fourteen Bricktops. Her grandfather had been a concertmaster in Europe and of course, all his children and grandchildren learned to play at an early age. Grandma Valeria toured from the time she was aobut 16 until she was about 22 as I understand it. After she married, she didn't pick up a horn again until one of her grandchildren brought one home from school. 40years later she could still really blow! >> full...
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