Buster Bailey
b. William C. Bailey, 19 July 1902, Memphis, Tennessee, USA, d. 12 April 1967. Bailey was one of two famous jazzmen to be taught by the Chicago-based classicist Franz Schoepp, the other being Benny Goodman. After working with bands led by W.C. Handy Erskine Tateand Joe 'King' Oliver, Bailey joined Fletcher Henderson's orchestra in New York in 1924. He remained an important member of the band until 1937, playing alongside such outstanding reed players as Coleman Hawkins, Hilton Jefferson, Russell Procope and Ben Webster. After leaving Henderson, Bailey moved to John Kirby's musically-distinguished sextet. It was in this setting, in association with perfectionists such as Procope, Charlie Shavers and Billy Kyle that the clarinettist came into his own and the exemplary technique developed during his tuition under Schoepp was allowed to shine. The stylish playing of the Kirby band earned it great and justified popularity, in concert and on record. Apart from minor layoffs, Bailey stayed with Kirby until 1946, whereafter he played in a number of traditional or mainstream bands including those led by Wilbur De Parisand Red Allen. In 1957, he was a member of the Henderson All Star big band assembled for the Great South Bay Jazz Festival. Bailey continued working into the '60s, playing again with Red Allen and with Wild Bill Davison. In 1965, he joined Louis Armstrong's All Stars, with whom he remained until his death in April 1967.