King Kolax
Encyclopedia
King Kolax was a United States
jazz
trumpeter.
in 1912; he misleadingly claimed he was born in 1918 in later years. While young his family moved to Chicago, where he studied music under Walter Dyett
. He completed a degree at the Chicago Conservatory of Music in the early 1930s, and played in various dance bands in the Chicago area in the 1930s. Around 1938, he became bandleader of one of the groups; this ensemble did tours around the United States and continued playing regularly at venues such as the Savoy Theater and the 65 Club. In 1939, Charlie Parker
played in his band. The King Kolax Orchestra may have been the first all-black
band to play on NBC
radio, in 1942 or 1943.
Kolax put together a new band in 1943 and toured the American South again, to great success. He continued touring throughout the country and on military base
s within the U.S. through 1946. In May 1946, Kolax's group broke up, and Kolax himself joined Billy Eckstine
's big band, with which he made his first recordings. Eckstine's band did not last to the end of the year, and Kolax organized another troupe late in 1946, which lasted until May 1947; John Coltrane
was a member of this ensemble. Following the demise of his band Kolax returned to Chicago to play in small groups. In 1948 he played in Sonny Parker
's band. That same year he made his first recordings, for the tiny Opera label, as a leader and singer. He had a steady gig at the Ritz Lounge in 1949, and played in J. T. Brown
's band in 1951. Forming a new combo of his own, Kolax recorded for JOB in a session that featured his blues singing. In 1952, Kolax backed Joe Williams
on his singles for Checker Records
. While playing regularly at the Paris Club in 1953, Kolax recorded behind Danny Overbea, also for Checker. That same year, Kolax and orchestra backed The Flamingos
on Chance Records
. Kolax also led orchestras behind Mabel Scott
and Rudy Green. Kolax recorded again under his own name for Vee-Jay at the end of 1954 and in September 1955.
Kolax made regular engagements at hotels and ballrooms throughout the 1950s in Chicago and elsewhere; he also struck up a working relationship with Sun Ra
, who wrote arrangements for him. In the second half of the decade Kolax recorded with Earl Pugh, Brooks & Brown, Clyde Williams, and Harvey Ellington; in the early 1960s records followed with Wilbur White, The Chaunteurs, Jerry Butler
, McKinley Mitchell
, Otis Rush
, and The Vondells. Kolax became an A&R
rep for Marvello Records, owned by James P. Johnson, between 1961 and 1965. Sporadic recording followed later in the 1960s both as a leader and behind Willie Mabon
, Brother Jack McDuff, Gene Ammons
, and Roosevelt Sykes
, whose August 1970 recording session was Kolax's last.
Kolax had a position in the Chicago Federation of Musicians, and union
rules prevented him from being able to gig and hold office at the same time. He went into complete retirement around 1981, and died ten years later after suffering from Alzheimer's disease
for an extended period.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpeter.
Biography
Kolax was born William Little in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
in 1912; he misleadingly claimed he was born in 1918 in later years. While young his family moved to Chicago, where he studied music under Walter Dyett
Walter Dyett
Walter Henri Dyett was an American violinist and music educator. As musical director at DuSable High School in Chicago, he trained many students who went on to become well-known musicians.- Career :...
. He completed a degree at the Chicago Conservatory of Music in the early 1930s, and played in various dance bands in the Chicago area in the 1930s. Around 1938, he became bandleader of one of the groups; this ensemble did tours around the United States and continued playing regularly at venues such as the Savoy Theater and the 65 Club. In 1939, Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
played in his band. The King Kolax Orchestra may have been the first all-black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
band to play on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
radio, in 1942 or 1943.
Kolax put together a new band in 1943 and toured the American South again, to great success. He continued touring throughout the country and on military base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
s within the U.S. through 1946. In May 1946, Kolax's group broke up, and Kolax himself joined Billy Eckstine
Billy Eckstine
William Clarence Eckstine was an American singer of ballads and a bandleader of the swing era. Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big-band, then as the first romantic black male in popular...
's big band, with which he made his first recordings. Eckstine's band did not last to the end of the year, and Kolax organized another troupe late in 1946, which lasted until May 1947; John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
was a member of this ensemble. Following the demise of his band Kolax returned to Chicago to play in small groups. In 1948 he played in Sonny Parker
Sonny Parker (musician)
Sonny Parker was an American blues and jazz singer, dancer, and drummer....
's band. That same year he made his first recordings, for the tiny Opera label, as a leader and singer. He had a steady gig at the Ritz Lounge in 1949, and played in J. T. Brown
J. T. Brown
J. T. Brown was an American tenor saxophonist of the Chicago blues era. He was variously billed as Saxman Brown, J.T. Brown and Bep Brown.-Biography:...
's band in 1951. Forming a new combo of his own, Kolax recorded for JOB in a session that featured his blues singing. In 1952, Kolax backed Joe Williams
Joe Williams (jazz singer)
Joe Williams was a well-known jazz vocalist, a baritone singing a mixture of blues, ballads, popular songs, and jazz standards.-Early life:...
on his singles for Checker Records
Checker Records
Checker Records is an inactive record label that was started in 1952 as a subsidiary to Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois. The label was founded by the Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil, who ran the label until they sold it to General Recorded Tape in 1969, shortly before Leonard's death.The label...
. While playing regularly at the Paris Club in 1953, Kolax recorded behind Danny Overbea, also for Checker. That same year, Kolax and orchestra backed The Flamingos
The Flamingos
The Flamingos were a doo wop group from the United States, most popular in the mid to late 1950s and best known for their 1959 cover version of "I Only Have Eyes for You".-Early quintet:...
on Chance Records
Chance Records
Chance Records was a Chicago-based label founded in 1950 by Art Sheridan. It specialized in blues, jazz, doo-wop, and gospel.Among the acts who recorded for Chance were The Flamingos, The Moonglows, Homesick James, J. B. Hutto, Brother John Sellers, and Schoolboy Porter...
. Kolax also led orchestras behind Mabel Scott
Mabel Scott
Mabel Scott, was an American gospel music and R&B vocalist. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Mabel Scott resided in New York and Cleveland before arriving on the West Coast blues scene in 1942...
and Rudy Green. Kolax recorded again under his own name for Vee-Jay at the end of 1954 and in September 1955.
Kolax made regular engagements at hotels and ballrooms throughout the 1950s in Chicago and elsewhere; he also struck up a working relationship with Sun Ra
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
, who wrote arrangements for him. In the second half of the decade Kolax recorded with Earl Pugh, Brooks & Brown, Clyde Williams, and Harvey Ellington; in the early 1960s records followed with Wilbur White, The Chaunteurs, Jerry Butler
Jerry Butler (singer)
Jerry Butler is an American soul singer and songwriter. He is also noted as being the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group, The Impressions, as well as a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.Butler is also an American politician...
, McKinley Mitchell
McKinley Mitchell
McKinley Mitchell was an American Chicago-based soul-blues and rhythm and blues singer, who started out performing gospel music. He recorded singles for Boxer Records, Chess Records , and a variety of other record labels. Most of his releases are still only available on records...
, Otis Rush
Otis Rush
Otis Rush is a blues musician, singer and guitarist. His distinctive guitar style features a slow burning sound and long bent notes...
, and The Vondells. Kolax became an A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
rep for Marvello Records, owned by James P. Johnson, between 1961 and 1965. Sporadic recording followed later in the 1960s both as a leader and behind Willie Mabon
Willie Mabon
Willie Mabon was an American R&B singer, songwriter and pianist.-Career:Born Willie James Mabon, and brought up in Hollywood, Memphis, Tennessee, he had become known as a singer and pianist by the time he moved to Chicago in 1942. He formed a group, the Blues Rockers, and in 1949 began recording...
, Brother Jack McDuff, Gene Ammons
Gene Ammons
Eugene "Jug" Ammons also known as "The Boss," was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, and the son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons.-Biography:...
, and Roosevelt Sykes
Roosevelt Sykes
Roosevelt Sykes was an American blues musician, also known as "The Honeydripper". He was a successful and prolific cigar-chomping blues piano player, whose rollicking thundering boogie-woogie was highly influential.-Career:Born in Elmar, Arkansas, Sykes grew up near Helena but at age 15, went on...
, whose August 1970 recording session was Kolax's last.
Kolax had a position in the Chicago Federation of Musicians, and union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
rules prevented him from being able to gig and hold office at the same time. He went into complete retirement around 1981, and died ten years later after suffering from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
for an extended period.