Pee Wee Marquette
Encyclopedia
William Crayton "Pee Wee" Marquette (born in Montgomery, Alabama
) is the former master of ceremonies at the Birdland
jazz club in New York City
. Marquette is under four feet tall, most likely three foot nine, and his high enthusiastic voice can be heard making the introductions on Art Blakey
's 1954 record A Night at Birdland
. His announcements are also documented on Blakey's other Birdland albums At the Jazz Corner of the World
(1959) and Ugetsu
(1963).
He had a reputation for being mean and demanding "tips" to the point of extortion. An explanation of this system is given by Bobby Hutcherson
in an interview. He claims Marquette told him on his first day that he was not needed and that he should "pack your things and get on out of here." This did not occur as he had been asked to play, but Marquette still made Hutcherson's first night playing at the club difficult. Marquette intentionally announced his name wrong to embarrass Hutcherson and blew cigar smoke in his face to further the irritation. However once Marquette was paid his "tip" he announced Hutcherson's name correctly. This is said to have been a pattern for him and other musicians had similar stories of having to pay him to avoid public humiliation. Perhaps because of this, or because of the era, most musicians who knew him still to refer to him as "a midget
."
Little has been heard from Marquette since his Birdland days. He did appear on The David Letterman Show
in 1985, during which he discussed his memories of being at the jazz club.
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
) is the former master of ceremonies at the Birdland
Birdland (jazz club)
Birdland is a jazz club started in New York City on December 15, 1949. The original Birdland, which was located at 1678 Broadway, just north of West 52nd Street in Manhattan, was closed in 1965 due to increased rents, but it re-opened for one night in 1979...
jazz club in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Marquette is under four feet tall, most likely three foot nine, and his high enthusiastic voice can be heard making the introductions on Art Blakey
Art Blakey
Arthur "Art" Blakey , known later as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, was an American Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer and bandleader. He was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community....
's 1954 record A Night at Birdland
A Night at Birdland Vol. 1
A Night at Birdland Vol. 1 is a 1954 release by jazz artist Art Blakey. It was first released by Blue Note Records as a 10" LP and then as a 12" LP containing material from the third 10" album...
. His announcements are also documented on Blakey's other Birdland albums At the Jazz Corner of the World
At the Jazz Corner of the World
At the Jazz Corner of the World is a two volume live album by American jazz drummer Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers featuring performances recorded in 1959 at Birdland and released on the Blue Note label. The album was originally issued as 12 inch LP's in two volumes and later rereleased as...
(1959) and Ugetsu
Ugetsu (album)
Ugetsu: Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers at Birdland is a live jazz album released by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in October 1963 on Riverside Records....
(1963).
He had a reputation for being mean and demanding "tips" to the point of extortion. An explanation of this system is given by Bobby Hutcherson
Bobby Hutcherson
Bobby Hutcherson is a jazz vibraphone and marimba player. His vibraphone playing is suggestive of the style of Milt Jackson in its free-flowing melodicism, but his sense of harmony and group interaction is thoroughly modern...
in an interview. He claims Marquette told him on his first day that he was not needed and that he should "pack your things and get on out of here." This did not occur as he had been asked to play, but Marquette still made Hutcherson's first night playing at the club difficult. Marquette intentionally announced his name wrong to embarrass Hutcherson and blew cigar smoke in his face to further the irritation. However once Marquette was paid his "tip" he announced Hutcherson's name correctly. This is said to have been a pattern for him and other musicians had similar stories of having to pay him to avoid public humiliation. Perhaps because of this, or because of the era, most musicians who knew him still to refer to him as "a midget
Midget
A midget is a short person with relatively average bodily proportions in comparison with other human beings. The term is often improperly used to describe a person with the medical condition dwarfism. The two terms are often used synonymously because both terms originate as words defining small...
."
Little has been heard from Marquette since his Birdland days. He did appear on The David Letterman Show
The David Letterman Show
The David Letterman Show was a live morning NBC talk show hosted by David Letterman from June 23 to October 24, 1980. The show originally ran for 90 minutes, then 60 minutes from August 4 onward.-Background:...
in 1985, during which he discussed his memories of being at the jazz club.