Buster Bailey, Clarinet, 1902, Memphis, TN
When only in his teens, Buster was invited to play in the orchestra led by W.C. Handy. In 1919 he was working in Chicago, and decided to settle there, where he obtained work with Erskine Tate and Joe "King" Oliver. During the mid '20s he made the move to New York and joined Fletcher Henderson's orchestra. Due to his considerable technique on the clarinet, Buster was featured on many of Henderson's recordings. In the early '30s Buster spent time in Europe where he played and recorded with NobleSissle. He returned to the States in 1937 and played with musicians such as John Kirby, Wilbur DeParis, Red Allen, Big Chief Moore, and Wild Bill Davison. He spent the last two years of his life as one of the most popular a member of Louis Armstrong's All Stars. While he wasn't a "swinger" like many of the other jazz clarinetists, and his playing lacked passion, his solos were always smooth, tuneful, and satisfying to listen to. Buster Bailey died in 1967.
Dick Collins, Trumpet, 1924, Seattle, WA
Dick Collins was a classically trained musician, and while studying in Paris with Darius Milhaud, (who later taught Dave Brubeck and Pete Rugolo in the U.S.) he recorded with Hubert Fol, the Be Bop Minstrels, and with Kenny Clarke. After returning to the U.S.in 1948 he worked with Dave Brubeck for a few years on the West Coast. He also managed to record with Charlie Barnet, Charlie Mariano, Nat Pierce and Paul Desmond. Later he recorded with his own group in New York, and in the mid '50s went on tour with Woody Herman's band. He also toured extensively with Les Brown in Asia, Africa, and Europe between 1957 and1962. Collins, an excellent jazz trumpetor, continues to perform in this country and abroad.
