Jazz trombonist, guitarist, composer and arranger Eddie Durham was born on this day in 1906.
An excerpt from Wikipedia’s profile:
He was the co-composer (with Edgar Battle) of the tune “Topsy”, first recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra. He is sometimes credited as the arranger for Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood“, although this is disputed. He is also credited for recording the world’s first jazzelectric guitar solo with a Gibson ES-150 guitar in 1938 on Lester Young’s Kansas City Five sessions. Other electric guitars had been recorded that year by other players, including George Barnes with Big Bill Broonzy.
Above is Dick Hyman’s version of “Topsy,” which was co-written by Edgar Battle. Here is more on Durham.
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