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Believe it or not, Wilmington was one of the cities that were responsible for creating jazz music.
Historian and author Steven Leech, who is 68 years old and grew up in Richardson Park, highlights Wilmington’s strong contribution to jazz music, through his free book entitled “Wedgehorn Manifesto: A Cultural Treatise from the Underground.”
The title refers to a cartographer’s error that left out a piece of Delaware in some 18th Century maps. Similarly, the region’s role in the arts has largely been forgotten.
Leech goes onto cover the city’s fine arts scene and literary past, ultimately calling for a cultural renaissance there.
But he’s got plenty to say on the subject of jazz alone. Here are five things you should know about Leech’s research on Wilmington’s now-defunct jazz scene.
1. During the late 1930s, the thing that really made Wilmington a jazz city was the rise of three artists: Clifford Brown, Lem Winchester and Betty Roché, Leech Said.
Brown, aka “Brownie,” was an acclaimed trumpeter who grew up on the East Side of Wilmington. Brown’s style was very impressive, since he was able to hold long notes and was skilled at improvisation.
Legend has it that Dizzy Gillespie gave Brown his start, Leech said. In 1949, Gillespie was scheduled to perform at the Odd Fellows Hall on West 12th Street, but one of his musicians didn’t show up. A friend then referred Gillespie to use Brown as a replacement. Gillespie gave Brown a shot and his performance blew him away, Leech said.
“Musicians had problems keeping up with Brownie,” Leech quipped.
Brown’s short career came to a halt when he was killed in a car accident in 1956. He was 25.
2. Winchester was a former police officer in Wilmington, who was skilled in delivering sweet melodies on the vibraphone. Despite having a promising career, tragedy struck Winchester when he accidentally shot himself while performing a trick with his gun in 1961.
3. Betty Roché grew up on East 12th Street. When singer Ivie Anderson left Duke Ellington's band in the early 1940s, Duke was on the lookout for a good singer. He found Roché at the Savoy Ballroom in New York, Leech said. Roché also had a small role in the 1943 film “Reveille with Beverly,” which featured music legends Frank Sinatra, the Mills Brothers, Louie Armstrong and others, he said.
4. The East Side of Wilmington was a hotbed for jazz music and the Baby Grand became a premier venue for musicians. Notable musicians graced the stage at the club, including organist Jimmy Smith, singer Dinah Washington and one of the greatest trumpeters of all time, Lester Young, Leech said. Young was responsible for nicknaming singer Billie Holiday “Lady Day,” he said.
Believe it or not, Wilmington was one of the cities that were responsible for creating jazz music.
Historian and author Steven Leech, who is 68 years old and grew up in Richardson Park, highlights Wilmington’s strong contribution to jazz music, through his free book entitled “Wedgehorn Manifesto: A Cultural Treatise from the Underground.”
The title refers to a cartographer’s error that left out a piece of Delaware in some 18th Century maps. Similarly, the region’s role in the arts has largely been forgotten.
Leech goes onto cover the city’s fine arts scene and literary past, ultimately calling for a cultural renaissance there.
But he’s got plenty to say on the subject of jazz alone. Here are five things you should know about Leech’s research on Wilmington’s now-defunct jazz scene.
1. During the late 1930s, the thing that really made Wilmington a jazz city was the rise of three artists: Clifford Brown, Lem Winchester and Betty Roché, Leech Said.
Brown, aka “Brownie,” was an acclaimed trumpeter who grew up on the East Side of Wilmington. Brown’s style was very impressive, since he was able to hold long notes and was skilled at improvisation.
Legend has it that Dizzy Gillespie gave Brown his start, Leech said. In 1949, Gillespie was scheduled to perform at the Odd Fellows Hall on West 12th Street, but one of his musicians didn’t show up. A friend then referred Gillespie to use Brown as a replacement. Gillespie gave Brown a shot and his performance blew him away, Leech said.
“Musicians had problems keeping up with Brownie,” Leech quipped.
Brown’s short career came to a halt when he was killed in a car accident in 1956. He was 25.
2. Winchester was a former police officer in Wilmington, who was skilled in delivering sweet melodies on the vibraphone. Despite having a promising career, tragedy struck Winchester when he accidentally shot himself while performing a trick with his gun in 1961.
3. Betty Roché grew up on East 12th Street. When singer Ivie Anderson left Duke Ellington's band in the early 1940s, Duke was on the lookout for a good singer. He found Roché at the Savoy Ballroom in New York, Leech said. Roché also had a small role in the 1943 film “Reveille with Beverly,” which featured music legends Frank Sinatra, the Mills Brothers, Louie Armstrong and others, he said.
4. The East Side of Wilmington was a hotbed for jazz music and the Baby Grand became a premier venue for musicians. Notable musicians graced the stage at the club, including organist Jimmy Smith, singer Dinah Washington and one of the greatest trumpeters of all time, Lester Young, Leech said. Young was responsible for nicknaming singer Billie Holiday “Lady Day,” he said.
5. An urban renewal project in Wilmington during the 1960s brought the demise of the city’s jazz scene, he said. Due to the project, Leech said “the East Side of Wilmington was torn down” and temporarily became a “barren waste land.” The lack of jazz venues forced musicians and singers to get 9-5 jobs.
For Leech, all that remains of the city’s jazz scene are his fond memories of the era.
“Wilmington still hasn’t recovered,” he said. “You go there on any night of the week and look around…it’s a dead city.”
To download the “Wedgehorn Manifesto” for free visit www.brokenturtle.blogspot.com.
