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- Tags: Fess Whatley
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George Washington
Interview with George Washington, conducted by Burgin Mathews at the Carver Theatre / Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, August 25, 2016. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1938, Washington is a trumpeter and a member of the Birmingham Heritage Band.
This…
Tolton Rosser
Interview with Dr. Tolton Rosser, conducted by Burgin Mathews at the Carver Theatre / Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, April 19, 2016.
Dr. Tolton Rosser (1932-2023) was a jazz musician, educator, and bandleader in Birmingham, Alabama. Rosser received…
Daniels, Charles
Interview with Charles Daniels, conducted by Andre Millard for the Birmingham Music Oral History Project, c. 1990s. Courtesy Andre Millard.
Tags: 1930s; 1940s; Bama State Cavaliers; Bama State Collegians; Bama State Revelers; Big Band Music; Birmingham Heritage Band; Birmingham Jazz; Charles Daniels; Erskine Hawkins; Fess Whatley; Frank Adams; Ike Williams; Interview; jazz; Jefferson County, Alabama; Jimmy Gunn; Oral History; Swing; Touring; Tuxedo Junction; World War II
John Tuggle Whatley Elementary School Program
Program for Birmingham's John Tuggle Whatley Elementary School, named for the city's influential "Maker of Musicians," John T. "Fess" Whatley. Program includes a biography of Whatley and a photo of his early Vibra-Cathedral Orchestra. Please see also…
Article: "Father Of Negro School Band Music Here Retiring, Will Be Honored"
Newspaper article on the retirement of John T. "Fess" Whatley,Birmingham Post Herald, March 8, 1956.
Article: Jay Sims, "The 'Fess Whatley Story'" (1956)
Newspaper article by J. B. "Jay" Sims on the retirement of John T. "Fess" Whatley. One of Whatley's early students, Sims was an early member of the Bama State Collegians; a bandleader, musician, and emcee; an educator; and a longtime social and…
Photo & Caption: "Negro debutantes of 1950 presented"
Newspaper photo and caption: "Negro debutantes of 1950 presented" at Birmingham Municipal Auditorium: "Fess Whatley's Orchestra furnished music."Birmingham News, December 23, 1950.
Ad: Roosevelt Birthday Ball (1947)
Newspaper advertisement for the (Franklin) Roosevelt Ball, a benefit for the March of Dimes, with concurrent dances in Birmingham's Masonic Temple and Elks Rest and "Music By 10 Big Bands": Dan Michael's QuartetJohn L. Bell Fess Whatley The Driver…
Ad: Marva Louis Popularity Contest and Dance, featuring Fess Whatley (1946)
Newspaper advertisement for the Marva Louis Popularity Contest and Dance, featuring Fess Whatley at Birmingham's Masonic Temple.Weekly Review, June 1, 1946.
Ad: Christmas & New Year's Eve Dances with Fess Whatley at Masonic Temple (1945)
Newspaper advertisement for Fess Whatley's Christmas and New Year's Eve dances at Birmingham's Masonic Temple.Weekly Review, December 22, 1945.
Ad: Halloween Dance with Fess Whatley (1944)
"Witches! Witches! Are You Afraid Of Them?"Newspaper advertisement for a Halloween night dance featuring Fess Whatley, organized by promoter Monroe Kenedy at Birmingham's Masonic Temple.Weekly Review, October 28, 1944.
Ad: Football Dance with Fess Whatley and Dolly Brown (1944)
Newspaper advertisement for a Masonic Temple dance to follow a 1944 football game between Atlanta's Clark College and Tuskegee Institute. Singer Dolly Brown performed with Fess Whatley and his Orchestra, in an event managed by promoter Monroe…
Ad: Negro T. B. Association "Battle of Music" (1943)
Newspaper advertisement for a "Battle of Music" to benefit the Negro T. B. Association. Featured acts include the bands of Fess Whatley, Bob Harris, and Sonny Blount (the future Sun Ra).Birmingham News, December 5, 1943.
Ad: Fess Whatley at Masonic Temple Halloween Ball (1942)
Newspaper advertisement for Fess Whatley and His band at the Masonic Temple's Halloween Ball. "WITCHES! WITCHES! WITCHES!"Weekly Review, October 31, 1942.
Photo & Caption: Erskine Hawkins "Coming Home" (1942)
Newspaper photo and caption for a homecoming show by Erskine Hawkins at Birmingham's Masonic Temple. "'Hawk', as are all the rest of his men are Birmingham products, most of whom were trained under 'Fess' John T. Whatley."Weekly Review, July 11,…
Ad: Fess Whatley's Vibra-Cathedral Orchestra, Easter Dance (1941)
Newspaper advertisement for an Easter night dance featuring Fess Whatley's Vibra-Cathedral Orchestra.
Fess Whatley's Vibra-Cathedral Orchestra Leading Weekly Review Poll (1941)
Weekly Review, January 24, 1941.
Tags: 1940s; 1941; Albert Jones; Alton Davenport; Amos Gordon; Arthur Miller; Birmingham Jazz; Birmingham, Alabama; Fess Whatley; Fess Whatley's Vibra; J. L. Lowe; James Swyne; jazz; Jefferson County, Alabama; John Reed; Johnny Grimes; Laura Washington; Mary Alice Clarke; Paul Cowan; Wilton Robinson
Weekly Review Swing Band Ballot (1941)
In 1941, the Black-owned Weekly Review ran a readers' poll to determine the best swing band in Birmingham. Contenders included the bands of Fess Whatley, Howard Funderburg, and Frank Hines; the Society Troubadours; and Teddie's Honey Boys.Weekly…
Ad: Fess Whatley's Vibra-Cathedral Orchestra (Christmas 1940)
Newspaper advertisement for a Christmas dance with Fess Whatley's Vibra-Cathedral Orchestra,Weekly Review, December 2, 1940.
Ad: Fess Whatley at Birmingham City Auditorium (1940)
Newspaper advertisement for Fess Whatley's 12-Piece Orchestra in an "Exclusive Colored Dance" at Birmingham's City Auditorium, Birmingham News, February 7, 1940.