Albert 'Happy' Caldwell
THE RECORDINGS OF ALBERT ‘HAPPY’ CALDWELL An Annotated Tentative Personnelo-Discography CALDWELL, Albert W. ‘Happy’ born: Chicago, Ill., 25 July, 1903; died: New York, 29 December, 1978 Attended Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago, studied pharmacy. Took up clarinet in 1919. Played clarinet in 8th Illinois Regimental Band, after Army service took lessons from his cousin, Buster Bailey. Returned to studies until 1922, then joined Bernie Young´s Band at Columbia Tavern, Chicago, mage his first records with Young in 1923 (‘Dearborn Street Blues’), began doubling tenor c. 1923. Toured in Mamie Smith´s Jazz Hounds, remained in New York (1924). Did summer season at Asbury Park, then joined Bobby Brown´s Syncopators (1924). Worked with Elmer Snowden (1925), also with Billy Fowler, Thomas Morris, etc. With Willie Gant´s Ramblers (summer 1926), worked with Cliff Jackson, also toured with Keep Shufflin´ revue (early 1927). With Arthur Gibbs´ Orchestra (summer 1927 to summer 1928), recorded with Louis Armstrong (1929), also worked with Elmer Snowden again, Charlie Johnson, Fletcher Henderson, etc. Regularly with Vernon Andrade´s Orchestra from 1929 until 1933. With Tiny Bradshaw (1934), Louis Metcalf (1935), then led own band, mainly in New York. Recorded with Jelly Roll Morton (1939), with Willie Gant (1940). After leading his Happy Pals at Minton´s in early 1941, he moved to Philadelphia for three years, occasionally led own band, also worked with Eugene ‘Lonnie’ Slappy and his Swingsters and Charlie Gaines. Returned to New York in January 1945. Active with own band throughout the 1950s and 1960s, many private engagements and residencies at Small´s (1950-3), Rockland Palace (1957), etc., also gigged with Louis Metcalf and Jimmy Rushing.
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