Inspirations
Disclaimer: Information on this page has been gathered from a variety of sources and intended for educational purposes only to support Rule 4.1.1. and Rule 4.1.6. of Sugarfoot Stomp’s Constitution. If there is additional information and/or changes needed to the text, please contact us via the ‘keep in touch’ page.
Jazz Music Inspiration
Chick Webb + Ella Fitzgerald
William Henry ‘Chick’ Webb and his band were the house band at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. They played in many other Ballrooms around New York and toured the country. Ella Fitzgerald joined the band when she was 16 years old and became the front singer.
After Chick Webb passed away at the young age of 34, Ella stepped up and took command of the band. Chick Webb IS THE KING OF SWING. Ella Fitzgerald IS SWING! Enjoy the Music Clip: St. Louis Blues - Ella Fitzgerald & Chick Webb at the Savoy Ballroom
Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers Dance Troupe / Chick Webb / Ella Fitzgerald came as a whole package.
Dance Inspiration
Norma Miller
Norma led an incredible life. She was known as the “Queen of Swing” and was part of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers Dance Troupe.
To hear Norma share her experiences of Harlem in the 1930s, Lindy Hop, Ella Fitzgerald, and her connection with Jazz music watch / listen here:
AMERICAN MASTERS: NORMA MILLER DOCUMENTARY
Set aside 1 hour to view this MUST SEE DOCUMENTARY.
Jazz Music Inspiration
Erskine Hawkins
American Band Leader and Trumpeter, Erskine Hawkins, was leader of the house band at the Savoy Ballroom in the late 1930s that alternated playing with Chick Webb.
He collaborated and wrote the song Tuxedo Junction, which got to number 7 on the American music charts. This song was used as a signature sign off as they changed bands at the Savoy.
Between 1967 and 1993 he was a band leader and trumpeter at the Concord Resort Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, New York. Erskine Hawkins died in 1993 at the age of 79.
Dance Inspiration
Billy Ricker
A member of the Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers and close friend of Frankie Manning from their pre Savoy Ballroom days. Film credits include Day at the Races, Helzapoppin’, and Hot Chocolates. He was also Norma Miller’s dance partner.
As the story goes, when Frankie Manning saw Billy Ricker do a swing out followed by a series of air steps “aerials” with Esther Washington he said, “Billy, that’s mutiny!” and the name stuck as a style of Lindy Hop.
He later worked as one of Norma Miller’s Jazzmen from 1952 to 1968.
Billy Ricker died in 1987.
The clip below shows rare footage of Norma Miller dancing with Billy Ricker later in life.
Jazz Music Inspiration
Buddy Johnson
In 1938 Jump Blues Pianist, Buddy Johnson moved to New York City. When listening to his tracks you will notice the blues, boogie, jive, gospel, and rhythm & blues influences underpinning the swing beat that gives Buddy’s jazz arrangements a big sound and strength.
His band regularly played at the Savoy Ballroom in New York. Buddy toured Europe in 1939 with the Cotton Club Review, however was expelled from Nazi Germany for being Black. That same year he recorded for Decca Records. His sister Ella also recorded songs with the band. By 1941 he had a 9 piece orchestra that played well into the 1960s. Buddy Johnson died in 1977 at the age of 62.
A fabulous song that Buddy Johnson wrote was “Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?” which Buddy submitted the sheet music for copyright in June 1949. Jackie Robinson was the first Black American player in major league baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Before that Jackie was in the military from 1942-1944 which was cut short due to an unfair court-martial, when he refused to move to the back of the bus on an unsegregated line. After his acquittal, he was transferred to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, where he served as a coach for army athletics until receiving an honourable discharge in November 1944. While coaching, he met a former baseball player who encouraged him to start playing baseball. Thus eventually making it to the major leagues and being the first Black American player to do so, Jackie became a sporting hero. In the song you can hear how Buddy incorporates the lyrics and rhythms to create the feel of being at a baseball match and how much a hero Jackie is breaking racial barriers for the first time in American baseball.
Lyrics “Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?”
Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?
It went zoom in cross the left field wall.
Yeah boy, yes, yes. Jackie hit that ball.
And when he swung his bat,
the crowd went wild,
because he knocked that ball a solid mile.
Yeah boy, yes, yes. Jackie hit that ball.
Satchel Page [i.e., Paige] is mellow,
so is Campanella,
Newcombe and Doby, too.
But it's a natural fact,
when Jackie comes to bat,
the other team is through.
Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?
Did he hit it boy, and that ain't all.
He stole home.
Yes, yes, Jackie's real gone.
Dance Inspiration
Willa Mae Ricker
A member of the Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers and close friend of Frankie Manning from their pre Savoy Ballroom days. She was known for her physical strength, fashion sense, dependability, business acumen, and passion to dance. Willa Mae also had a very sweet disposition. According to Norma Miller, Willa Mae was the first dancer to stand up to Herbert “Whitey” White, demanding fair pay for the dancers. A very brave thing to do especially when dance jobs were not very secure in the 1920s, 1930s!
Willa Mae was married to Billy Ricker, although they didn’t dance much professionally. She was very strong and could base her male partners in aerials. In the movie Hellzapoppin’ you can see her base her dance partner, Al Minns in their last aerial (view on the clip below at 1:16). Leon James was her dance partner for the famous photo shoot for Life Magazine in 1943. Willa Mae was in several movies and dance clips including; A Day at the Races (1937), Hellzapoppin' (1941), Hot Chocolates (1941), Killer Diller (1948), The Spirit Moves (1950).
She passed away in 1978 at the age of 68.
The clip below shows a montage of Willa Mae Ricker’s dancing strength and grace.
Jazz Music Inspiration
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton’s jazz music is heavily influenced by his use of the vibraphone (a xylophone with medal bars and a sustain pedal) in his arrangements. He was also a pianist, percussionist, and band leader. Lionel worked on movies as a musician when he moved to California in 1927/1928. After relocating to New York City he worked for Benny Goodman and in 1940 formed his own band.
Lionel Hampton toured Europe in 1953 and went on writing, arranging, and playing music. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 94.
“Flying Home” is a song he co-wrote with Benny Goodman and Sid Robin. Here Lionel is performing it LIVE on a TV special in 1957. Watch the master at work…
VIEW HERE: The second clip is Lionel Hampton Quartet: Hamp's Boogie Woogie (by Buckner/Hampton) filmed in 1994. Check out 3 mins 29 seconds for an EPIC call and response scat.
Dance Inspiration
Leon James
Another member of the Whitey’s Lindy Hopper Troupe. Leon partnered with Willa Mae Ricker and was part of the Life Magazine photoshoot with Willa Mae on 23rd August 1943 which was a series of images showcasing and celebrating Lindy Hop as a Black American Cultural Art Form.
He also partnered with Al Minns in the 1950s and 1960s to showcase dance on TV and in small movies. They choreographed the “Al and Leon Shim Sham” find out more here on Sugarfoot Stomp’s Origins of the Shim Sham Page. Leon passed away in 1970.
Appeared in the following films: A Day at the Races (1937), Keep Punching (1939) Excerpted and released as the short Jittering Jitterbugs (aka The Big Apple) in 1943. Cootie Williams and his Orchestra (1942), The Spirit Moves (1950), Jazz Dance (1954).
The following clip shows Leon and Al dancing at a party in 1954.
Jazz Music Inspiration
Louis Armstrong
Well known trumpeter, singer, and band leader. Worked with Lionel Hampton and hired his ‘Les Hite’ band in the 1930s for recordings and performances.
Louis early career started on river boats in New Orleans, Chicago in the early 1920s, and eventually was invited to New York to play with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. Upon return to Chicago Louis played in The Hot Five band and produced 24 recordings.
During the 1930s, Louis toured extensively. In 1937, Louis substituted on the CBS radio network and became the first Black American to host a sponsored, national broadcast.
Over 30 years, Louis played more than 300 performances a year, making many recordings and appearing in over thirty films. He also played and sang with Bing Crosby, Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Earl Hines, Jimmie Rodgers, Bessie Smith, and Ella Fitzgerald. Louis passed away in 1971.
Below is a live film recording of Louis in 1933.
Dance Inspiration
Al Minns
Another member of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers who performed as a dancer. In 1938 he won the Harvest Moon Ball with Sandra Gibson (see Mildred Pollard).
He also partnered with Leon James in the 1950s and 1960s to showcase dance on TV and in small movies. They choreographed the “Al and Leon Shim Sham” find out more here on Sugarfoot Stomp’s Origins of the Shim Sham Page. A great influence when he was invited to Stockholm in 1984 to teach Lindy Hop.
Appeared in the following films: Hellzapoppin' (1941), Hot Chocolates (1941), The Spirit Moves (1950), Jazz Dance (1954)
Al passed away in 1985.
View these 2 VERY IMPORTANT historical interviews of Al sharing experiences of dancing.
Listen to 3:44 to Al’s views on dancers in Part 1.
Listen to 2:26 about the Savoy Ballroom and other Ballrooms in Part 2.
Jazz Music Inspiration
Count Basie
William James "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. He formed the Count Basie Orchestra which lasted almost 50 years. During that time he made many innovations in Jazz music such as emphasising the rhythm section. He lived and performed in Harlem, Kansas City, Chicago and took his band back to New York City in 1937. He was introduced to Billie Holiday and she sang with the band.
Basie played the ‘Battle of the Bands’ at the Savoy Ballroom and went up against Chick Webb. Count Basie won that round. The following is a description from Metronome Magazine that describes the battle.
"Basie's Brilliant Band Conquers Chick's"
Throughout the fight, which never let down in its intensity during the whole fray, Chick took the aggressive, with the Count playing along easily and, on the whole, more musically scientifically. Undismayed by Chick's forceful drum beating, which sent the audience into shouts of encouragement and appreciation and casual beads of perspiration to drop from Chick's brow onto the brass cymbals, the Count maintained an attitude of poise and self-assurance. He constantly parried Chick's thundering haymakers with tantalising runs and arpeggios which teased more and more force from his adversary.
All the publicity gave Count Basie wider recognition. Basie continued to record with an ensemble group throughout the 1950s and 1960s and this led to international tours, television, recording, and many concerts. Count Basie passed away in 1984 at the age of 79. In his autobiography, he wrote, "I think the band can really swing when it swings easy, when it can just play along like you are cutting butter.”
Watch an HOUR of Count Basie Jazz music magic in a live show from 1965.
Dance Inspiration
Dawn Hampton
Dawn came from a family of performers and singers. She had a long career in entertainment that began with touring with her family’s band “The Hampton Sisters” in the 1930s. Dawn moved to New York City in 1958 to pursue a solo career as a cabaret singer. She participated in many performances at nightclubs, wrote many songs, and collaborated in a great many projects during this time.
She appeared in the 1992 film, Malcom X, with Frankie Manning and Sonny Allen as a swing dancer in a Lindy Hop scene.
In the 2000s she taught at many swing dance camps around the globe. In Dawn’s dancing you can see her clear connection with the music she is dancing to. Dawn passed away in 2016. We are very lucky to have so many inspirational dance clips of her.
The first clip from the 1990s is A 5 MINUTE MUST VIEW for everyone who wants to know what swing dancing is actually all about. Plus a few other that showcase Dawn’s connection with the music. Check out the clip of Dawn leading and following in ‘Dawn Hampton dances to the music!’
Jazz Music Inspiration
Duke Ellington
Was one of America’s great Jazz pianists and musical composers. After being born and raised in Washington DC he moved to New York City and raised his profile to national status when performing at the Cotton Club in Harlem.
Duke Ellington toured Europe many times in his life. He was nominated and won many Grammy awards, inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, as well as receiving many other accolades.
Duke Ellington passed away in 1974 at the age of 75.
Jazz Music Inspiration
Leroy Eliot "Slam" Stewart and Bulee "Slim" Gaillard
Slam Stewart was a double bass player who could sing/hum an octave higher at the same time as he was playing. He got the idea when listening to Ray Perry sing along with his violin while studying at the Boston Conservatory. If you listen to some Slim and Slam jazz music tracks you will be able to pick out Slam’s bass solo along with the humming, a good track to start with is Tutti Frutti. He was also a violinist before switching to the double bass at the age of 20. He continued to play and record with a variety of artists throughout the 1940s such as Fats Waller and Dizzy Gillespie. He continued to play bass well into the 1980s and passed away at the age of 73 in 1987.
Slim Gaillard played a variety of instruments; piano, guitar, vibraphone, and tenor saxophone. He was also a song writer. Slim spoke 6 languages and constructed his own language called ‘Vout-o-Reenee’ of which he wrote a dictionary for. He would often insert word play for comedic effect into songs that are very evident in his jazz recordings. From an interview he did in 1984, at the age of 12 he was taken on a world tour by his father and accidentally left on the island of Crete. That’s where he learned to speak Spanish, Greek, Arabic, and Armenian, by travelling around the Mediterranean. At the age of 15 Slim crossed the Atlantic again and ended up on Detroit, never to see his parents again. Slim tried his hand at many jobs and taught himself how to play guitar and piano. After meeting his hero Duke Ellington backstage, Slim moved to New York and became a professional professional amateur.
According to Gaillard …. The MC would say, "Here they come, all the hopefuls!" Well, we may have been hopefuls but we weren't amateurs. Of course, you had to be a little bad in spots. If you were too good you'd lose the amateur image. I would be a tap dancer this week, next week I'd play guitar, two weeks later some boogie-woogie piano. They paid us $16 a show. I did one with Frank Sinatra, I got $16 and he got $16. Every time I see him I say, "Got a raise yet, Frank?" —Tony Russell, Jazz Greats, Issue #57
After returning from World War 2 where he served as a bomber pilot in the Pacific, Slim continued to perform as a jazz musician. During the 1960s and 1970s he appeared in a variety of films and television series where sometimes he would play himself. Slim settled in London in 1983 after touring Europe in the early 1980s. He passed away in 1991 at the age of 80 leaving a great legacy of almost 60 years in the entertainment industry.
Musical Partnership
Slim and Slam teamed up in 1937 to form the jazz act ‘Slim and Slam’. Despite being a musical duo for only 7 years they recorded several songs together of which many are played at Swing Dance events, workshops, and classes today. Their most famous recording in 1938 was Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy).
Slim and Slam appeared in a handful of movies. One of the most well known by the Swing Dance community is Hellzapoppin’ (1941) where they are the first 2 musicians that build the Jazz rhythm right before Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers come out and perform.
You can see that clip below, Slam on the double bass and Slim playing piano and then guitar. The other clip is Slim playing Cement Mixer in what looks like a TV special. Look for Slim when he turns his hands upside down to play the piano in reverse at the start of both videos.