University of Nebraska - Lincoln
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Faculty Publications: School of Music
Music, School of
7-28-2016
Black US Army Bands and Their Bandmasters in
World War I (Version of 07/29/2016)
Peter M. Lefferts
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected]
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Lefferts, Peter M., "Black US Army Bands and Their Bandmasters in World War I (Version of 07/29/2016)" (2016). Faculty
Publications: School of Music. Paper 55.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/musicfacpub/55
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1
Versionof07/29/2016
Thisessayisaworkinprogress.ItwasuploadedforthefirsttimeinAugust
2012,andthepresentdocument,oflateJuly2016,isthesecondversion.The
authorthanksthosewhohavecommunicatedwithhimaboutthefirstversion,
andwelcomescomments,additions,andcorrectionstothisone
([email protected]).
BlackUSArmyBandsandTheirBandmastersinWorldWarI
PeterM.Lefferts
Thisessaysketchesthestoryofthebandsandbandmastersofthe
twentysevennewblackarmyregimentswhichservedintheU.S.Armyin
WorldWarI.Thenewbandsunderwentrapidmobilizationand
demobilizationover1917-1919.Theywereforthemostpartunconnectedby
personnelortraditionstothelong-establishedbandsofthefourblackregular
U.S.Armyregimentsthatprecededthemandthatcontinuedtoserveoutside
EuropeduringandaftertheGreatWar.Pressedtofindsufficientnumbersof
willingandableblackbandleadersforthenewregiments,thearmyturnedto
schoolsandtheentertainmentindustryforthenecessarytalent.Thenewly
formedbandsentertainedservicemenandciviliansinEuropeandAmerica
notonlywithtraditionalmilitarymarchesandconcertbandfare,butalsowith
minstrelshowsandrevues,andwiththelatestflavorofragtimemusic,which
theycalledjazz.
Themostimportantaspectofthisstoryisthatitprovidesacontext--includingcolleaguesandcompetitors---forthewartimeandimmediatepostwaraccomplishmentsofJamesReese(Jim)Europe.ThestoryofhowJames
ReeseEuropeandthe“HarlemHellFightersBand"introducedjazzto
EuropeansduringWorldWarIisoneofthemostfamoussetpiecesin
Americanmusichistory,andhismurdershortlyaftertheirreturntothestates
isoneofitsgreattragedies.Thereisnodenyinghisfameand
accomplishments,butJimEuropewasnotanisolatedfigure.Rather,hewas
firstamongequals.HewasoneofanumberoffreshlymintedblackU.S.Army
bandleaders,someofwhomwhoalsohadbeenfamouscivilianmusiciansin
theirownright,whotookjazztoEnglandandFrance.Asmallnumberofthese
newblackbands,aftertheArmistice,touredtheStatestocapitalizeswiftlyon
theirmomentoffameandthesurgingpopularityofthenewjazzmusic.
2
MOBILIZATIONFORWAR
TheU.S.Army’sfourregularblackregiments,activelyoccupied
elsewhere,didnotseeserviceinEuropeduringWorldWarI.1Rather,twenty
sevennewregimentsforAfricanAmericansweremobilizedin1917-1918,
andtherewasnotagreatdealofcrossingoverfromtheolderoutfitstothe
newer.ElevenofthenewunitswereU.S.Armycombatregiments,comprising
the92ndDivision(sevenregiments,threeofartilleryandfourofinfantry)and
the93rdDivision(fourregimentsofinfantry),althoughinfactthe93rdended
upfightingwiththeFrenchArmyunderFrenchcommand.Theremaining
regimentswerethesixteenso-calledPioneerInfantryRegiments801-816,of
whichallbut810and812servedoverseas.ThesePioneerRegiments
consistedofnon-combatantblacktroopswhoworkedasstevedores,dug
trenches,graves,andlatrines,andbuilthospitals,roads,bridges,andrailroad
lines.2Alltwenty-sevennewregimentswereeventuallyabletoestablish
regimentalbands,3andwithoneexception(JamesRileyWheelock,aNative
American),thesenewblackbandsallwereconductedbyblackconductors.
TheAppendixofthispaperpresentsthenamesoftheBandLeadersand
AssistantBandLeadersfortheseunitsthatIhavebeenabletodetermine,
alongwiththenamesofafewoftheotherindividualsonthebands’
leadershipteams.Tomakesenseofsuchamassofmostlyunfamiliarnames,
wemustbeginwiththerealizationthatthetalentpoolofblackmusicians
1Duringthewar,theNinthCavalryservedinthePhilippines,theTenthCavalryandTwenty-FourthInfantry
servedinArizonaontheMexicanborder,andtheTwenty-fifthInfantryservedinHawaii.
2SeeAppendices.
3NotallthebandswereabletobeformedintheUS.Thebandofthe805thwasorganizedonlyinJanuary
1919inEurope(PaulS.Bliss,Victory:Historyofthe805thPioneerInfantry,AmericanExpeditionaryForces
(St.Paul,Minn.:theauthor,1919),pp.207-209;seealsoHuntonandJohnson,TwoColoredWomen,p.223).
TheSt.NazairebandalsoonlygotitsinstrumentsinEurope(HuntonandJohnson,p.222-23).
3
eligible,available,andwillingtoenterthearmyasbandmasterswasnotlarge.
Someoftheunitsquicklywereabletobuilddistinguishedbandsunder
experiencedleaders.Butbecausethenumberofqualifiedconductorswasso
small,thearmyhadtocastitsnetfairlywide,catchingeveryonefromregular
armymen,nationalguardbandsmen,membersoftheeducationalcommunity,
andseasonedveteransoftheentertainmentindustry,toneophytesjustoutof
college.
Agewasonesignificantfactorthatworkedagainstacohortofactive,
senior,nationallyprominentAfrican-Americanmusiciansbornfromthelater
1850sintotheearly1870s---alreadyintheirfortiesandfiftiesandthusabove
draftage---whodidnotserveasmilitarymusiciansinthiswar.4Exceptfor
ElbertB.Williams(b.1864),GeorgeE.Dulf(b.1872),andJamesRiley
Wheelock(b.1874),allthebandmastersofthenewlyactivatedregiments
wererelativeyoungsters,menintheirtwentiesandthirtiesbornfromaround
1880toaround1895.Theprimaryleadersofthegreatestcombatregiment
bandswerebornaround1880-1885.5Lessprestigiousbutstilloften
mentionedwerethebandsledbymenbornaround1885-1890.6Thebestof
thehurriedlyassembledanddrilledbandsofthePioneerInfantryregiments
were,naturallyenough,thosepreparedbytheirtwomostsenior
bandmasters,whoweretheonlytwotomakeLieutenant:JamesRiley
Wheelock(b.1874)andWillVodery(b.1885).Mostoftheprettygreen
4IncludingHendersonSmith(b.1858),N.ClarkSmith(b.1866),WillMarionCook(b.1869),WilliamH.Tyers
(b.1870),FredW.Simpson(b.1871),WalterH.Loving(b.1872),JohnRosamondJohnson(b.1873),andW.C.
Handy(b.1873).
5J.TimBrymn(b.1879),F.EugeneMikell(b.1880),JamesReeseEurope(b.1880),E.E.Thompson(b.1883)
andA.JackThomas(b.1884).Ofthisgeneration,theprincipalfigurenottodirectamilitarybandwasFordT.
Dabney(1883-1958).
6DorcyRhodes(b.1887),BurnitMcReynolds(b.1887),NormanScott(b.1888),FrankL.Drye(b.1889),and
ArthurT.Stewart(b.1891).
4
AssistantBandLeadersinthePioneerInfantryregimentswerebornbetween
1889and1895.7
Themajorityofbandmastershadworkedpreviouslyinmorethanone
professionalarena.Thosewithpriorarmyexperience,andwhothuswere
familiarwithmilitarydrillandothercustoms,werefew.ElbertB.Williams,
thefirstofficiallyapprovedblackarmybandmasteroftheoriginal“quotaof
four,”wasaveteranwithtwentynineyearsofservice.Fromthe10thCavalry
inArizona,andofpurelymilitarybackground,cameitsbandmasterAlfred
JackThomas(anotheroftheoriginal“quotaoffour”blackbandmastersinthe
USarmy),hissecond-in-commandDorcyRhodes,andBurnitMcReynolds.E.
E.Thompson,nowaClefClubandTempoClubinsider,wasaten-yearveteran
ofBritishmilitarybandsfromhisJamaicandays,andhadalsoservedaUS
NationalGuardstintwiththe15thN.Y.Menoflessmilitaryexperience
includedFrankL.Drye,whohadservedjustonethree-yeartermofenlistment
withthe9thCavalry,andGeorgeE.Dulf(anationalguardsmanwhohad
experiencedsomeactiveduty).JamesReeseEurope(aranknovice)mustered
intotheregulararmyafterashortstintintheNationalGuard.
Theaterandsocietyorchestras,andbandsoftheitinerantvaudeville,
minstrelshows,medicineshows,andcircusside-shows,werethelargest
singlesourceofnewblackbandmasters,eventhoughfewmenfromthis
spherehadhadanypriormilitaryexperience.Whattheydidhave,though,
wasafamiliaritynotonlywithpopularmusicbutwiththeperformanceof
classicalmusicinarrangementsforband.8FromNewYork’s“Black
7WesleyI.Howard(b.1889),EdwardBailey(b.1890),RalphS.Redmond(b.1890),AmosM.White(b.1890),
GeorgeL.Polk(b.1890),RalphW.E.Brown(b.1893),LawrenceDenton(b.1893),LouiaVaughnJones(b.
1895).
8Thelargerminstrelshoworchestrasandbandsoftenplayedclassicalmusic.Inoneweekin1911,for
example,thebandofRichard’s&Pringle’sFamousGeorgiaMinstrelsrenderedselectionsfromWilliamTell,
5
Manhattan”camenotonlyEuropeandThompson,butalsoBrymn,Vodery,
Redmond,KincaidandDeBroite;fromChicagocameDulf,Bailey,andStewart;
fromMinneapolis,Cason;fromKansasCity,Denton,andfromtroupesonthe
roadcameGeorgeL.PolkandAmosM.White.Menjustonestepremoved
fromthemusicbusinessincludedFrankL.Drye,whooncehadbeenonthe
roadascornetsoloistforW.C.Handy,andF.EugeneMikell,whohadrun
minstrelshowandtheatreorchestrasformanyyearsinJacksonville,Florida
andChicago.
BlackschoolsdirectlyyieldedDryefromTuskegee;Mikell,amanwho
alsohadextensiveprioreducationalexperienceinSouthCarolinaandFlorida,
fromtheBordentown,NewJerseyIndustrialSchool(“theTuskegeeofthe
North”);theveteranElbertB.WilliamsfromthenewColumbiaConservatory
ofMusicinWashington,D.C.;RalphW.E.BrownfromtheHungerfordSchool
inEatonville,Fla.;HoraceB.WallacefromLaneCollegeinJackson,Tenn.;and
NormanScott,aself-employedmusicteacherfromWilmington,Del.Tothis
numbercanbeaddedNativeAmericanconductorJamesRileyWheelockfrom
theCarlisleIndianIndustrialSchool.NeophytesLouiaVaughnJonesand
WesleyI.Howardwereveryyoung,recentgraduatesoftheNewEngland
Conservatory,wherebothwereviolinmajors.
*
Areviewofbandsandbandmastersundertakengeographicallyprovidesthe
mostinsightintothearmy’sstrategyofmusicalrecruitment.Inthisrespect,it
isappropriatetostartwithChicago,somanyofwhoselocalblackmusicians
BohemianGirl,Faust,Tannhauser,PiqueDame,Rigoletto,IlTrovatore,andLuciadiLammermoor,andlight
classicalbandfaresuchasthefantasiason“RockedintheCradleoftheDeep”and"OldFolksatHome.”See
theIndianapolisFreeman,February18,1911,p.6.
6
couldplay“genuinejazzmusic,suchasisonlyfoundinChicago.”9Itwas
ChicagoratherthanNewYorkCity,moreover,thathadthegreaterheritageof
militarymusic.Thisrequiressomeexplaining.Atthedeclarationofwarin
April1917thereweretwostandingAfrican-Americanregimental-levelbands
inadditiontothefourregularblackArmyregimentalbands.Theseadditional
regimentalbands,ledbyblackbandmasters,belongedtotheonlytwoexisting
blackNationalGuardregiments,the8thIllinoisofChicagoandthe15thNew
York.10TheEighth,considerablytheseniorofthetwo,hadbeenaroundfor
quiteawhile,itsrootsdatingbacktothe1870s.Itwasformallydesignatedas
theEighthIllinoisVolunteerInfantryRegimentin1898whenitwascalled
intoactivedutywiththeregimentfortheSpanish-AmericanWar,anditwas
recalledtoactivedutyintheMexicanborderwarof1916.Itsnationally
recognizedbandwasasuperlativeoutfit,skilledinpopularaswellasclassical
styles,andanaspirationalmodelforallthesubsequentnewbands.
ThebandoftheOldEighthwasledbyGeorgeEdmundDulf,a
prominentfigurefordecadesinblackminstrelshowswhohadbeen
associatedwithitsince1898,conductingitca.1898-1901andagainca.19141917.Underhisbaton,itwasinvolvedwithjazzfromanearlydate.In1916,
theregimentswungintocampinTexasto“atunethatwasfreightedwith
homesicknessforChicagotroops....Itwasjustthe“Jazband”oftheEighth
IllinoisinfantrymakinglightthestepstocampfortheNegrodoughboys.”11
9ChicagoTribune,March10,1919,p.7.
10TherewerealsoindividualcompaniesofAfricanAmericansoldierswithinprimarilywhiteregimentsin
somestatenationalguards,andsomeofthesecompanieshadbands.The372nd,forexample,wasmannedby
menfromseveralsuchblackcompanies;itislikelythatitsregimentalbanddrewonthepersonnelofa
numberofestablishedcompany-levelblackguardbands.
11ChicagoBroadAxe,July8,1916,p.4(“EighthTroopsSwingInCampto“Jaz”Music”).Thisisanearly
appearanceoftheword"jaz,"and,characteristically,itisassociatedwithChicagomusicians.Infact,the
earliestknownapplicationofthetermtomusicisfromtheChicagoTribune,July11,1915,p.E8("Bluesis
JazzandJazzisBlues").NewOrleanstheatricalmusiciansinlater1916werereportedasiratethatChicago
7
Theregimentwasbroughtintowarserviceinthefallof1917and
redesignatedasthe370thinDecemberofthatyear.12Ittrainedfarfrom
home,firstatCampLogannearHouston,inwhichcitythebandledtheGreat
ParadeoftheEighthRegimentonNovember7,1917,andthenatCampStuart,
nearNewportNews,wherethebandledtheWashingtonBirthdayparadeof
severalthousandmilitarypersonnelthroughNorfolk,VirginiainFebruary,
1918.The370thwenttoFranceinApril1918,and,aftertenmonthsaway,
waswelcomedhometoChicagoinagreatcelebrationonFebruary17,1919.13
ThesecondgreatAfrican-AmericanregimentformedintheChicagoarea
wasthe365thInfantry,aunitofdrafteeswhichwasorganizedinOctober
1917atCampGrant,justsouthofRockford,Il.Toberegimentalbandmaster
ofthe365th,ayoungoutsider,FrankL.Drye,aformermilitarybandsmanand
thenthecornetsoloistforW.C.Handy,camenorthfromhiscurrentposition
asbandmasterattheTuskegeeInstitute,viatheDesMoinestrainingcampfor
blackofficers,whereheearnedhisofficer'sstripe.AtCampGrant,Lieutenant
Dryeorganizedsomeverysuccessfullargeshowsforwhichhewasmusical
director,conductor,andcornetsoloist.Drye,acommissionedlineofficer,later
foughtatthefrontinEuropeandwasindividuallydecoratedforvalor.The
unit’sofficiallyappointedBandLeader,whohandledmostofitsday-to-day
conductingduties,wasaprominentlocalChicagomusicianandcolleagueof
Dulf,sergeant(laterLieutenant)ArthurT.Stewart.WhilestillinRockford,a
musicianswerebeingcreditedwithdiscoveringthenewformofmusicknownasthe"jazband."SeeNew
OrleansStates,November12,1916,p.32NewOrleansStates,November14,1916,p.4,NewOrleansStates,
November22,1916,p.10,andNewOrleansTimes-Picayune,November22,1916,p.6.
12Rostersofthearmybandsareextremelyhardtocomeby.Fortunately,aroundthetimeofitsreturntothe
states,anearlierphotoandrosterforthebandoftheEightIllinoisfromOctober11,1917wereprintedinthe
ChicagoBroadAxe,February15,1919,p.5.
13FrankE.Roberts,TheAmericanForeignLegion:BlackSoldiersofthe93rdinWorldWarI(Annapolis,MD.:
NavalInstitutePress,2004),p.25forthemarchinNorfolk;ChicagoTribune,Tuesday,Feb.18,1919,p.1.
8
sixteen-mansubsetoftheirensemble"establishedareputationfor'jazz
stuff'."14The365thwenttoFranceinJune1918andenjoyeditsowngreat
welcomehomecelebrationinChicagoonMarch10,1919.Bandsergeant
AlbertJones,anactiveclarinetistinChicagobeforethewarandafrequent
soloistwiththebandatCampGrant,conductedthebandinappearancesin
Chicagoafteritsreturn.15
InJuly1918athirdmajorChicagoarearegimentofblackdraftees,the
803rdPioneerInfantryregiment,wasorganizedatCampGrant.Itsband
playedunderEdwardW.Bailey,whohadbeentheleaderoftheorchestraat
oneofthenation’smostimportantAfrican-Americantheatricalvenues,the
StatesTheateronChicago’sSouthSide.ThebandquicklytookCampGrantby
stormbeforeshippingout,andaconcertbythegroupuponitsarrivalback
homeafterthewarwaseagerlyanticipated.16Manyofthemenofthe803rd
wereRockfordarealocals,especiallyemployeesoftheRockfordMalleable
IronWorks,andthusitwasappropriatethatBailey’sassistantbandleader
wasAlfredJ.Taylor,aTuskegeegraduateandtalentedmusicianwhohad
touredwiththeTuskegeeSingersanddiscoveredtheRockfordarea;settling
there,hetookadayjobattheironworks.WhenTaylorreturnedtoRockford
afterthewar,heformedanAmericanLegionbanddrawingnotonlyonmen
fromthe803rdbutalsoincludinglocalveteranswhohadplayedwiththe
bandofthe365th.17
14RockfordRepublic,February1,1918,p.5.
15ChicagoDefender,October30,1915,p.6;ChicagoDefender,November27,1915,p.6;RockfordDaily
RegisterGazette,May7,1918,p.2;ChicagoBroadAx,April19,1919,p.4;DallasExpress,May10,1919,p.1.
16RockfordMorningStar,September16,1918,p.14;RockfordMorningStar,June3,1919,p.32.
17RockfordMorningStar,December23,1919,p.4.AndasanotherexampleofhowtheChicagoareaveteran
bandsmenkeptincontact,"abandcomposedofthebesttalentofthe365thInfantryBand,the8thRegiment
Band,andthe803rdPioneerInfantryBand"headedtheparadethatkickedoffthefirstAmericanLegion
recruitmentdriveamongAfricanAmericanveteransintheChicagoareaatthe8thRegimentArmoryon
October12,1919(ChicagoBroadAxe,October11,1919,p.2).
9
FromtheNewYorkarea,theblackentertainmentindustryyieldedup
someofitsfinesttalenttothearmy,eventuallystaffingfiveregimentalbands,
fourofwhichwerewidelycelebrated.AsinChicago,thestorymustbeginwith
theNationalGuard.Thesecondofthenation’stwoblackNationalGuard
regiments,the15thN.Y.,hadonlyrecentlybeenestablished,onJuly1,1916.
Thehistoryofthebandofthe15thN.Y.isanelaboratestory,andonethathas
beendistortedsomewhatbythecelebrityofJamesReeseEurope.Itsfirst
ChiefMusicianwasE.E.(EgbertE.)Thompson,handsdownthemostobvious
candidateforthejobworkinginNewYorkCityatthetime.Thompson,“the
blackSousa,”wasaveteranoftheBritishmilitarybandworldwho,becausehe
couldneverrisetobandmasterintheBritishArmy,hadlefttheCaribbeanand
militarylifein1907forwhatbecameahighlysuccessfulcareerintheNew
Yorkentertainmentindustry.18AshewasbecomingestablishedinNewYork
City,healsopolishedhismusicalskillsasastudentforthreeyears,from1908
to1911,attheInstituteofMusicalArt,earningthedeeprespectofitsdirector,
FrankDamrosch.19Thompsonhadbeenleadingaprofessionalconcertand
danceensembleoffortymen,“Thompson’sMilitaryBand,”inNewYorkfor
severalyearswhenthecallcametobuildabandfortheguardregiment.He
ledthebandofthe15thN.Y.initsfirstfullseason,fromlatesummer1916to
midApril1917.
Thompson'sNationalGuardbandwasaunitmadeupofamixtureof
unpaid,enlistedguardsmen,someofwhomownednoinstrumentsandhadno
18MortenClausen,"EgberthE.Thompson:HeIntroducedCopenhagenerstoRealJazzMusic,"TheBlack
PerspectiveinMusic16/2(1988):151-76atp.161.
19FrankDamrosch'sstrongletterofrecommendationforE.E.ThompsonisprintedintheNewYorkAge,
April5,1919,pp.6-7.
10
priormusicalexperience,andalsoringerswhowerepaidNewYork
professionalmusiciansdrawnfromhisowncommercialoutfit.Heworked
diligentlyallfallandwintertoalterthismixandstaffthebandentirelywith
musically-experiencedvolunteerguardsmen,buthewasneverabletopull
thisoff.Nonethelesshisaccomplishmentswiththebandwerepraised,andits
corewasstrong.The15thN.Y.marchedinagreatNewYorkCityparadetoget
itsregimentalcolorsonOctober1,1916tothetuneofthebandunder
Thompson.20Shortlythereafter,thebandmadeitsfirstconcertappearance,
playingforabenefitattheManhattanCasinoonOctober20.21Meanwhile,the
professionalThompson’sMilitaryBandplayedatTempoClubconcertsunder
thesponsorshipofJimEuropein1916-17andcontinuedtoplayontheirown
andforJimEuropeafterThompsonsteppeddownfromthe15thN.YinApril
1917.22
ColonelWilliamHayward,commanderofthe15thN.Y.,wasjealousof
thebandofthemoreseniorblackNationalGuardregiment,the8thIllinois.In
December1916,onaccountofhisconcernforthequality,irregularstaffing,
andcontinualout-of-pocketexpenseofthebandunderThompson,Hayward
begantoputpressureononeofhisnewly-commissionedofficers,JimEurope,
20NewYorkAge,October5,1916,p.1,ontheparade,mentionsthattheregimentalbandhad65members.
NewYorkAge,October5,1916,p.4,inaneditorialdiscussinglastSunday’sparadeandgettingtheunit’s
colors,“Col.Haywardandhisofficersdeservemuchcreditforwhattheyhaveaccomplishedinsoshorta
time.AndspecialmentionmustbemadeofChiefMusicianThompsonandhisband.”Ashortarticleinthe
NewYorkAge,October5,1916,p.6,offerscomplimentstothe15thregimentbandunderChiefMusician
Thompson.
21NewYorkAge,October26,1916,p.6,inareviewofthebandconcertonOctober20,mentionsthat
Thompsonwasworkingwith“untrainedmaterial,”andthatmanyofitsinstrumentalistshadbeenjust
assignedtheirinstrumentsandwerelearningthem.AcolumnistintheIndianapolisFreeman(November4,
1916,p.4)saidthatthisconcertprovedthatThompson“isthepeerofallthecoloredbandmastersandcanbe
comparedwithoutmuchexaggerationwiththebestofthewhite.”
22NewYorkAge,September28,1916,p.1;NewYorkAge,April5,1917,p.6.
11
tohelpwiththesituation.23Europe,oneofthebestknownblackmusiciansin
NewYorkCity,hadenthusiasticallyenrolledintheNationalGuardin
September1916asaprivate,thoughnotasabandsman,andasjust
mentioned,hehadbeenemployingThompson’sbandinhiscivilianbusiness.
Hewasrapidlypromotedtosergeantthatfallandthengivenanofficer’s
commissioninDecemberasafirstlieutenant.Inearly1917,withthehelpof
fellowClefClubberNobleSissle,whohadalsojoinedthe15thN.Y.inthefallof
1916,JimEuropemountedavigorousfundingandrecruitmentcampaignfor
theband.Theirgoalsweretogetmoreprofessionalmusicianstoenlistas
guardsmen,andtoestablishanendowmenttopaythemanacceptablewage,
sinceguardsmenearnednomoneyfortheirservice.
Ninemonthsaftertheregimentwasestablished,andjustaftertheUS
declarationofwarinApril1917,the15thN.Y.passedinspectionandwas
federalized.Thompsontookthismomenttostepasidefromtheregiment’s
band.24Haywardandhisfellowseniorwhiteofficershadshakendowntheir
richfriendsforcontributions.Europe,takingoverwitha$10,000bandfund
nowathisdisposal,25immediatelysailedforPuertoRicotorecruitsome
23ForthestoryofJimEuropeandthe369th,seeaboveallReidBadger,ALifeinRagtime:ABiographyof
JamesReeseEurope(NewYork:Oxford,1995);themostimportantolderaccountsoftheactivitiesofthe
bandareNobleSissleSissle,“MemoirsofLieutenant“Jim”Europe”(unpublishedcarbonoftypescriptca.
1942,nowhousedattheLIbraryofCongressandavailableonlinethroughtheAmericanMemoryCollection
attheLibraryofCongresswebsite)andArthurW.Little,FromHarlemtotheRhine:TheStoryofNewYork's
ColoredVolunteers(NY:CoviciFriede,1936).
24NewYorkAge,April19,1917,p.1.Col.Hayward’sstatementaboutthebandsituationincludedthe
following:“ItmaynotbegenerallyknownthatalthoughMr.Thompsonwhohasresignedasbandmaster,
workedhard,hewasunabletogetthemembersofhisbandtoenlist.Thebandthatthepublichasseenand
heardwascomposedonlyinpartofenlistedmen.Theothersbeingcivilianswhoseserviceswerepaidfor
fromtimetotime,andoneveryoccasion,includingrecruitingduty,exceptingthree.Ofcourse,thenonenlistedmenwereofnousetouswhentheregimentwentintoservice.Idonotthinkthatthefailureto
secureenlistedmenforthebandwasthroughlackofdiligentandearnesteffortsonMr.Thompson’spart.He
hadadifficulttask.Ifelt,however,thatprogresswouldbemadebymakinganewstartfromthebeginning.”
25Thepersonalsubsidyof$10,000givenbyNewYorkbankerDanielG.Reidisreportedinalmosteverystory
aboutJimEurope'sband,buttheregiment'sofficersandotherprominentNewYorkersamongHayward's
friendsgavelesseramountstothebandfund,whichwasforinstrumentsaswellassalaries;indeed,theReid
12
musicians,especiallyreedplayers.Curiously,despiteallhewasdoingand
woulddofortheband,EuropecouldnotbeitsofficialBandLeader.An
appointmentforFirstLieutenantEuropeasBandLeaderwouldhaverequired
anunacceptabledemotiontonon-commissionedofficerstatus.Instead,F.
EugeneMikellenlistedandreceivedtheappointmentassergeantBand
Leader.26Europewasnonethelessexofficiotherenovatedband’sprimary
conductorandmusicaldirector.Forthenexttwoyearsitwasreferredtoas
Europe’sband,andatitsheadhebecameamajorinternationalcelebrity.With
thebandfundalreadyseriouslydepleted,theirfirstpublicappearanceunder
JimEuropewasatabenefitattheManhattanCasinoonJune22,191727;itleft
forthefrontsixmonthslater.Itsregimentservedthelongestoverseasofany
oftheblackregiments;thefirsttoleave,itsailedforFranceonDecember12,
1917andreturnedtotheUSonFebruary12,1919.Itwasrenamedthe369th
inFrance.WhentheregimentreturneditscolorsbackinNewYorkon
February17,1919inagiantparadethroughManhattan,itwasheadedupby
theband,whichwasdirectedbyEuropeandledbydrummajorGillard
Thompson.28
ThesecondgreatAfricanAmericancombatinfantryregimentfromNew
YorkCity,the367th,wasformedfromdrafteesatCampUpton,onLong
Island,inearlyNovember1917.Thusthe369thand367thofNewYorkCity
wereaguardsmen/drafteespairjustlike370thand365thofChicago.The
bandofthe367thwasputintothehandsofnoneotherthanE.E.Thompson,
checkfor$10,000maywellhavebeenintendedjustforthenecessaryequipment(TrentonEveningTimes,
September7,1917,p.3;ChicagoDefender,March23,1918,p.5;NewYorkHerald,April17,1918;Flint
Journal,April22,1919,p.3;Little,FromHarlemtotheRhine,p.122).
26ThusJimEuropeandEugeneMikellstoodinthesamerelationshipinthe369thasLieut.FrankL.Drye,a
lineofficer,andLieut.ArthurT.Stewart,BandLeader,hadinthe365th.
27Sissle,"Memoirs,"p.63;seealsoBadger,ALifeinRagtime,p.150.
28NotBill"Bojangles"Robinson.
13
whohadbeenthefirstbandmasterofthe15thN.Y.Afterlessthantwomonths
ofrehearsal,hehadhislatestregimentalbandreadytoplayataGrand
MilitaryBallonNewYear’sEveatthe71stRegimentArmoryat34thandPark
inManhattan.ItwasreportedatthetimethatThompsonwantedtomakehis
grouponeofthebestinthearmy,andthatthey“madeamostfavorable
impression.”29The367thanditsbandparticipatedwithalltheotherCamp
UptonregimentsintheWashington'sBirthdayParadeinNYConFriday,
February22,1918,winninggreatapplause.Varietycommentedthat"many
thoughtitabettermusicalorganizationthanthebandJimmyEuropeformed
andwhichisnowinFrance."30Theregimentgotitscolorsafteramajor
paradethroughManhattanonMarch23,1918,andupontheirarrivalin
Harlem,thebandhadenoughpeplefttoentertainthecrowdwithragtime.31
AttheendofMarchthebandappearedinconcertattheManhattanOpera
HousewithguestsincludingAbbieMitchellandWillMarionCook.32Enduring
sevenmonthsofstatesidepreparation,itcontinuedtoparticipateinevents
likeLibertyLoanparades.33The367thfinallywentoverseasinJune1918.It
continuedtobethesubjectofattentioninNewYorkpaperswhileabroad,and
aMonsterBenefitwasheldfortheregimentinManhattaninOctober,witha
huge,raciallyintegrated,all-starroster.34BackbylateFebruary1919,the
29NewYorkAge,December29,1917,p.6;NewYorkAge,January5,1918,p.6.
30Variety,lateFebruary1918,p.8ontheVaudevillepage.
31Forageneralaccountoftheparade,seetheNewYorkTimes,Feb22,1918,p.11,andNewYorkTimes,
February23,1918,pp.1,3.TheCrisis15/6(April,1918),p.294,reportsthat“Anattemptwasmadetoleave
thecoloredsoldiersoutoftheWashingtonBirthdayParadedownFifthAvenue.TheGovernorinterferedand
thebattalionofthe367thcoloredregiment,whichparaded,receivedthemostattentionandapplauseamong
the10,000marchers.”
32NewYorkAge,March30,1918,p.6(“367thinDanceandSong”).
33NassauPost,April19,1918,p.5.
34ThebenefitwasheldSunday,October27,1918.SeeadvertisementsintheNewYorkAge,October19,1918,
p.6andNewYorkAge,October26,1918,p.6;thesamepaperprintedareviewonNovember2,1919,p.6.
ParticipantsincludedwhitestarsBelleBaker,IrvingBerlin,DavidBispham,EddieCantor,EddieLeonard,and
14
367threturneditscolorsinitshomecityafteranotherspectacularparade
throughtown,ledbytheband,onMarch14,1919.
Atthesametimeasthe367thwasbeingformedonLongIsland,buta
shorttrainrideoutofManhattanintheoppositedirection,the349thand
350thFieldArtilleryregiments,composedofdrafteesprimarilyfromNew
York,NewJersey,andPennsylvania,werebeingassembledatCampDixnear
Trenton,NJ.Theexploitsoftheseunitswerefollowedwithcarebythepress
ofthreecities:NewYorkCity,Trenton,andPhiladelphia.Themoreprominent
bandtoemergefromthispairwasthatofthe350thunderaManhattanClef
Clubstalwartandlong-timecolleagueofJimEurope,J.TimBrymn.35His
regimentalcolonelwantedtheirbandtobethebestintheservice,andits
whiteofficersworkedhardtoraiseabandfundthatwouldsupportan
ensembleof100men.ThegreatcontraltoErnestineSchumann-Heink,the
“MotheroftheArmy,”sangataconcertwiththebandinNewJerseyonMay
15,1918,andbecameitschiefsponsor.36Intermsofdrummingupprivate
moneytofundalargeband,Brymn’s350thregimentwasevidentlyevenmore
successfulthanEurope’s369th.Hetookanensembleof70overseasand
continuedtoaddmentoit.BrymnwrotecolumnistLesterA.Waltonofthe
NewYorkAgefromFranceinOctober1918andsaid,“Mybandisnow
increasedtoonehundredmusicians,asweareconsideredA-1inthearmy.”37
MarilynMiller,aswellasblackstarsincludingBertWilliams,WilburSweatman,AbbieMitchell,Ford
Dabney’sSyncopatedOrchestra,andWillMarionCook’sClefClubOrchestraandSingers.
35EmmettJ.ScottsaysBrymnalsohelpedpreparethebandofthe349thforanextendedperiod,whichmakes
sensesinceitwasatCampDixatthesametime.SeeScott'sOfficialHistoryoftheAmericanNegrointhe
WorldWar(Chicago:HomewoodPress,1919;repr.NY:ArnoPress,1969),p.310.
36NewYorkAge,May17,1918,p.6;seealsoScott,OfficialHistory,p.311.
37Bycontrast,JimEurope’sbandonthecontinent,thoughsecondtononeintheAmericanArmy,wasan
ensembleofjust44or45;Badgersays44wentoverseas.SeeReidBadger,“PerformancePracticeTechniques
intheJamesReeseEuropeBand,”InHowardT.Weiner,ed.,EarlyTwentieth-CenturyBrassIdioms,Rutgers
InstituteofJazzStudies,StudiesinJazz,no.58(ScarecrowPress,2009),Chapter7,pp.64-72.
15
Indeed,itwaswidelyreportedtobethesinglelargestmusicalunitservingin
WorldWarI.OneofBrymn'smen,whobecametheunit’ssergeantDrum
Major,wasWilliamH.(WillietheLion)Smith,thegreatHarlemstridepianist.
WhenPresidentWilsonopenedanationwideRedCrossCampaignin
May1918,thekickoffwasahugeparadeinManhattanonSaturday,May18,
ledbyBrymn’s350thregimentband(withThompson’s367thconsiderably
furtherbackinthelineofmarch).Famously,thepresidentcouldnotresist
movingtoitsmusicandgotoutofhislimousinetowalktheroute.38Brymn’s
bandstayedintowntoparticipateinSundaymorningservicesonMay19,and
itgaveaconcertontheCentralParkMallfortheRedCrossthatafternoon,
playingforanaudienceof50,000.39Shortlythereafter,inJune1918,itwent
overseas,returninginearlyMarch1919.
Alittlelaterintheyear,attheendofJuly1918,afifthAfricanAmerican
regimentthatincludedmenfromtheNewYorkarea,the807thPioneer
InfantryRegiment,wasformedatCampDixwithdrafteesfromNewYorkand
NewJersey,alongwithmenfromDelaware,WestVirginia,andNorthCarolina.
ItsbandbecamethefourthandfinalgreatNewYorkareablackarmyband,
alongsidethoseofEurope's369th,Thompson's367th,andBrymn's350th.
(Thebandofthe349thnevermadethesamekindofsplash.)TheBandLeader
ofthe807thwasClefClubinsiderWillVodery,withexperiencedtrombonist
RalphS.RedmondasAssistantBandLeader,andtenorsoloistandjazz
instrumentalistOpalD.Cooperasdrummajor.Withinjustthreemonthsthis
ensemblereachedanoteworthylevelofexcellence.Infact,afrontpage1929
obituaryintheNewYorkAgeforoneofitsperformerssays“theirbandwon
38NewYorkAge,May25,1918,p.1(“HeHeardMusicandJustHadtoWalk”);seealsotheNewYorkAge,May
17,1919,p.6:“Isimplymustmarchtothatmusic;itisirresistible.”
39NewYorkTimes,May20,1918,p.11;JerseyCityJournal,May20,1918,p.5.
16
fame,secondonlytothatofLieut.JimEurope’sFifteenthHellfighters.”40And
“atleastonecommandingofficerpronouncedthem‘thebestbandintheA.E.
F.’.”41TheBandSecretary,CorporalAlbertA.Smith,wasnotshyabout
declaringthat"Weestablishedourselvesasoneofthepremierebandsinthe
A.E.F."42
SuchrenownindicatesthatVoderyhadfoundamongsttheregiment’s
draftees(orbroughtwithhimintothebandasvolunteerenlistees)manyEast
Coastprofessionals.Byonelaterdescriptionitwasabandof52players,while
oneextantphotographshowsaconductorand47instrumentalists.43For
theatricalshowstheybrokeoutasmallergroup.ThereisarosterofVodery’s
minstrelshowandpitorchestratotalling30names,comprisingabout10
actor-singersand20instrumentalists.44Morethanhalfoftheseindividuals
canbetracedasactiveprofessionalactorsandmusiciansincivilianlife.One
particularlyprominentsubsetofmenwhoplayedtogetherinthe807th---Opal
Cooper,SammyRichardson,LouiaV.Jones,andEarlGranstaff---returnedto
Franceafterthewarandplayedtogetheron-and-offformostofthe1920s.
MovingdowntheEastCoast,theBaltimore-Washingtonareaalso
yieldedapairofAfricanAmericancombatregiments,the368thInfantryand
the351stArtillery,whichbothwereformedfromdrafteesandestablishedin
October1917.TheseunitswereorganizedatCampMeade,whichliesroughly
halfwaybetweenthetwocities.TheydrewtheirrecruitsfromPennsylvania,
40NewYorkAge,January26,1929,p.1,inanobituaryofCharlesL.Thorpe.
41AccordingtoMarkTucker,quotingfroma1926PittsburgCourierarticle.SeeMarkTucker,"InSearchof
WillVodery,"BlackMusicResearchJournal16/1(Spring,1996):123-82,atp.134.
42PhiladelphiaTribune,June14,1919,p.1.
43AphotoofthebandtakenwhentheywereatSouillywasfirstpublishedintheNewYorkAge,January4,
1919,p.6.
44NewYorkAge,January4,1919,p.6("MakingMusicfortheArmy").
17
Maryland,andtheSouth.Tworegulararmybandsmenwhosecareershad
longbeenjoinedcameeasttogetherfromthe10thCavalryinArizona---Band
LeaderAlfredJackThomasandAssistantBandLeaderDorcyRhodes---to
conductthebandsofthesenewunits.ThomasandRhodeshadeachtaken
timeofffromtheirdutieswiththe10thCavalrytogotheGovernor’sIsland
ArmyBandmastersSchool,in1912-14and1914-1916,respectively.
Maintainingastrikingparallelism,theywereoftenmentionedtogetherinthe
Washingtonpapers,45andtheywouldbothmusteroutafterthewarand
returntotheCapitolareatoworkinacademia,ThomastoBaltimoreto
establishtheAeolianConservatoryandRhodestoWashington,DCtorunthe
HowardUniversityROTCBand.
Thomas’sbandwasbyfarthemoreimportantofthepair,ifassessedby
documentedactivitiesandcontemporarynewspaperreferences.Hemadea
bigefforttostaffitwithexperiencedmusicians.Inanadvertisementfor
playersplacedintheWashingtonBee,Thomaspromised“NoTrenchdigging,
guarddutyorotherlaboriousdutiestoperform.Specialprivilegesaccorded
tobandsmen.”46JimEurope,infact,thoughtthe368thofA.J.Thomaswasthe
bestbandintheA.E.F.Bythisheprobablymeantthatitwasthebestofthe
bandsatperformingseriousmusic,andweknowthat“themensaythey
prefertoplayclassicalpieces.”47Inearly1918thebandnumbered87pieces,
whichincludedafieldmusicunitof39bugles,fifes,anddrums,andaconcert
unitof48.The48playerswereevenlydividedatthistimebetween
woodwindsandbrass,andThomashopedtoincreasethenumberof
45Forexample,WashingtonBee,February9,1918,p.5,whentheyweregueststogetherataWashington
dinner,aneWashingtonBee,April5,1919,p.3,reportingonbothaftertheirreturntothestates.
46WashingtonBee,December8,1917,p.8.
47NewYorkAge,February22,1919,p.6;seealsoBadger,p.308.
18
woodwindstoachievearatioofone-thirdbrassinstrumentstotwo-thirds
woodwinds,thereverseoftheusualratioinarmybands.48
Thebandofthe368thcouldsplitoffaterrificfreestandingjazzbandled
byitscolorfuldrummajor,EdgarA.Landin.Animposing6’4”former
Philadelphiapoliceman,Landinwashailedas“TheRagtimeBaton-Twirler,”
“TheGreatCake-WalkingBandleaderandHisJazzBand,”and“TheSultanof
SyncopationandHisGallavantin’JazzBand.”Whileinthestates,thebandof
the368thwasactive,forexample,providingaconcertatCampMeadeon
EasterSunday1918towhichthepublicwasinvitedandthatwasannounced
onpageoneoftheWashingtonBee.49ItalsoplayedinBaltimoreand
Washington.Thebandwasespeciallybusyinthespringof1918intheLiberty
LoanDrive.Toopenthiseffort,PresidentWoodrowWilsonattendeda
BaltimoretroopreviewandparadeonSaturday,April6,1918whereDrum
MajorLandin’santicswereahitwiththedourpresident.Landinimmediately
becameasignificantnationalcelebrity,“TheDuskyDrumMajorThatMade
thePresidentLaugh.”50
Laterthatsummer,inJuly1918,athirdimportantBaltimoreWashingtonareabandwasformedatCampMeadeaspartofthe808th
PioneerInfantryregiment,aunitwhichdrewalmosthalfitsmenfrom
Maryland.ItsBandLeaderwasaNativeAmerican(Oneida),JamesRiley
Wheelock,awellknownmusicalfigureintheBaltimore-Washingtonarea.
Wheelock,"theredrivalofSousa,"51wasoneofthemostseniorofthenew
bandmastersatage44.Hehadmadeaprominentpublicbidinthespringof
48WashingtonEveningStar,March24,1918,p.14.
49WashingtonBee,March30,1918,p.1.
50BaltimoreSun,April12,1918,p.16;PhiladelphiaEveningPublicLedger,April19,1918,p.8;Baltimore
Sun,May12,1918,p.14.EdgarA.Landin(3September1891-March1966).
51AlbanyEveningJournal,September22,1905,p.10.
19
1917tobecomethebandmasterofaregimentinoneofTheodoreRoosevelt's
proposedvolunteerdivisions,andthentookapostathisalmamater,the
CarlisleIndianIndustrialSchool,whenPresidentWilsonquashedRoosevelt's
plans.52WiththeclosingoftheCarlisleSchoolayearlaterbythegovernment,
Wheelockwasanobviouschoicetoleadthebandofalocally-staffedregiment,
andhewasabletoattracttalentedmusicians.Intheracialpoliticsofthe
Army,Wheelockwaseffectivelywhite,whichwecaninferfromthefactthata
youngerNativeAmerican(Chippewa)andCarlislegraduate,GusWelch,wasa
commissionedofficer(secondlieutenant,risingquicklytocaptain)inthe
808th,whoseofficercorpsalwayswasdescribedasall-white.
TheGreatPlainsandupperMidwestarethefinalAfricanAmerican
populationcenteroutsideofthedeepSouthfromwhichthearmydrew
heavily.Theonecombatinfantryregimentnotyetaccountedfor,the366th,
wasmusteredintoserviceatCampDodge,justtothenorthwestofDes
Moines,Iowa,inNovember1917.Itsbandmadeitsfirstappearanceon
February5,1918,underSergeantGrinnell.53
AndKansasCitydeservesmentionforthetwoPioneerInfantry
regiments,the805thand806th,thatwereorganizedatnearbyCampFunston
inManhattan,Kansas,inthesummerof1918.Theywerestaffedmostlywith
recruitsfromtheKansas-MissouriandbroaderGreatPlainsregion,butaswas
trueofmanyoftheotherPioneerInfantryunits,theyalsodrewonawider,
evennationalpopulationfortheirmanpower.Themenofthebandofthe
52GettysburgTimes,March24,1917,p.3;PhiladelphiaEveningPublicLedger,March27,1917,p.5.TheNew
YorkAge,June7,1917,p.1reportsthatRoosevelthadwantedtoraisetwoblackregiments.CouldWheelock
haveknownthis,andmighttherebearelationshiptohisappointmentwiththe808th?
53DesMoinesBystander,March8,1918,p.4;DesMoinesBystander,March15,1918,p.3;DesMoines
Bystander,May3,1918,p.4.
20
805th,forexample,werenotjustfromKansas,Missouri,andOklahoma,but
alsofromTexas,Ohio,Louisiana,Delaware,NewJersey,andNewYorkCity.
TheywereledbyGeorgeL.PolkofSmyrna,Delaware,whoatthetimehe
filledouthisdraftregistrationcardhadbeenplayingwithJ.C.O'Brien's
GeorgiaMinstrels.54LawrenceDentonfromKansasCity,wholedthebandof
the806thforatime,rememberedthatithadmen"fromallover,Louisiana,
Mississippi,LosAngeles."55Nonetheless,forbothunits,theirprincipalidentity
laywithKansasCity,and,forexample,upontheirreturn,thesoldiersand
bandsmenofthe805thledtheJuly4,1919paradeinthatcity.56
SERVICEINFRANCE
Overseas,mostofthebandsstayedclosetotheirregiments,playingfor
thetroopsinthetrenchesunderfireandthemenatrestjusttotherear.57
Awayfromthecombatzone,theyperformedatmilitaryceremonies,atpublic
open-airconcertsforcivilians,atprivatesoireesforgeneralsandpoliticians
androyalty,inmusichallsandhospitals.Thelargerbandswerereally
entertainmenttroupes;theycouldbreakupintosmallergroupsincludingjazz
bandsandvaudevilletheatreorchestras,andbandsmencouldputdowntheir
hornstopickupbanjosandviolins,ortosinginquartets,doublequartets,and
choruses.Notjustpurveyorsofconcertmusic,thebandscarriedactorsand
singersontheirrosterandcouldmountandaccompanystagedminstreland
54Bliss,Historyofthe805th,pp.65-67,208,givesafullrosterfortheband,includingphotosandhometowns;
GeorgeL.Polkwasjustaprivatewhenhewaspulledoutoftherankstoleadtheband.
55NathanW.Pearson,Goin’ToKansasCity(Urbana:UniversityofIllinoisPress,1987),p.18.
56KansasCityAdvocate,June6,1919,p.4.
57Fordiaryaccountsoftwo(white)bandsmen(bothofwhomendedupinPershing’spost-armisticeAll-Star
AEFGHQband),whichareinsightfulaboutformingbands,fashioningsoldiersintomusicians,andthe
bandsman’sdailylife,seeRoyceBoyer,“TheWorldWarIArmyBandsman:ADiaryAccountbyPhilipJames,”
AmericanMusic14/2(1996):185-204,andseethediaryofbandsmanRobertR.Gustafson,onlineat
www.worldwar1.com/dbc/rgustafson.htm(accessed6/7/2011).
21
varietyshowsthatincludedskits,soloandquartetsinging,andvirtuoso
dancing.
Thebandsvariedconsiderablyinsize,quality,andcapabilities.Aphoto
ofthebandofthe372ndshowsscarcelytwodozenmen,whileDulfinthe
370thandBaileyinthe805thhadaround30-35,Europehadagroupof45,
Thomasof48,Voderyof50,andBrymnof70-100.Pinningdownthenumber
ofinstrumentalistsinthelargergroupsishardtodowithoutphotosor
rosters,andthesearesurprisinglyhardtocomeby;further,citednumbers
needtobeinterpretedwithcaution,sincetheymayincludeonlythe
instrumentalistsoralsoincludetheactorsandsingers.58Thoseensembles
builtfromdrafteesmightbesmallandweak---barelyabletoscratchouta
marchoraccompanymilitarydrills---whilebetterbandsmightworkfroma
playbookofmainlystandardlightclassicalandmiddlebrowpopularfare.59
Intensiverecruitingbyanambitiouscolonelwithabandfundandanable
conductormightcoaxasignificantnumberofvoluntaryenlistmentsandresult
inaflexible,professional-qualityensemble,anentertainmenttroupewhose
numbersincludedsingers,actors,anddancersinadditiontobandsmen.An
abilitytoplaythenewesthotragtimeidiomcalledjazzoftengarneredthe
mostattention.Notallbandleadershadanaffinityforjazz,though,andinat
leasttwodemonstrableinstances(inthe368thandthe809th),jazzband
dutiesweredelegatedtotheAssistantBandLeaderorthedrummajor.
58Europe’soverseasbandisconsistentlydescribedasagroupof44or45,buttwoofficersand56enlisted
menweredetailedtotraveltoAix-les-Bains(seebelow).Theadditionalenlistedmenwerelikelytheactors
andsingersinthetroupe.
59Notalldrafteebandsmenwerealreadymusicians,oriftheyhadcomeintothearmywithsometraining,for
exampleasapianistorsinger,thentheywerenotalwaysproficientonabandinstrument.Bandsneeded
instruments,andfundsforthispurposecouldbehardtolocate.Bandsweremostlyblendsofprofessionals
andcapableamateurswithrankbeginners.Conductorsmightbepulledfromtheranksofprivates.
22
AlthoughJamesReeseEurope’sbandunquestionablyhadthehighest
visibilityandrenownofanyU.S.ArmybandinFrance,eachoftheotherblack
regimentalbandsservinginEnglandoronthecontinentdeservesfurther
attentionthanithasreceivedtodate.Exceptwhenthebandswereawayfrom
thefront,however,particularlyattheleaveareasatAix-les-Bainsandnearby
Chambery,orinParis,muchoftheirwartimeactivityisextremelyhardto
trace.Inthecombatzone,whentheywereplayingatallratherthanducking
artilleryshellsandhelpingthewounded,theywerenotgoingtogetmuchif
anypressduetoanewsblackoutonaccountoftheneedforsecrecyabout
theirregiment'swhereabouts“SomewhereinFrance.”Suchaccountsasdo
turnupintheUSpresscouldbeprintedmonthsafterthefactdueto
censorshipandtransportationdelaysformail.AnarticleintheNewYork
Herald(Parised.),quotedinaNewJerseypaperaftertheArmistice,reveals
howbandactivitiescouldbesensitivenews:“Theappearanceofthebandof
the350thFieldArtilleryRegimentinNancyforaconcertwasthefirstnotice
herethattheonlybrigadeofnegroartilleryeveryorganizedhadbeen
defendingNancybyholdingtheMarbachesector,southofMetz.”60
BythetimeoftheArmisticeonNovember11,1918theregimentshad
beenabroadforanywherefromonetoelevenmonths,andinsomecasestheir
bandshadneverleftthesideofthetroops.AftertheArmistice,themajorityof
bandsmenfacedanadditionalthreemonthsormoreofcamplifeinmudand
rainalongsidealltheotherdoughboys,withboredom,pneumonia,andtheflu
epidemicasunpleasantcompanions,beforetransporthome.Atthismoment,
totheirrelief,bandsotherthanJimEurope’sbegantobesummonedaway
60Woodbury(N.J.)DailyTimes,December24,1918,p.1.
23
fromtheirregimentsformoreceremonialduties,inspecialassignmentsthat
wereawelcomediversion.
*
Thefollowingquickreviewofbandactivitiesfirstwillsummarizethe
activitiesofthetwomostcelebratedbands,thoseofJimEuropeandWill
Vodery.Nexttobesketchedwillbewhatweknowaboutthemoreprominent
remainingbands,movingfromdivisiontodivisionratherthanfollowingthe
statesidegeographicalpaththatwastakenaboveintheaccountoftheirinitial
formation.Mentionedherearetheprinciplewartimeanecdotesaboutthe
bandsoftheblackcombatregimentsthatcanbegleanedfromlateraccounts,
especiallyUSnewspapersarticlesandconcertadvertisements.
The15thN.Y.spentthelongesttimeabroadofanyblackregiment---a
totalofthirteenmonths---fortenofwhichitsbandwasunderMikell’sbaton.
HehadsubstantiallymorepodiumtimewiththebandthandidJimEurope.
However,itwasthetotalofthreemonthsofconcertizingawayfromthefront
beforetheArmisticebyEuropeandthe“HellFighters’Band”thatdrew
extensiveattentionatthetimeandhasbeenremarkedonatlengthbyso
manysince.ThesethreemonthsbeganwithamonthintherestareaatAixles-BainsfrommidFebruarytomidMarch1918,includingelaborateconcert
toursbytraintoandfromthattown.61JimEurope,asacombatofficer,hadto
havespecialpermissiontostepoutofhiscompanytoconductthebandatAixles-Bains.
61Aix-les-Bainsislessthan400milessouthofParisandthefront,butthebandwassaidtohavetravelled
severalthousandmilestogetthereandback.Therestareahadjustopened,andEurope'sbandentertained
thefirstsoldierstobepulledoffthefront.SeeTheCrisis15/6(April1918),p.294,whichreportsthat“An
AmericanNegrobandledtheAmericansoldierswhoreturnedfromtheirfirstexperiencesinthetrenchesina
paradeatAix-les-Bains,France.”
24
The15thN.Y.wasformallyre-designatedthe369thonMarch12,1918,
andwassenttothefrontunderFrenchcommand.Europewentwiththe
fighters.Hewasawayfromtheheadquartersbandforalmostsixmonths,
frommidMarchtoAugust1918,toleadhismachineguncompanyincombat,
duringwhichexperiencehegotgassedandwashospitalizedinJuly.He
rejoinedthebandintimefortwomonthsofconcertsinParisfrommidAugust
tomidOctober1918.Theretheband'sinitialappearancewasatthefinal
meetingoftheAlliedPeaceConferenceinParis,heldintheThéatredes
Champs-ElyséesonAugust18.Thissignaleventwasfollowedbyeightweeks
ofappearancesathospitalsandrestcampsaroundthecity.
Europe’sgroupisrememberedprincipallyforitsinstrumental
performancesandforthesingingofNobleSissle,butitmountedstageshows
aswell.Forinstance,duringitsfirstmonthawayfromtheregiment,“Thefine
ArmybandofAmericanNegromusicianscameoverfromAix-les-Bainsand
putChambéryinawhirlofexcitement.Aconcertwasgiveninthetheater
undertheauspicesoftheY.M.C.A.,andthehousewascrowdedtothedoors
andeveryseatintheorchestraoccupiedbyAmericansoldiers.Aminstrel
showwaspartoftheprogramme,andthetwoendmen,intraditionalminstrel
togs,crackedjokes,danced,andsangsongs,withachorusandbandto
supportthem.Thewildapplauseoftheaudienceworkedtheactorsintoa
perfectfrenzyofcakewalks,hand-springs,andgrotesquegestures,andthe
curtaindroppedonaroarofexcitementfromsoldiersandactorsalike.”62
TherecordofthebandunderMikellislesseasytotrace,andinthat
respectitshistoryisquitesimilartothoseoftheotherbandsinthe92ndand
93rddivisions.Nonetheless,thoughhetendstogetsnubbedinlateraccounts
25
thatfocusonJimEurope,Mikelldidvaluableservice.Indeed,inJune,1918he
washonoredinhisownrightataceremonywherehereceivedabaton
presentedbyaFrenchregimentalbandmaster.63OnJuly4,1918,inoneofits
mostprestigiousengagementsunderhisleadership,Mikellledthebandina
concertatGeneralGouraud’sheadquartersinChalons-sur-Marne.Inmid
1918Mikellenjoyedthearmy’sboostinrankforbandleaderstoSecond
Lieutenant,andheremainedwiththeband---andEuropecamebacktoit--whenalltheregiment’sotherblackofficerswereremovedlaterthat
summer.64Thebandwasreturnedtoitsregimentandpulledbackfrompublic
engagementsafteritsstintinParis,keepingalowprofileforitslastthreeand
ahalfmonthsoverseaswhileotherbandstookthespotlight.
TheotherpreeminentblackregimentalbandofWorldWarI,Will
Vodery’s807thPioneerInfantryBand,beganitsoverseasservicewithataste
ofcombat:“whenwearrivedinacertainpartofFrancewewerecarrying
ammunitiontothefrontunderfire.”Its“climacticsuccess”reallybegan,
though,whenthebandwasdetachedfromitsregimenttobetheFirstArmy
HeadquartersBattalionPostBand.Thiswasthemostdistinguishedand
lengthiestassignmentundertakenbyanyoftheblackregimentalbands,in
whichcapacityitplayedalloverFrance.Theopportunitywascreatedwhen
onOctober16,1918,GeneralJohnJ.Pershingturnedoverpersonalcommand
ofthemillion-manUSFirstArmytoGeneralHunterLiggett,whocommanded
62Outlook,v.118/16(April17,1918),p.621,fromanarticlebycorrespondentPaulineSandsLee,whowrote
fromfromChambéryonFebruary24,1918.
63NewYorkAge,June15,1918,p.6(“BandmasterMikellisPresentedWithBaton”).
64NobleSissle,whoheldtherankofsergeantanddrummajor,whileprimarilyperformingasasinger,hadto
leavethe369thtobecomeastaffofficerwiththe370thwhenhereceivedhisofficer’scommissioninthefall
of1918inFrance.Heperformedagainwiththe369thbackintheUSinearly1919beforeEurope'sdeath.The
modernsecondaryliteraturesometimescreditsSisslewithactuallyconductingtheband,therebymisidentifyinghimwithMikell.
26
ituntilApril20,1919.Naturally,Liggettthenneededhisownheadquarters
bandindependentofPershing’s,andacompetitionwassetupfortheposition,
whichwaswonwhenVodery’sbandbeatoutfourother(white)regimental
bands.65Thebandofthe807thtransferredtoFirstArmyHeadquarterson
November13,1918.BasedfirstatSouillynearVerdunandthenatBar-surAubeinthecountrysidesoutheastofParis,closebytoPershing’sown
headquartersatChaumont,Vodery'smenservedasFirstArmyHeadquarters
BandforfivemonthsuntiltheFirstArmywasdissolvedinApril.Inearly
1919,VoderysteppedawayfortwomonthstodotheBandmasterscourseat
nearbyChaumont,andaVoderylettershowsthatafterthecourseheexpected
toreturntothestateswithFirstArmyHeadquarterspersonnel.Instead,in
lateApril,heandthebandweresentbacktotheirregiment,whichhadmissed
themsorely,andwhowerenowatBourg,Haute-Marne.
AfewreferencesindicatethecaliberofeventforwhichVodery'sband
providedentertainmentinthisassignment.66ItrepresentedtheAmerican
ArmyatareceptionforFrenchPresidentM.PoincaréandMme.Poincaréat
VerdunonNovember20,1918,whenPoincaréwastravellingtojoin
MarshallsFochandPetainfortheceremonialentriesintotheliberatedtowns
ofAlsace-Lorraine.Poincaré“saiditwasthefirstcoloredbandhehadever
heardanditsmusicwasastounding.”67OnDecember5,thebandplayedwhile
GeneralLiggettdecoratedeightaviatoracesatSouilly.OnJanuary8itplayed
attheservicesinhonorofColonelRooseveltatwhichGeneralLiggettand
65LetterfromSgt.CharlesL.Thorpe,printedintheNewYorkAge,January4,1919,p.6.GeneralPershingalso
determinedtohaveanewband,alarge,all-starAEFGHQ[GeneralHeadquarters]Bandrecruitedfromthe
variousregiments.Simpleracismrearingitsheadagain,nomembersofanyblackregimentalbandwere
takenforthisgroup.
66AllmaterialinthisparagraphistakenfromtheChicagoDefender,May24,1919,p.4andPhiladelphia
Tribune,June14,1919,p.1,exceptwherenoted.
27
GeneralDrumandstaffwerepresent(TheodoreRoosevelthaddiedon
January6).Further,duringJanuarythebandplayedatoneoftheCatholic
Cathedrals,anditalsoplayedprivatelyonJanuary19forthePrinceofMonaco
athischateau,atwhichoccasion"thePrinceexpressedparticularpleasurein
Negromusic.”68AndonMarch21,theyplayedforGen.Pershing,hisstaffand
guests,thekingandqueenofBelgium,atLignol,thechateauthatwasLieut.
Gen.HunterLiggett’sheadquartersnearBar-sur-Aube.69OnApril6they
playedforGeneralPershingatBar-sur-Aube.Andtheyalsomadetoursofbase
hospitals,ofcourse.70
Vodery'soutfitwasverymuchatheatertroupeaswellasaconcert
band,anditcouldmountatleasttwodifferentshows.Adescriptionofoneof
theshowsperformedinBar-sur-AubeinJanuarymentionscomedysketches,a
saxophonequartet,acomedian,andasong-and-danceroutine.71
Whatoftheotherbandsattachedtotheblackcombatdivisions?The
regimentsofthe93ndDivisionwerethefirsttogo“overthere,”embarking
betweenDecember1917andApril1918,beginningwiththe15thN.Y.All
servedatthefrontunderFrenchcommand.WiththeexceptionofJim
Europe's,theirbandsstayedclosebythetrenches.GeorgeDulf’sgreatChicago
bandoftheOldEighthIllinois,nowthe370th,wasparticularlyfamedforits
experienceclosetotheaction.OnOctober13,troopsofChicago's370thwere
thefirsttoenter"theFrenchcityofLaonwhenthatfortressfellafterfour
67VoderyletterofNov.22,1918,printedintheNewYorkAge,December21,1918,p.6;NewYorkAge,
January4,1919,p.6.
68TheCrisis17/6(April,1919),p.294.
69ClevelandGazette,April26,1919,p.3;seealsoNewYorkTimes,March22,1919,p.3.
70TheCrisis17/4(February1919),p.194.
71NewYorkAge,January4,1919,p.6;NewYorkHerald(Parised.),January29,1919,p.2(“Headquarters
BandofFirstArmyGivesShow”),ascitedinMarkMiller,SomeHustlingThis!TakingJazztotheWorld,19141929(Toronto:TheMercuryPress,2005),p.54.
28
yearsofGermanoccupation....[and]BandmasterDulfledthebandthat
marchedattheheadoftheregimentintoLaon."72Then,inthedriveonthe
RhineinNovemberitwastheonlybandtogooverthetop(atMetz),and
“played‘Illinois’intheveryteethofGermanguns.”Anotheroften-told
anecdoterecountshowtheyheldaconcertinwhatwassupposedtobeaquiet
sector,atBar-le-Duc,nearVerdun,whileanunexpectedairplanebattleraged
overheadbetweenFrenchandGermanaviatorsanditraineddownshrapnel.
InlaterNovember,inceremoniesaftertheArmistice,theyplayedatthe
particularrequestofMarshallsFochandPetainandGeneralPershing.They
alsogaveaspecialconcertatBrestforGeneralPershingbeforehesailedhome
totheStates.73
Thebandsofthe371stand372nddidnotleavesignificantanecdotes
concerningtheiroverseasrecord.
Thesevenregimentsofthe92rdDivisionallsailedlaterthanthoseof
the93rd,embarkingforthewarinJune1918,andallservedunderU.S.
command,spendingonaverageaboutninemonthsoverseas,onlythefirstfive
ofwhichcamebeforetheArmistice.OfthebandsofthethreeFieldArtillery
regiments,thoseofthe349thand351stseemtohavemadelittlewidespread
impact,butTimBrymn’s350thFieldArtilleryBandachievedsignificant
recognition.Stayingclosetoitsregiment,thebandwasathandinthebloody
ArgonneandMetzdrivesinfall1918,andbyBrymns’saccount,atonepoint
theyhadtoputdowntheirinstrumentstofight.Theyservedatthebattlesof
Epley,Pontamousson,andMarbach.Croixdeguerrewinnersincludedsix
bandsmen,amongthemSergeantHeyder,clarinet,BobbyJones,percussion,
72KansasCitySun,February15,1919,p.1.
73ChicagoTribune,February15,1919,p.10;SanFranciscoChronicle,October5,1919,p.E5;GrandForks
Herald,December24,1919,p.10;CheyenneStateLeader,January7,1921,p.5.
29
andCorporalRusselSmith,cornet.74AftertheArmistice,Pershingordered
Brymn’s350thtomakeatouroftheentirefront,winningrecognitionas"the
onlycoloredaggregationofmusicianstoappearbeforePresidentWilsonand
GeneralPershingbyspecialrequestduringthetourofthebattlefrontbythe
country’sChiefExecutivepriortotheopeningofthepeaceconference.”75
Awayfromthefront,inconcert,theyplayedspecialengagementsinNancy,
Marseilles,Bordeaux,Brest,andothercities.Inaddition,weknowthat
Brymn'sbandplayedforthreeweeksatabasehospitalinParisandatGeneral
Pershing'sgreatreviewofthe92ndDivisiononJanuary28atLeMans.
Further,thememoirsofdrummajorWillie“theLion”Smithmentionavisitof
thebandtotherestareaatAix-les-Bains.76
Chicago’s365thhasleftfewertracesofitsexperiencesabroad,butalate
summer1918letterfromFrancetotheIndianapolisFreemanfromdrummer
JasperTaylor,writtenshortlyafterhisarrivaloverseas,speaksaboutplaying
popularmusic---lovesongsandjazznumbers---andalsostandardband
selectionsfortheboys.77Thebandofthe366thseemstohavekeptalow
profileonshore,thoughitwasashipboardfavorite,78andneitherthebandsof
the367thunderE.E.Thompsonnorofthe368thunderA.JackThomas
generatedmanyreferencestotheiractivitiesabroad.Wedo,however,havea
74BinghamptonPress,January26,1922.
75PhiladelphiaInquirer,March19,1919,p.3.WilsonarrivedonDecember13,sothiswouldhavebeenat
somepointbetweenmidDecember1918andearlyJanuary1919.
76TrentonEveningTimes,March23,1919,p.25;BinghamptonPress,January26,1922;AmiriBaraka,The
LeRoiJones/AmiriBarakaReader,ed.WilliamJ.Harris(NewYork:Thunder'sMouthPress,1991),pp.535536.
77Freeman,September28,1918,p.2(“ABlackHunChaserWritesFromFrance”),citedinMiller,Some
Hustling,p.52.
78ItreportedlyplayedaconcerteverynightonboardtheUSSCovingtononthewaytoFranceandonboard
theAquitaniaonthewayhome(on-linebiographyofHenryFrankSmith(1892-1960),versionof
11/01/2006,athome.earthlink.net/~gskwink/InHonor.html,accessed06/04/2013).Foranotherreference
totheconcertsontheAquitania,seealsoAdeleLoganAlexander,HomelandsandWaterways:TheAmerican
JourneyoftheBondFamily,1846-1926(NewYork:PantheonBoks,1999),p.421.
30
photoofthebandofthe367thserenadingGeneralsPershingandGouraudin
thesummerof1918.79Andweknowthatthebandofthe368thplayed
concerts“inToul,Saizerais,Nancy,Brest,LeMansandotherplaces,”butalso
wereonthesceneforcombatonthreefronts---intheVosges,intheArgonne
forest,andatMetz.IntheArgonnefightinginSeptember,bandsmenhadto
putdowntheirinstrumentstobecomestretcherbearersandfirstaidmen,
andtoburythedead,andtheyalsowereslightlygassed.80
TheAfricanAmericanPioneerInfantryregimentssailedfromAugust
throughOctober1918,intimeforonlyjustfive(802,805,806,807,808)to
assistinthefinalbloodyassaultsonGermanpositions.Arrivingsomuchlater
thanthecombatregiments,theyalsostayedonthecontinentmuchlater--deepintothesummermonthsof1919---toworkoncleaningupthedebris
andscarsofwar.Astheentire92ndand93rdDivisionspulledbacktothe
portareasandreturnedtothestatesinFebruaryandMarch1919,demands
onthePioneerInfantryregimentalbandsincreasedbothtoentertainthe
remainingtroopsandtoserveonceremonialoccasions.Thesebands,too,
variedwidelyintalentandaccomplishment.Vodery'sgreatbandofthe807th
wasdiscussedabove;Iwilljustmentionafewmorebelowthathaveleftsome
significanttraceofoverseasactivity.
Thebandofthe803rdwas"eventuallydetachedfromtheirregiment
andsenttouring....entertainingeverybodyfromAlsace-Lorrainetothe
Mediterranean."Itplayed,forexample,atareceptionforthecivilian
populationofChalles-les-EuxonMarch12,1919,anditwasphotographed
79NewYorkAge,September14,1918,p.6;Sweeneyreprintsitbetweenpp.112-113.Thepublicationdate
suggeststhatthiswasaneventofJuly/August/earliestSept.
80NewYorkAge,Feb22,1919,p.6;TheSouthernWorkman,vol.48(April1919),p.254.Toul,Saizerais,and
NancyareneareachotherintheLorraine,closetothefront.LeMansisinthewestonthewaytoorfrom
BrestandSt.Nazaire.
31
withAddieHuntoninChamberyonMarch18,1919whileonspecialdutyin
theleavearea.Theywereatremendoushit."Thesemengaveussomuchjoy
andentertainmentintheirplayingthatnotonlydidtheYmakeeffortstohave
themretainedpermanentlyintheLeaveArea,buttheFrenchpeoplewere
quiteaseagertohavethem,andshoweredpraisesandflowersonthemwhen
atlasttheywereorderedbacktotheirregiment."81Itsextensivetours
throughoutFrancemadethisbandoneofthemostpopularintheA.E.F.and
allowedittoclaimthemantleof"thebestbandinFrance."82
Thebandofthe805thhadtohavebeenamongtheverylasttohave
beenformedinthewartimeUSarmy,sinceitonlyreceivedinstrumentson
January1,1919atChateaudeChehery,ChatelChehery,wheretheregiment
wasinresidencefromNovember25,1918toMay2,1919.The805thhad
enrolledalargenumberofskilledmusiciansandminstrel/vaudevilleactors,
andtheynowwenttoworkimmediatelytoputtogethersomeconcert
repertoireandavaudevilleshow.LieutenantLeonceR.Legendre(white)was
inchargeoftheshowandtheband,withGeorgeL.PolkasAssistantBand
Leaderandconductor.Theregiment"becamefamousovernight"fortheBear
CatEntertainersshowandforasectionofthebandthatwasspunoffasaJazz
Orchestra.TheirColonelHumphreylaterboastedthathisBearCatshad"the
bestJazzbandinFrance,""thebestvaudevilleshowintheA.E.F.,"andthe
bestbaseballteamofanyoutfitinFrance.FromFebruarytoMay1919they
entertainedmanydistinguishedvisitorsatChatelCheheryandwentonthe
81HuntonandJohnson,TwoColoredWomen,pp.171,220-21,withaphotoofthebandtakenatChambery
betweenpp.222and223;anotherimagefromthatphoto-sessionatChambery,madeintoapostcard,was
formerlyvisibleontheinternetatwww.usmilitaryforum.com(accessed12/15/2010).AthirdoftenreproducedphotoofthebandshowstheminBrestonboardthetrooptransportU.S.S.Philippinesjustprior
totheirreturntotheUnitedStates;see,forexample,theimageaspreservedintheLibraryofCongress,
GladstoneCollection(www.loc.gov/exhibits/odyssey/archive/07/0705001r.jpg,accessed12/15/2010).
82ChicagoDefender,June14,1919,p.9;ChicagoDefender,June21,1919,p.20.
32
roadtomanyFrenchvillagesaroundtheArgonne-Meusearea,withfamous
KansasCityprofessionalcomedian,actorandsingerBillyHiggins,promoted
fromprivatetocolorsergeant,astheirprincipalsoloist.83
ThebandoftheotherKansasCityareaPioneerInfantryregiment,the
806th,gotofftoastartthatwasalmostasslow.Itwasnotorganizeduntil
aftertheArmisticeinNovember,andstartedwithborrowedinstrumentsuntil
themenoftheregimentcouldpurchasesomefortheirband;theyplayed
musiccomposedbytheirAssistantBandLeader,thewell-knowntrombonist
AshfordHardee,untilsheetmusiccouldbeorderedfromhome.Ofcourse,it
too,was"nowthebestbandinFrance."84Stationedwiththeregimentinearly
1919atMontrichard,justeastofTours,thebandwassenttoParisinMarchor
Aprilof1919andstayedthereuntiltheirreturntothestatesinAugust.An
ensembleof32pieces,itwasrememberedbyitsLawrenceDenton,theother
ofitsconductors,asplayinglightclassicalselectionslikethetwofamous
overturesbyFranzvonSuppé,"Morning,Noon,andNight"and"Poetand
Peasant."InMayandJune,themenofthe806thregimenthelpedtobuild
PershingStadium,andthen“the806thPioneerInfantryBandplayedatthe
ColumbusStadiuminParis,givingdailyconcertsduringtheA.E.F.try-outsfor
theInter-AlliedMeet.”85
Baltimore's808thPioneerInfantrybandunderNativeAmerican“Chief”
Wheelockwasproclaimedforbringing”therealAmericaJazz,asitshouldbe
83SeeBliss,Historyofthe805th,op.cit.;HuntonandJohnson,TwoColoredWomen,p.223;EmporiaGazette,
July11,1919,p.3;KansasCitySun,May3,1919,p.8.
84KansasCityPlaindealer,April18,1919,p.4,inananonymousletterofMarch6,1919fromabandmember.
85CharlesH.Williams,SidelightsonNegroSoldiers(Boston,1923),p.155;seealsoThisted,p.43.TheInterAlliedGameswere22Juneto6July,1919,atPershingStadium,butoneofthesponsorswastheKnightsof
Columbus,hencealso”Columbus”stadium.Unitsofthe806thhelpedconstruct/renovatethestadiumandsite.
SeeWilliams,p.154,H&J,p.154,andTheInter-AlliedGames,Paris,22ndJuneto6thJuly,1919,ed.George
WytheandJosephMillsHanson(Paris:publishedfortheGamesCommitteebySociétéanonymede
33
played,overhere,”toFrance,86andwascelebratedforstayingclosetothe
troops:"Thisbandofcoloredmusicianshasindeedupheldthetraditionofits
race,fortheirmusiccontributesmuchtomakethenameofthe808thPioneer
Infantrypopularatthefront.Tobeginwith,theyarerightatthefrontbeing
onlyafewkilometersbehindtheline,andalthoughindangerofattractingthe
attentionofhostileforces,theyrealizethatthespiritoftheboysmustbekept
cheerfulandrefreshed.So,oftentheyassembleinawellprotectedspotand
playfortheconstantlineofkhakiasitmovesalongtheroadtowardthe
enemy."87AftertheArmistice,whenthebandsoftheblackcombatregiments
hadembarkedforhome,Wheelock’sunitremainedincampandgarneredall
theprizes:thebandofthe808thwasjudgedthebestinfantrybandinthe
A.E.F.,whiteorblack,inacontestheldatCampPontanezen,Brest,France,on
June2,1919.Additionally,itwonthesignalhonorofplayingforPresident
Wilson'sdepartureforhomefromBrestonJune29,1919.88
The814thPioneerInfantryregimentwasoneoftheverylastUSarmy
regimentstogooverseasandoneofthefirsttoreturn,leavingthestatesin
thefirstweekofOctober1918andreturningjusttwomonthslater.89While
abroad,theregimentwassplit,partlygoingtoEnglandtobuildarailroad,and
partlytoFrancetodostevedorework(NYT).Thebandandthecompanies
publicationspériodiques,1919).Theblackbandsdidnotdirectlyparticipateinthefestivitiesandceremonies
oftheInter-AlliedGamesthemselves.
86BaltimoreAfro-AmericanLedger,November29,1918,p.4.
87HuntonandJohnson,TwoColoredWomen,pp.223-224.
88HuntonandJohnson,TwoColoredWomen,pp.223;GenoaIndianNews,October1919,p.6.
89ThereisafamousWesternUnionphotoofthebandofthe814thtakenuponitsreturn,immediatelyafter
disembarkingontothedocksonDecember18,1918.Incidentally,the“BlackDevils”soubriquet,giventoall
theU.S.blackcombattroupsbytheGermans,firstturnsupinJune1918inreferencetotheentire92nd
Division.WhilestillintrainingcampinKentuckyinlatesummerof1918,the814thwanttoclaimitastheir
nickname,andtheyuseditassucheventhoughtheyneverreceivedformalauthorization.Boththe370thand
the350thappropriateditupontheirreturntotheUSinspring1919,aswillbementionedbelow.Time:The
WeeklyNewsmagazine,LettersSupplement(a.k.a.Letters:PublishedFortnightlybyTime,Inc.)I/17
(September17,1934),p.2.
34
thatwenttoEnglandwerehousedinWinchester.Fromthatbase,thefamous
forty-two-piecebandofthe814thBlackDevils"touredandestablisheda
long-to-berememberedreputationinvariouscitiesandtownsinEngland."90
Byonereport,duringtheirtwomonthsinEngland"thebandvisitedLondon
severaltimes.OnoneoftheirtripstheyplayedinthePalaceTheatreintheact
ofMissElsieJanis.TheyalsoplayedinWinchesterCathedral,attherequestof
thecaretaker,totheguestsatthattimeinthebuilding."91AccordingtoTime
magazine,themostconspicuouswartimeserviceofthe814thwasrendered
byitsregimentalband,"acollectionofsuperbmusiciansandentertainerswho
tookLondonbystorm.ItsmostfamousmemberswereDrum-MajorJulius
(“Slim”)WilliamsandCorporalCharles(“EggShell”)Fleming,bothexpert
buck-&-wingdancers.Thehighpointoftheirvisitwasacommand
performanceatBuckinghamPalace,whichbroughtaletterofcommendation
fromKingGeorge.”92AwidelydisseminatedAPwire-serviceanecdotedated
London,Saturday,November16andfirstprintedinmanyUSpaperson
November18mustalsobeaboutthem:"whenanothercoloredbandfromThe
StateswenttoLondontoheadaparadeofAmericanandEnglishsoldiers,and
haltedatBuckinghamPalace,itissaidthatKingGeorgeVandQueenMary
heardthelivelyairswithundisguisedenthusiasmandwereloathtohavethe
playersdepartfortheparkwheretheywerescheduledforaconcert,witha
danceengagement,underBritishmilitarycontrol,tofollow."93
90TopekaPlaindealer,February14,1919,p.1.
91SouthernWorkman48/8(August1919),p.417.ElsieJanis(1889-1956)was"theSweetheartoftheAEF".
92Writingsolongafterthefact,Time's1934account(seenote64above)possiblymayconfusethe
performanceofthebandofthe814thwiththeroyalcommandperformancesoftheSouthernSyncopated
OrchestraandtheOriginalDixielandJazzBandatBuckinghamPalaceinthesecondhalfof1919.
93ChicagoTribune,Nov.18,p.5anddozensofotherpapersaroundthecountryoverthenextfourweeks;see
alsoScott,OfficialHistory,p.303.TheClevelandGazette,November23,1918,p.1,printsaparaphraseofthis
newsitemwiththeadditionalclaimthatthebandwasinfactthatofJimEuropeandthe369thInfantry
35
HuntonandJohnsonrememberedthebandsofthe815thand816thfor
playingintherestareasandatthededicationoftheMeuse-ArgonneAmerican
CemeteryinRomagne,FrancebyGeneralPershingonMemorialDay,May30,
1919:"Thencamethe815thwiththeirfineWesternprideandspiritplaying
theirway,too,intotheheartoftheArea.WemetthemagainatRomagne
when,withthebandofthe816thPioneerRegiment,theywereplayingdaily
tocounteractthedepressinginfluencesoftheirsurroundings.Westoodnear
themandwatchedwithtear-filledeyesastheypaidtheirhumblehomageon
thatmemorablethirtiethofMaywhenGeneralPershinghadcometodedicate
thatlargestmilitarycemetery.WewerewiththemagainatthePortofBrest
where,withtheirwonderfullystirringmusicthey,too,foughtinthatbattlefor
morale."94
RANKANDQUALIFICATIONS
Twoadditionalissuesconcerningrankandqualificationsof
bandmastersareofsignificanceinthestoryoftheblackU.S.Armybandsin
WorldWarI.Thefirstpointhastodowithdesignatedrank.BeforeWWI,
armybandmasterswereenlistedmen---effectively,sergeants.In1916the
positionofChiefMusicianwasofficiallyrenamedBandLeader,withan
AssistantBandLeaderservingimmediatelyunder.Followingasuggestionof
GeneralPershing,militaryordersissuedonJune1,1918requiredthattheU.S.
Army’sBandLeadersreceivetemporaryofficers’commissions.Thosewith
overfiveyearsofserviceasleaderweremadefirstlieutenants,andthosewith
playingfortheAmericanDaycelebrationofthesigningoftheArmistice,auniqueembellishmentforwhich
thereisnofurthercorroboration.
94HuntonandJohnson,TwoColoredWomen,pp.221-22.Bandmemberofthe816thVernonL.Pagealso
mentionedplayingforthededicationofthecemeteryonMemorialDay1919(KansasCitySun,July5,1919,p.
8).
36
less,includingallnewappointments,weremadesecondlieutenants.Thusall
theBandLeadersinthe92ndand93rdDivisionsbecameLieutenants,asmall
butnoteworthyadditiontothenumberofblackofficers.95DryeandEurope
hadwonpreviousappointmentsaslineofficers,notasmusicians,soeachof
theirbandsalsohadasergeant(laterLieutenant)BandLeader.TimBrymn
waslateralwaysdescribedasthefirstofthebandmasterstoreceivehis
appointmentas2ndLieutenant,andthatappointmentcameonJune22,1918.
RecallthatthePioneerInfantryregimentswereorganizedfromJuneto
September1918,thusafterimplementationofPershing'sneworders.Theyall
hadwhiteofficers,sowiththesoleexceptionofVoderyandWheelock(and
remember,Wheelockwaswhiteinthearmy’seyes),theirconductorswere
leftattherankofsergeantinthepositionofAssistantBandLeader,
answerabletoawhitelieutenantfromHeadquartersCompanywhowasnot
necessarilyamusicianatall;nocommissionedblackBandLeaderwasever
appointed.96Moreover,inJuly1918theAmericanExpeditionaryForce
adoptedapolicywherebysegregatedblackunitshadtohaveeitherallwhite
orallblackofficers;nounitsweretohaveamixofracesamongtheir
officers.97ThispolicywasrelaxedforblackbandleaderLieutenantsinunits
withotherwiseallwhiteofficers,asinthecaseforMikellinthe369th,andfor
95Afterthewar,allbandleaderswhodidnotmusteroutrevertedtoenlistedrank.Thepresentdayranksof
WarrantOfficer(from1920)andChiefWarrantOfficer(from1941)werecreatedlater.WilliamC.White,A
HistoryofMilitaryMusicinAmerica(NY:ExpositionPress,1944;repr.GreenwoodPress,1974),p.98-101.
96ThesewhitelieutenantsapparentlydidnotholdformalBandLeaderappointments;theywereonthe
regimentalheadquartersstaffandoversawthebandbutdidnotgetcloselyinvolvedwiththemusicians.To
dateIhavefoundthenamesofonlytwo(Legendrewiththe805thandMaxomwiththe814th).Lawrence
Denton’scommentsabouthistimeinthe806thcapturethesituationclearly:“Imadeassistantbandleader
andthebandleaderwasawhitefella,lieutenant...Weonlysawhimaboutonceamonth.Helefteverything
tous”(Pearson,Goin’ToKansasCity,p.18).HuntonandJohnson(p.28)tellananecdoteaboutanotherwise
unidentifiedblackbandwithawhiteleader,andtheydescribetheSt.Nazairebandasledbyitsblack
AssistantBandLeader.
97Badger,ALifeinRagtime,p.190.
37
JimEuropeuponhisreturntothebandofthe369thinAugust1918,andfor
Voderywiththe807th.
AsecondpointabouttheU.S.Army'sbandmastersandarmybandsin
Europeconcernsbandmasterqualificationsandeducation.GeneralPershing,
despiteallthedemandsonhisattention,foundtimetoreviewtheconditionof
themilitarybandsunderhiscommandinthespringof1918andfoundmany
inneedofimprovement.FirststepsweretakenbytheordersofJune1,1918,
whichnotonlycalledforthepromotionofbandleaderstoofficerrankbut
alsofortheenlargementofregimentalbandsfrom28to48men,andthe
additionofadrumandbuglecorps.Thegenerallevelofmediocrityamongst
conductorswasnotsoeasilydealtwith;whiteorblack,ablebandmasters
wereindesperatelyshortsupply,andtheknowledgeandabilitiesofthose
broughtintothearmyvariedconsiderably.Bycoincidence,itwaspreciselyat
thisjuncturethatfamedAmericanconductorWalterDamroschcameto
FranceinJune1918toengageaFrenchorchestraforconcertsatthesoldiers’
restcamps.Pershing,learningofhispresenceonthecontinent,summoned
himtohisheadquartersinChaumonttoconsult.Oneimmediateresultoftheir
discussionwasthedecisionthatbandsmenwouldnolongerhavetobe
pressedintoserviceasstretcher-bearers.98Moreconsequentiallyfor
bandmasters,Damroschagreedtoexamineallofthemtoevaluatetheir
competency.
A.JackThomasandE.E.Thompsonwereamongthe200-odd
bandmasters(byonereport240,ofwhom229werewhiteand11non-white)
98AfterPershingandDamroschconsulted,bandswereofficiallyrelievedoflitterworkbyGeneralOrder139,
A.E.F.,butbandsmencontinuedtoserveinthiscapacityanywayrightthroughthelastgreatoffensives.See
theexperiencesofthebandsmenofthe368thcitedaboveandseealsotheGustafsondiaryon-line,andthe
Savannah(GA)Tribune,March1,1919,p.1fortheexperiencesofthebandsmenofthe371stasfirstaidmen
andstretcherbearers.
38
whotookWalterDamrosch’sexaminationforarmymusiciansinParisover
severalweeksinJuly1918.99OnlyeightwhitesandThomasandThompson
passed.100DamroschexplainedthechasteningresultstoPershingand
subsequentlytooktheleadingroleinestablishinganarmybandmasters
schoolinChaumontthatoperatedfromNovember1,1918toJune1,1919.
Thecourseofstudylastedeightweeks.101ItwasattendedbyA.JackThomas
andWillVoderyinlate1918andearly1919,notbothatthesametime,before
theyreturnedwiththeirunitstotheUS.Mostprobably,Thomasattendedin
NovemberandDecember;VoderyattendedfromFebruarythroughearly
April.VoderyrecalledbeingtheonlyAfricanAmericanamongthe40inhis
class,whoweredrawnbycompetitiveexaminationfromapoolof162
applicants.BothThomasandVoderydidoutstandingworkthere.102Vodery,in
particular,notonlyearnedhiscommissiontherebutwas"theHonourmanof
theA.E.F.SchoolforBandmasters."103
POSTWARRETURNANDTHELUREOFTOURING
AftermusteringoutbackintheU.S.,mostofthedoughboys,including
bandsmen,dispersedimmediatelybacktohomes,families,andjobs.Ofthe
regimentalbandmasters,NormanScotthaddiedinFranceofpneumonia,and
hisreplacement,BurnitMcReynolds,returnedtothe10thCavalry.Allthe
99Citationneedstobeentered.Thenumberelevenforblackbandmastersaccountsforalloftheeleven
combatregiments.
100BaltimoreAfro-American,March10,1928,p.9(“Membersof368thInfantryBandBack9YearsFriday”),
withdetailsprobablycontributedbyBaltimoreresidentA.JackThomas.Thenumberofelevennon-whites
fitstheelevenblackcombatregiments.AtthetimeofDamrosch’sexamination,thePioneerInfantry
regimentsandtheirbandswerejustintheinitialstagesofformationinthestates.
101Damrosch’sowndetailedaccountcanbereadinTheEtude38/3(March1920),pp.151-52:“TheMusical
AftermathoftheGreatWar:AninterviewsecuredespeciallyforTheEtudewiththedistinguishedconductor
Dr.WalterDamrosch.”
102VoderylettertoAlexRogersintheNewYorkAge,June7,1919,p.6("VoderyMakesHighestMarkofthe
Bandleaders");reprintedbyMarkTucker,"Vodery,"pp.181-82.
39
otherbandleadersmusteredoutofthearmy.Ofthem,onlyDorcyRhodeslater
re-enteredactiveduty,in1926,asbandmasterofthe9thCavalry.Aboutequal
numberstookupciviliancareersineducationandintheentertainment
industry.A.JackThomasretiredfromhislengthymilitarycareerand
immediatelyfoundedasymphonyorchestraandtheAeolianConservatoryin
Baltimore.DryereturnedtoTuskegeeandMikelltotheBordentownSchool,
RhodestookovertheHowardUniversityband,Wheelockwentouttothe
Genoa,NEIndianIndustrialSchool,BrownreturnedhometoKentuckyto
teachinacareerthateventuallytookhimtoHarlem’sfamousPS186,and
PolkacceptedapositionattheSt.JosephIndustrialSchool.WesleyI.Howard
returnedtoEuropeforayearofstudyandthenbeganacareeratHoward
University.LouiaVaughnJonesopenedaprivatestudioinBostonfortwo
years,thenwenttoEurope;hecamebacktotheUSin1930toteachat
Howard.Thompson,Vodery,Cason,White,andStewartwereamongthemany
whopickedupthethreadsoftheirindividualcareersinthefieldof
entertainment.
Thegreatestoftheblackregimentalbandshopedforstatesideworkin
early1919basedontheirwartimereputations.Expectationwasbuilding(at
leastintheEastCoastpress,whichpaidlittleheedtoChicago)aboutthoseled
byEurope,Brymn,Thomas,andThompson.Anarticleentitled“Colored
MilitaryBandsToDelightAmericanAudiences”proclaimedthat“Withthe
returnofcoloredregimentsfromFrancewearesoontohaveinourmidst
racemilitarybandsgalore.Ofcourse,eachregimentwillclaimhonorsof
103PhiladelphiaTribune,June14,1919,p.1.
40
havingthebestband.”104Withprideatstake,gettingoutaheadofthefieldwas
goingtobeimportantfromthemomentthetransportsdocked.Withouta
guaranteeofimmediatework,though,bandsweresuretoevaporateafter
demobilization,especiallyifthebandsmenwereofgeographicallydiverse
backgrounds.Ananecdoteistellinghere:inthecaseofBrymn’sband,itwas
reportedthatthemengotasignalfromshorebeforetheyevendisembarked
thatconfirmedtheywouldhavework.105
Themostexcitingprospectforturningfameintofortunewasthrough
touring,presentingblackmusicandmusicianstowhiteaudiencesinlarge
concerthallsandtheaterspatronizedbywhites,foramiddleclasswho
wantedtohearwhathadgottentheforeignerssoworkedupoverseas.
Touringinthestateswasvirtuallyterraincognitaforthebands,though.There
wasexactlyonemodelforsuchalargeenterpriseanditwasofremarkably
recentvintage.Hopingtobuilda"movementtoexploitNegromusic,"Will
MarionCookannouncedinSeptember1918aproposedtourbysixty
instrumentalistsandsingersoftheNewYorkClefClubinNovemberthat
wouldtakethemtotenofthenation'slargestcities.106Thistournevergotoff
theground.InalllikelihoodthelogisticswerebeyondCook'sabilityand
experiencetomanageatthetime.Meanwhile,forthegrandbenefitforthe
367thInfantryattheCenturyTheatreonOctober27,1918,Cook,themusical
director,hadtoworkcloselywithGeorgeW.Lattimore,thegeneraldirectorof
104NewYorkAge,February22,1919,p.6.Thearticleproposedthat"Thismootedquestion[ofwhoisthe
numberoneblackmilitaryband]mightbedecidedbystagingabigbandcontestsomeSundayeveningatthe
Hippodrome."
105HarrisburgPatriot,April5,1919,p.7:"WhentheBlackDevilBandnearedthedockinNewYorkCitythey
espiedthefigureofCaptainCarlHelm,theirwhitefriendandmentor,standinguponthestringpieceofthe
wharf.Theyletoutayellwhichcouldbeheardamileormore,fortheyknewthathewasonthejob,andthat
theirAmericantourwasassured."
106NewYorkAge,September21,1918,p.5;WashingtonBee,September21,1918,p.8;TheCrisis17/1
(November1918),p.32(repr.inCaxton'sWeekly(Seattle),November23,1918,p.3).
41
theevent.Cookhadfoundhisprofessionalmanager.BylaterNovemberor
earlyDecemberthetwoofthemcontractedtogethertorunanew
organization,theNewYorkSyncopatedOrchestra(NYSO),whichwentouton
theroadforninetydaysbetweenJanuary30andApril30,1919,completing
twocircuitsouttoChicagoandback.Ratherthanmoveatthepaceofa
vaudevilleshoworBroadwayroadcompany,theNYSOtravelledtothe
rhythmandtempoofaSousaband-styletour,thatis,onthemovedaily,with
dailymatineeandeveningconcertsateachstop,hittingmanysmalltownsas
wellasthebiggesthallsinthelargestcities.EntertainerTomFletcher,who
wasamemberofthecompany,recalledthattheNYSOtourwas“thefirsttime
anorchestraofthiskindhadevertouredthecountry,”andhereportedthat
Cook’sambitionwasforittobe“thegreatestthingeverdonebycolored
people.”107
Cook'sinitiallythwartednotionanditsrealizationunderLattimore's
managementshowsushowimportantitwasthataninvestmentbemadein
professionalplanningforambitiousandcomplicatedtours;further,itshows
thattheplanningprocessneededtohavebegunwellbeforethebandslanded.
AsfarasmajorUStours,onlythreebands---thoseofDulfandEuropefromthe
93rdDivisionandBrymnfromthe92ndDivision---wereabletoarrangeto
makeextensive,immediatetoursforprofitasprivatecitizens,andaswewill
see,onlyDulfandBrymnwereabletokeeptheirbandsmore-or-lessintact
thereafterforanextendedperiod.Theothertwogreatbandsofthe92nd
Division---thoseofthe367thand368th---cameupintheconversationabout
touringbutdidnottaketheplunge.ThePioneerInfantrybands,returningso
muchlaterin1919,neverbecameapartofthisenterprise---notevenVodery's
107TomFletcher,100YearsoftheNegroinShowBusiness(NewYork:Burdge,1954;repr.DaCapo.1984),
42
807th,thebandthatsomethoughtsurpassedanyotherbandthateverwent
toFrance.108
AnticipatingthatE.E.Thompsonwouldtourwiththebandofthe367th,
oneobserverspeculatedthat“thereshouldbesomeinterestingmusical
momentsthenextfewdayswhenthe“Buffalo”musiciansreturnandfindthe
organizationsofthe368thand369thalreadyonthefield.”The367th,
however,runningafewweeksbehindtheothersintheprocessof
demobilization,andapparentlywithoutstrongstatesidesponsorship,opted
outoftouring.Instead,Thompsonandhis“Buffaloes”playedattheManhattan
CasinoonApril9andthenatCarnegieHallforabenefitonMay3underthe
auspicesoftheY.M.C.A.,butneveragainre-assembled.109Inthefall,
ThompsonwenttoworkforWillMarionCookandGeorgeLattimore.A
rejuvenatedversionofCook’sNewYorkSyncopatedOrchestra,re-namedthe
SouthernSyncopatedOrchestra,hadsailedforEnglandinMayandJune1919
andhadbeenplayinginLondonsinceJuly.Thompsonjoinedtheorchestrain
EnglandasconductorinplaceofCookinOctober1919,andheremainedwith
itformostoftwo-and-a-halfseasons,leadingit---ofteninuniform---intolate
1921.110
pp.187,277.
108ChicagoDefender,June21,1919,p.4.Attheleast,Vodery'sbandwasexpectedtomakeagrandparadeup
LenoxAvenuewhenitgothome(ChicagoDefender,May24,1919,p.4),buthomecoming,onceanticipated
forMay,endedupbeinginlateJuly,andtherewasnoparade,muchlessanytouring.
109ThereisalongarticleontheBuffaloesandThompson,withaphotoofThompson,intheNewYorkAge,
April5,p.6-7,inanticipationofconcertofApril9.TheMay3concertwasreviewedintheNewYorkAge,May
10,1919,p.6,andseealsotheChicagoDefender,May10,1919,p.4.
110OnthecomplicatedandsometimesdramatichistoryoftheSSOanditspersonnel,theessentialstarting
pointisnowHowardRye,"TheSouthernSyncopatedOrchestra,"BlackMusicResearchJournal29(2009):
153-228,withsubstantialadditionalinformationonitsroster,itinerary,andmoreaddendabythesame
authorinBlackMusicReserchJournal30(2010).
43
A.JackThomasofthe368thwassaidtobe“planningtoorganizea
concertbandfromthebestmusicaltalentinthe92ndDivision,”111butthat
notionalsonevercametofruition.Insteadofwrestlingtoholdhismen
togetherandorganizeatouraftertheymusteredoutonMarch9,heoptedto
settledowninBaltimorebyearlyApril.Thomasannouncedtheopeningofthe
AeolianConservatoryonApril23,andhealsoorganizedasymphony
orchestratherebyApril27.112DrumMajorLandinandtheJazzBandmadea
fewprominentappearances,however,culminatinginafarewellinBaltimore
onthenightsofApril21,22,and23.113Further,“asectionoftheregimental
bandofthe368thInfantry”playedinWashington,DC,atHowardUniversity’s
commencementinJune,amajoreventwhichincorporatedacelebrationof
thatinstitution’sfiftiethanniversary.114
Whatofthethreebandsthatdidtour?Theseseasonedensembleswere
indeedoutofthegateinahurry.Bycoincidence,Dulf’sandEurope’s
regimentswerenotonlycelebratedinmonsterparadesledbytheirrespective
bandsinChicagoandNewYorkontheverysameday,February17,butboth
bandssetoutontouronemonthlater,againonthesameday,March16.
Brymn,notfarbehind,begantouringonMarch19.Dulfdidnotwrapupuntil
atleastMay22,whileJimEurope’stourwastoendonMay10,andBrymn’s
onMay18.AstheNewYorkClipperreportedit,"theendofthewarhas
broughtintobookingofficesalargenumberofmusicalsoldiershows,
vaudevilleactsandjazzbandsthataremakingrecordsalmosteverywhere
111NewYorkAge,February22,1919,p.6;seealsoBadger,ALifeinRagtime,p.204andp.308,n.9.
112BaltimoreAfro-AmericanLedger,April23,1919,p.2,BaltimoreAfro-AmericanLedger,May16,1919,p.
10;TheCrisis18/2(June,1919),p.101.
113BaltimoreSun,April20,1919,p.11.
114WashingtonBee,June16,1919,p.4.
44
whenitcomestogettingmoney."115AndtheNewYorkAgeboastedof
"ColoredAttractionsWinningO.K.ofBroadwayAudiences."116
Takingupfirstthecontinuingstoryofthe“Old8thIllinois,”Dulftookhis
“BlackDevils”ofthe370thontheroadforovertwomonthsfrommidMarch
throughlateMay1919,expectingtohitasmanyas50majorcities.FromNew
Orleanstheyheadednorth,thenswungeastthroughColumbus,Toledo,and
ClevelandintoPennsylvania,andthendowntheEastCoastfromBaltimore
andWilmingtonatleastasfarsouthasGreensboroandRichmond.Theband
wasassistedbyanotherChicagoan,thenationally-famedAfricanAmerican
coloraturasopranoAnitaPattiBrown(1881-1950),alongwithFrankA.
Dennie,tenorsoloist,andCharlesA.Brady,cornetvirtuoso.Theirshowalso
featuredthedecoratedwarheroLieut.SamuelS.Gordon,himselfawardedthe
CroixdeGuerre,whonarratedstoriesoftheexploitsoftheregimentandits
band.OntheirstopinCleveland,“Selectionsfromgrandoperawere
appreciatedbytheaudience....butwhentheboysplayedthepopularjazz
musictheaudiencebecamesoexcitedthat,haditnotbeenSunday,there
mighthavebeendancing.Manyencoresweredemanded.Theywerealways
answeredwithmorejazz.”117Stayingtogetherafterthetoureitherasthe
“BlackDevils”orasthe“FamousEighthIllinoisBand,”theycontinuedtotake
engagementsthatsummer,playing,forexample,inSt.LouisonFriday,August
15fortheannualmeetingoftheNationalNegroBusinessLeague,andthen
playingattheLexington,KY,ColoredFairforaweekbeginningAugust17.
(TheyweretoreturntothisLexingtonvenueinAugust1920.)
115NewYorkClipper,March26,1919,p.5.
116NewYorkAge,March22,1919,p.6.
117ClevelandGazette,April12,1919,p.3.
45
MostimportanttothestoryofDulf’slong-standingband,though,isthat
inSeptember1919asecondspinoffoftheformerNewYorkSyncopated
OrchestrawascreatedintheUnitedStatesbyWillMarionCook,whichhe
calledtheAmericanSyncopatedOrchestra[ASO].118TheASOabsorbedDulf
andsomeofDulf’smen,wasbasedinChicago,andwasrepresentedin
newspaperstoriesasadirectcontinuationofthe370th.Itwastohaveplayed
privatelyunderDulfforPresidentWilsoninWichitaonSeptember29,1919
tokickoffitsfirstextendedtour,butthatopportunitywaslostduetoWilson's
strokeandsuddenreturntoWashingtonbytrainfromWichitaonthe27th.
CookreturnedfromEuropesothatheandDulfcouldshareconductingduties
withtheASOfromlateNovember1919tomidJanuary1920,afterwhichhe
returnedtoEurope.DulfkepttheASOgoingforasecondwinterseasonover
1920-1921,touringnationallyatleastintoFebruary1921.119Inbothseasons
itessentiallytracedthesamegeneralrouteastheWesternvaudevillecircuits
oftheOrpheumandPantagesorganizations,whichranfromChicagonorth
throughtheTwinCitiesintoCanada,thenwesttothePacificCoastandsouth
fromVancouverandSeattletoLosAngelesandSanDiego.Ofalltheblack
regimentalbandsbackfromEurope,Dulf'stravelledthefarthestandenjoyed
themostgeographicallydiverseaudience.
TimBrymn,whohadledthebiggest,wealthiestbandoverseas,
mountedamajorpublicitycampaignforhistourbackintheStates.Inthe
newspaperads,Brymnwas“Mr.JazzHimself,”hisbandwas“TheOverseas
JazzSensation”or“Europe’sJazzSensation,”andhisconcertswere“AMilitary
118Confusingly,theNewYorkSyncopatedOrchestra’sfirstoffshoot,theSouthernSyncopatedOrchestra,was
occasionallycalledtheAmericanSyncopatedOrchestrabyBritishpapers(sometimesasatitle,and
sometimesmeaningsimplytheSyncopatedOrchestrafromAmerica).
119TheOgden(UT)Examiner,January11,1921,p.4;etc.,etc.,toSanJose,Cal.EveningNews,Feb.9,1921,p.
7andFeb.17,1921,p.2;SanJoseMercuryNews,Feb.6,1921,p.14andFeb.17,1921,p.8.
46
SymphonyEngagedinaBattleofJazz.”Healsofavoredthe“BlackDevils”
moniker,butDulfandthe370thhavingclaimeditfirst,Brymndistinguished
hisensemblebycallingitthe“70BlackDevils.”Heandabandofseventy
madeatwomontheasternandmidwesterntourfrommidMarchtomidMay
featuringvocalsoloistJosephineDeanandseveralsoloistsfromtheband,
includingsaxophonistNelsonKinkaid.Theybeganwithahomecomingdebut
onMarch19inPhiladelphiaandanappearanceshortlythereafterinTrenton,
thenswungwestthroughPennsylvaniaintoOhioandeastagainfora
triumphantgrandfinaleonMay18attheCasinoonBroadwayat39thStreet
inNewYorkCity.Forthiseventthepaperscalledthem“TheBandAllNew
YorkHasBeenWaitingtoHear.”MadameErnestineSchumann-Heinckherself
wasonhandthateveningattheCasinoTheatretowelcomethem.120
Afterthespringtour,Brymnkeptgoingforatleastthreeyearsanevershrinking“BlackDevils”bandoffirst70,then50,then20,orevenonlyahalf
dozenmen,mostlyplayingatclubsandhotelsintheNewYorkarea.Justthree
daysaftertheirtourended,onWednesday,May21,theywereaheadlineact
inthehugenationalSalvationArmyDoughnutDayDrive,playinganoontime
concertatNewYork’sPennsylvaniaStation.Mostsignificantfortheirwallets,
though,weretwothree-month,high-profileresidenciestoaccompanystage
showsanddancingatafamednearbyresort,theHotelShelbourneatBrighton
BeachonConeyIslandinthesummersof1919and1920.(NobleSisslerecalls
thatthisbookingwasinitiallytohavebeenfilledbyJimEurope’sband).121
BrymnclaimedthatonlytheflatteringofferoftheBrightonBeachcontract
120NewYorkTribune,May13,1919,p.11;NewYorkTribune,May16,1919,p.11;NewYorkTribune,May
17,1919,p.11.
121Sissle,"Memoirs,"p.224.
47
keptthebandfromembarkingonaworldtourinconcert.122Between
summersattheShelbourne,thebandkeptbusywithstintsoppositeSophie
TuckeratReisenweber'sCafeatColumbusCircleinSeptemberandOctober
1919,andatProctor’s125thStreetTheatreinFebruary1920.Brymn’sband
wasalsoaheadlineattractioninanextravaganzainMadisonSquareGardenin
September1920asoneoftheliveactsonabillfeaturingtheworldpremiere
ofthesilentfilmbiopicofBabeRuth,Headin’Home.TheSherbournethen
renewedtheircontractforanadditionalsixmonthsfromOctober1920into
April1921.Inthespringof1921,BrymntookasmallgroupofBlackDevils
intoanOkehRecordsrecordingsession,marchedwithalargergroupat
PresidentHarding’sinauguralparade(March4,1921),andlaterservedas
composerandmusicaldirector,withapitorchestraof20BlackDevils,forthe
BroadwaycoloredreviewPutandTake(August23-September23,1921).In
January1922,BrymnwasoneofagroupofsixBlackDevilswhoplayedthe
Binghamton,NYautoshow.ByNovember1922,however,hehadstopped
usingthenameBlackDevilsforhisbandsandorchestras,althoughheheldon
proudlytohisuniformandtothetitle"Lieutenant"fortherestofhiscareer.
Lieut.JimEuropetookontheroadthemostfamousbandofthemall,the
“369thInfantryHellFighters’Band,”inwhatwasplannedtobeanine-week
tourofmorethantwodozencitieslastingfromMarch16toMay10,1919.It
wasexpectedthatthiswouldbefollowedbytripstoallthemajorcitiesofthe
USandCanada,andthenacrosstheAtlantic.JustwhoandhowmanyHell
Fightersbandsmentherewerethatspringisaquestionwithnoonefirm
answer.Immediatelybeforethetour,Europetookagroupofabouttwenty
menintotherecordingstudioforPathé,whilefortheManhattanconcertshe
122NewYorkAge,October9,1920,p.5("LieutenantJ.TimBrymn'sInterestingMusicalCareer").
48
ledan“augmentedregimentalband”ofeightyormore,almostdoublethesize
oftheoverseasensembleoffortyfive,andthetravellingensemblewas
advertisedasabandofsixtyfive.123TheHellFightersBandtravelledwest
fromBostonasfarasIndianapolis,St.Louis,andChicagobeforeretracingits
pathbacktoBoston,withtheanticipationofagrandfinaleinNewYorkCity.
Theband'sitineraryregularlycrisscrossedwiththepathsoftheDulf
andBrymnbandsandWillMarionCook’sNewYorkSyncopatedOrchestra.
Forexample,Brymn'smenplayedPhiladelphiaonMarch19,andEurope's
menplayedthesamecityontheverynextnight(newspaperadsforboth
ensembleswereveryawareofthenearhead-to-headmatch-up).Andan
AssociatedNegroPressstoryoutofChicagoonMay8celebratedthe
extraordinaryjuxtapositioninthatcityofconcertsintheloopdistrictonthe
samenight---Monday,April28---byCook'sorchestraatOrchestraHall,
Europe'sbandattheAuditorium,andthebandofthe365thundersergeant
AlbertJonesattheGrantParkVictoryArchjustoffMichiganBoulevard
("ColoredMusiciansHaveChicagoCharmed").124
AfterEuropewasmurderedinBostononMay9,thegroupwas
immediatelydisbandedanditsmusiciansthrownoutofwork.125NobleSissle
turneddownasuggestionthathetakeoverthebandandleadareduced
ensembleoffifteenonavaudevilletourontheKeithcircuit.126Instead,Mikell
steppedinatthisjuncture.HeassumedformalleadershipinJune127andkept
123Onthenumbersofpersonnel,seeReidBadger,"PerformancePractice,"andseealsoTimBrooks,Lost
Sounds:BlacksandtheBirthoftheRecordingIndustry,1890-1919(Urbana:UniversityofIllinoisPress,
2004),pp.280-92.Inanyevent,moreover,neitherthetouringbandofJimEuropenorthoseofDulforBrymn
weremannedexclusivelybytheirownveterans.
124DallasExpress,Saturday,May10,1919,p.1.
125NewYorkTribune,May25,1919,p.7.
126RobertKimballandWilliamBolcolm,ReminiscingwithSissleandBlake(NewYork:VikingPress,1973),p.
80.SissleandBlakewentoutonthevaudevillecircuitasaduoinstead.
127TheNewYorkAge,June21,1919,p.6(“MikellNowLeaderof“Hellfighters”Band”).
49
theHellFightersBandgoingonandoffforatotalofsixmoreyearsin
conjunctionwithhisteachingcareer.Mikellhadhopedtotourinthefallwith
theband,butthatplannevercametofruition.Rather,hebeganwith
individualconcertsinNewYorkCityonJune15,June27,July11,July26-27,
August14,andSeptember26,1919,128followedbyaconcertonJanuary25,
1920inProvidence,RhodeIsland,129andoneonMay11,1920inNewYork.130
Thegroupthenwentonhiatusfortwoyears,asMikellbecamemoreand
moreinvolvedwithteaching.131
ComplicatingthehistoryandlegacyoftheHellFighters’Bandisa
situationthatwaspartlynational,partlylocalinsignificance.Foratleastsix
monthsin1917-1918thereweretwo15thN.Y.NationalGuardregimentsand
twobands,the“old”andthe“new.”Thenew15thN.Y.wasre-establishedfor
localhomeserviceinthefallof1917beforetheold15thhadevenleftthe
states.Abandforitwasquicklyformedandbegantoconcertizeunder
FrederickWardSimpson,whoearnedaNationalGuardcommissionas
Lieutenant.UponthereturnofNewYorkareaveteransinearly1919,a
vigorouseffortwasmadetosignthemupforthenewguardregimentandits
newband.Furthermore,withthe"old"15th/369thregimentdemobilized,the
new15thN.Y.wasnowtheofficialservicebandforeventsmemorializingthat
combatunit.Simpson’sgroupsoonwasabletoadvertisethat“amongthe
musicianswereanumberofoverseasveterans.”Itrepresenteditselfas“The
ColoredBandofWarFame,”“TheFamousNewYorkFifteenthInfantryBand
128NewYorkAge,October,11,1919,p.5
129ProvidenceNews,January26,1920,p.4
130NewYorkAge,May3,1920,p.6;NewYorkAge,May8,1920,p.6.
131Afterthe1920-1921schoolyear,Mikell,whohadbeencommutingoutfromManhattan,leftthe
BordentownSchoolaltogetherandconcentratedonhisprofessionalschoolteachingandClefClubdutiesin
NewYorkCity.HehadbeenmadeconductoroftheClefClubOrchestra,andheleditattheLt.Europe
MemorialonMay15,1921;inJanuary1922heleditinaconcertatCarnegieHall.
50
of45Musicians‘FromHarlemtotheRhine’,”“thebandthatwonallthejazz
prizesinEngland,FranceandItaly,”and“thesuccessortothefamous15th
InfantryBandwhichservedoverseas.”
OnJanuary5,1921aveteranwhiteofficeroftheold15thand369th,
Col.ArthurW.Little,wasappointedcommanderofthenew15thandbegan
vigorouslytoincreasethesizeandresourcesoftheregiment.Hisinitiatives
includedamajorcampaignforanewarmory,132therenamingofthenew15th
asthe369th,andanewdirectionforitsband(forwhichhehadaspecialplace
inhisheart,becauseasregimentaladjutantwiththe369thinFrancehehad
accompanieditonitsFebruary-March1918tour).Formostofhisfirstyearhe
keptFredSimpsonasbandmaster,sothat,forexample,Simpsonledthe
regimentalbandinthenew15th'sfirstmajorparademarchafterthewar,a
hugeeventup5thAvenueinMay1921.InDecember1921,however,Lieut.
SimpsonwassucceededbyLieut.WillVoderyasbanddirector,withLieut.
NobleSissleasbandmanager.Simpson’sensemblethentookondifferent
sponsorship,immediatelyaffiliatinginabodywithMonarchLodgeNo.45of
theImprovedBenevolentandProtectiveOrderofElksoftheWorld(colored)
andbecomingtheMonarchBand.133ForthegalaaffairofJanuary20,1922
132Thehistoricarmoryofthe369thRegimentstillstandsat142ndStreetandFifthAvenue.Thesiteforthe
armory,andinitialfunding,wereannouncedinJuly(NewYorkAge,July16,1921,p.1);aparadeand
cornerstone-layingceremonytookplaceonMay27,1923(NewYorkTimes,May28,1923,p.7;NewYork
Age,June2,1923,p.1).
133Asthenation’spremiereblackElksband,alsoknownastheMonarchSymphonicBandortheMitee
MonarchBand,itwasfortwosubsequentdecadesalarge,popular,andactiveensemblethatcametogether
fairlyfrequentlyforconcerts,especiallyinthesummermonthsontheCentralParkMall,andinamonthly
winterconcertseries.NewYorkAge,February28,1939,p.7,etc.
TheElksband'slong-timedrummajorwasGillardThompson,whopreviouslyhadsucceededNobleSisslein
thispositionwiththebandofthe369thduringthewar.GillardThompsonlaterservedasPresidentofthe
MonarchBand,ExaltedRuleroftheMonarchElksLodge,andCommanderoftheDorrenceBrooksPostofthe
V.F.W.,whilealsobecomingthefirstten-yearveteranofthenew369thNationalGuardregiment.Modern
secondarysourcessometimesconfuseGillThompsonwithBill"Bojangles"Robinson,andattribute
Thompson'sservicerecordtothegreattapdancerwhobecameHarlem'shonorarymayor.(Thompsonbegan
withthe15thasasergeantinHeadquartersCompany,thentookademotiontoprivatesothathecouldserve
51
thatmarkedtherenamingoftheregimentasthe("new")369th,the
regimentalbandwasledbyWillVodery.Justhowmanyoftheperformersthat
nightwereveterans,orweresimultaneouslymembersoftheElksband,isnot
known.
Memorieswerelongandloyaltieswerestrong,moreover.Itwasnever
forgottenthattheMonarchBandwasformerlythebandofthe15th,andit
heldontosomeofJimEurope'sveteranbandsmen.Overthebetterpartofthe
nexttwodecadesitconcertizedextensively,frequentlyparticipatedinVFW
eventsinHarlem,andenjoyedanationalreputationasElkdom'sChampion
Band.Inthesecondhalfof1940,whenNationalGuardsoldierswerecalledup
acrossthenationandHarlem's369thregimentbecamethe369thCoastal
Artillery,theNewYorkHomeGuardwasformedforstatesideservicewitha
newAfrican-American15thRegimentasoneofeightNewYorkCity
regiments.SimpsonandtheMonarchsimmediatelybecameitsofficialband.
Meanwhile,ColonelLittle,concernedforthewelfareoftheveteran
bandsmen,beganinthespringof1922topursuetheideathatasmaller
ensemble,consistingjustofveterans,mightbeabletofindfull-timework.
ThisevidentlydidnotmeshwiththeprofessionalschedulesofVoderyand
Sissle,whosteppedoutofthepicture,anditwastoMikellthatColonelLittle
turnedtoseeifthebandcouldagainbeaprofessionaloperationthatcould
providesignificant,steadyincometoitsplayers.TheHellFightersBand
startedfull-timeworkinlateJune1922withthreeweeksofdailyafternoon
concertsinManhattan'sParkAvenueHotel.InJulyitbeganavaudevilletryincombatasariflemanfromfromMaytoNovember1918,thenreturnedtotherankofsergeantin
HeadquartersCompanytosucceedSissleasdrummajor.InMarch1919itwasThompsonwholedtheentire
369thregimentupFifthAvenueinthehomecomingparade.BillRobinsonneverjoinedthearmyorleftthe
statesandcanbecontinuouslytracedonthevaudevillestageduringthewaryears.)The"identitytheft"may
gobacktoChartersandKunstadt.
52
outwiththeB.F.Keithorganization,playingfirstatatheatreintheBronx,
thenatoneinHarlem,andthenontoaBroadwaydebutatB.S.Moss’s
BroadwayTheatre,playing“severalofthenewestjazzsongsaswellasa
stirringmarchandaclassicaloperaticselection.”ItfinishedoutAugustin
vaudevilleatProctor'sFifthAvenueTheatre.InSeptember,Mikellbrought
thirtymentoChicagoforafour-weekengagementplayingwiththenew
CreamerandLaytonshowStrutMissLizzie.Thiswasfollowedbyastinton
theregionalvaudevillecircuitfromOctober1922throughJanuary1923with
theKeithorganizationthattookthebandfromNewYorktoNewJerseyand
Philadelphia,andthennorthtoProctor'stheatresinAmsterdam,Albanyand
Schenectady.134Full-timeworkcouldnotbesustainedbeyondtheseseven
months,buttheunitcontinuedtoplayprominentindividualengagements,
mostmemorablywhenitprovidedthemusicforagrandceremonyin
ManhattanonAugust13,1923payingtributetoFrenchgeneralHenri
Gouraud.In1923thebandalsoplayedataninternationalpolomatchouton
LongIsland,andtookavaudevilleengagementforaweekattheLoew’s
Theatreat9thAvenueand110th.135
AfterMikell’sefforttosustaintheHellFightersBandasacommercial
concerncametoanend,hecontinuedtoleaditasaNationalGuardbandfor
twomoreyears,throughmostof1925,untilheretiredfromtheguardshortly
afterColonelLittle.LatethatfallthebandwasputintothehandsofMikell's
currentsecondincommand,WarrantOfficerJacobW.Porter,wholeditfor
eightyears,untillate1933.ItwasthenconductedforashortwhilebyArthur
W.Phillips.RussellWooding(1891-1959),thewell-knownbandleaderand
134All1922references.NewYorkTimes,June22,1922,p.8;etc.
135NewYorkAge,October13,1923,p.6.
53
arranger,wasappointedtodirectitin1936,andherevitalizedtheensemble.
Afterthecalltoactivedutyin1940itboastedofbeing“thegreatestmilitary
swingunitorganizedinanyUnitedStatesArmycamp,”andlaidclaimto“a
colorfulandinterestinghistory....followingandupholding”thetraditionof
JimEurope.136
SUMMINGUP
MakingalongitudinalstudyacrossofallthenewblackUSArmy
regimentalbandsinWorldWarIhasnotdislodgedJamesReeseEuropeand
theHellFightersBandfromtheirpre-eminentposition.Butitallowsustosee
betterhowallofthenewbandswereessentiallytheprogenyofGeorge
EdmundDulfandthebandoftheOldEighthIllinois,andhowthoseensembles
whichtouredthestatesaftertheirreturnwerefollowingtheveryrecent
modelofWillMarionCook'sNYSOtour,asscheduledandbookedbyGeorge
W.Lattimore.Therewillsurelybeprofitindiggingdeeperintonewspapers,
memoirs,andarchivesbothinAmericaandabroadtoestablishmoredetailed
itinerariesforeverybandthatwentabroad.Nonetheless,theextended,
cumulativecontributionsofthePioneerInfantryregimentalbandsespecially
emergenowingreaterclaritythanheretofore,asdotheindividualrolesof
someofthelesswellknownbandmasters.
Thenewjazzwasthespecialthingthatmostdistinguishedthesebands
musically,andeveryoneclaimeditastheirown.ItwasnotjustJimEurope's
bandthatbroughtjazztothecontinent;rather,itwassomethingontheorder
oftwodozenbands.Moreover,theyplayedthejazzofKansasCity,Chicago,
Philadelphia,Baltimore,andWashingtonaswellasthatofNewYorkCity.
136BaltimoreAfroAmerican,October11,1941,p.13,andTimeMagazine,March17,1941.
54
Uponthereturnofthebandsfromthewar,touringbackintheStatesbrought
thenewjazzmusictodozensofsmallercitiesandtowns,andtowhite
audienceswhohadneverbeforeheardtheseexotic,livelysounds.137The
responsewasstrongandpositive.Byonereport,“Sincethereturnofcolored
militarybandsfromFrancetotheseshoresthecountrysimplyhasgonewild
aboutjazzmusic.”138Byanotherreport,
'There’smusicintheair,'andithasbeenplacedtherebythe
membersoftherace:theirorchestrasandbands,military,civilian,
andjazz.Therearethreeaggregations,however,thataremaking
historyinthewayofhappyfeeling;theyare:theoldEighth
Regimentband,Chicago;theold15thRegimentband,NewYork;and
theNewYorkSyncopatedOrchestra.Theseareunderthedirection
ofGeorgeDulf,JamesReeseEurope,andWillMarionCook,
respectively.Theseorganizations,ofmorethanfiftymeneach,have
beentouringthecountryinrecentmonthsand'settingthepeople
wild'bytheirrareentertainmentandmusic.Thewhitepeoplehave
falleninlineandarehurrahingeverywhereforracemusic,
instrumentalandvocal.139
Farfromhavingexhaustedthemarketaftertheirinitialburstoftouring
fromMarchintoMay1919,theensemblesbuiltbyDulf,Brymn,Europe,and
137Animpromtuconcertbytheregimentaljazzbandofthe809thduringaone-hourlayoverinaHarrisburg,
Pa.,railroadyard,forinstance,drewabigfrontpageheadlineandfavorablecommentinthelocalpaper.See
theHarrisburgPatriot,July21,1919,p.1.
138NewYorkAge,May3,1919,p.6(“JazzMusicisNowAlltheRageThroughoutUnitedStates”).
139BaltimoreAfro-American,Friday,May2,1919,p.4;theby-lineonthearticleisAssociatedNegroPress,
Chicago,May1.
55
Cookcontinuedtoperform,andtoholdontotheirreputationsandtheir
militaryandracialidentities,forseveraladditionalyears.WillMarionCook's
AmericanSyncopatedOrchestra(a.k.a.theEighthChicagoortheOldEighth)
underLieut.GeorgeDulftourednationallyintoearly1921,whileCook's
SouthernSyncopatedOrchestraunderLieut.E.E.Thompsontoured
internationallyuntillate1921.Lieut.J.TimBrymnledanaggregationofBlack
Devilsintomid1922,andLieut.F.EugeneMikellledtheveteransoftheHell
Fighters'Bandontourintoearly1923.Onlyaftertheseterminaldatesdidthe
activitiesoftheChicagoandNewYorkNationalGuardregimentalbandsagain
becomeofexclusivelylocalsignificance.
SomethingontheorderofathousandAfricanAmericanbandsmen
musteredinandoutofthetwenty-sevennewblackregimentsoftheUSArmy
between1917and1919.Proudoftheirservice,theyheldfasttorankand
title,performedinNationalGuardandVFWbandsinlaterlife,andarranged
tobeburied,togetherwiththeirwives,inUSveteranscemeteries.Amongthe
bandmastersandbandsmen,asignificantfew,familiarizedduringwartime
withlifeamongforeigners,wentbackabroadascivilianstoenjoythe
enthusiasmfortheirmusicandtherelativelackofracismthattheyhad
experienced"overthere"assoldiers.Notundertakenforthisessay,but
certainlyworthwhiletocanvas,onaccountofhowtenaciouslythemilitary
holdsontoitstraditions,wouldbethestoryoftherevivalofbandsinblack
regimentswithimportantWorldWarImusicaltraditionsaspartofthearmy's
mobilizationforparticipationinWorldWarII---astoryseeninmicrocosmin
thelaterhistoryofthebandofthe369th.Timeandcircumstancehave
conspiredtocanonizeJamesReeseEuropeandthe369th,butinhisdaythe
56
nation’sblackandwhitecommunities,andtheU.S.Army,followedthe
exploits,attendedtheconcerts,andhonoredthememoryofhispeersaswell.
57
AFTERWORD:OTHERBANDS
Othernon-combatantunitsinthearmyalsohadbands,andsomeofthese
werestaffedbyAfricanAmericans.Forexample,therewereatleasteight
ArmyServiceCorpsbands,andtheArmyServiceCorps1stBandwasa
coloredband:seetheChicagoTribune,July31,1919,p.9.
The317thEngineersRegiment(colored),attachedtothe92ndDivision,
hadacelebratedbandunderThomasE.Green,whocametoitfromthe
regulararmy,wherehehadbeenleadingthebandofthe24thInfantry(New
YorkAge,August3,1918,p.2;LosAngelesCaliforniaEagle,January2,1941,
p.3-A).EmmetScott'slistofNegroorganizationsthatservedoverseasrefers
tothe317thasaLaborBattaliononp.316butasthe317thEngineersonp.
482;thelaborbattalionisundoubtedlytheengineersunderadifferentname.
ThebandwasreferredtointheNewYorkAge,March29,1919,p.2,reporting
thatthe317thLaborBattalion,QuartermasterCorps,wascoloredandhadits
ownband,thoughtheircommentatorremarked,“Idonotbelievethereis
anotherLaborBattalioninFrancewithaband.”TheEvansvilleCourier
reportedittobeabandoftwenty-eight"whichhasattractedwideattention,"
that"thetalentofthe317thlaborbattalionforentertaininghaslongbeen
recognized,"andthatthebattalionwouldbemountingashowthatwould
appearatChambery(EvansvilleCourierandPress,May31,1919,p.6).
Engineerregimentsandservicebattalions,andlaborbattalionsand
companies,allworkedfortheArmy's"ServiceofSupply,"asdidstevedore
regimentsandbattalions.AnarticlefortheNewYorkAgeonYMCAworkers
(NewYorkAge,June7,1919,p.1)mentionsabandof50,allofwhomworked
onthedocksuntilthearmistice.TheSeattleDailyTimes,December1,1918,p.
58
27("FrenchGoSupperlesstoHearYankeeBands")alsomentionsthat"Oneof
themostpopularandbest-knownAmericanbandsinthe"ServiceofSupplies"
inFranceiscomposedofthenegrostevedores."Thismaybethesameband
referredtointheAge,whichmayinturnbethebandthatHuntonand
JohnsonsingleoutastheSt.Nazaireband,“encouragedbytheYMCA,”that
playedunderassistantBandLeaderSergeantStevenson.Stevensondiedat
Chamberyfromafallin1919(AddieW.HuntonandKathrynM.Johnson,Two
ColoredWomenWiththeAmericanExpeditionaryForces(Brooklyn:
BrooklynEaglePress,1920;repr.NY:AMSPress,1971;NY:G.K.Hall,1997),
p.222,withaphotooftheSt.Nazairebandbetweenpp.222and223).St.
Nazairewasaprincipalportfortroopsandsupplies,andwashometomany
armyunitsofwhiteandblacklaborers,whileChamberywasafurloughspot
forAfricanAmericansoldiersfromJanuarytoMay1919.ApparentlytheSt.
NazairebandwasvisitingtheLeaveAreawhenStevensonhadhisfatal
accident.
59
APPENDIX: Leadership
92nd Division
Band Leaders (BL Lieuts.), Assistant Band Leader (ABL Sgts.)
349th Field Artillery Reg.
BL Lieut. Norman D. Scott (1888-1918)
BL Lieut. Burnit McReynolds (1887-1959)
ABL ---
350th Field Artillery Reg.
"Black Devils"
BL Lieut. J. Tim Brymn (1879-1946)
ABL --Drum Major William H. Smith
351st Field Artillery Reg.
BL Lieut. Dorcy Rhodes (1887-1951)
ABL Sgt. Berry A. Claytor (1893-1967)
Bnd Sgt. Horace B. Wallace (1889-1962)
Bnd Sgt. Leon J. Carter (1891-1952)
-------365th Infantry Reg.
“Black Hawks”
Lieut. Frank L. Drye (1889-1957)
BL Lieut. Arthur T. Stewart (b. 1891)
ABL Sgt. Albert Jones
366th Infantry Reg.
BL Sgt. Grinnell (in camp in US)
ABL --Bnd Sgt. Earl C. Cason (1893-1970)
367th Infantry Reg.
"Buffaloes"
BL Lieut. Egbert E. Thompson (1883-1927)
ABL Sgt. Nelson L. Kincaid (1888-1956)
368th Infantry Reg.
BL Lieut. A. Jack Thomas (1884-1962)
ABL --Drum Major Edgar A. Landin (1891-1966)
93rd Division
Band Leader, etc.
369th Infantry Reg. = 15th NY
"Harlem Hellfighters"
Lieut. James Reese Europe (1880-1919)
BL Lieut. F. Eugene Mikell (1880-1932)
ABL Sgt. Frank De Broite (b. 1874)
Drum Major Noble Sissle (1889-1975)
Drum Major Gillard Thompson (1886-1939)
370th Infantry Reg. = 8th Illinois
“Black Devils”
BL Lieut. George E. Dulf (1872-1943)
ABL Sgt. Charles Dorsey
Drum Major Sgt. F. Blue (acc. EJ Scott)
Bnd Sgt. Charles Alexander (in 1917)
Bnd Sgt. Oliver E. Perry (in 1917)
371st Infantry Reg.
“Black Tigers”
BL Lieut. Elbert B. Williams (1864-1929)
ABL ---
372nd Infantry Reg.
BL --ABL ---
********
60
Pioneer Infantry Regiments 801-816
Supervisors, Band Leaders, Assistant Band Leaders
801st Pioneer Infantry
--one Bnd Sgt may be Ralph N. Dunn (1891-1954)
802nd Pioneer Infantry
-----
803rd Pioneer Infantry
--ABL Sgt. Major Edward W. Bailey (1890-1983)
Bnd Sgt. Alfred J. Taylor (1892-1944)
804th Pioneer Infantry
--Bnd Sgt. Major Robert H. Craig (1895-1960)
Bnd Sgt. Major Byron H. Williams (1895-1959)
805th Pioneer Infantry
“Bear Cats”
Lieut. Leonce R. Legendre (white; 1895-1951)
ABL Sgt. George Lee Polk (1890-1951)
Drum Major Middleton Brooks Polk (1891-1981)
Bnd Sgt. Robert J. Hill ( - 1943)
Bnd Sgt. Cesco H. Johnson (1889-1951)
Bnd Sgt. John P. Rathman
Bnd Sgt. Ulric L. Washington
806th Pioneer Infantry
--ABL Sgt. Ashford H. Hardee (1889-1956)
ABL Sgt. Lawrence Denton (1893-1986)
807th Pioneer Infantry
“Pioneers”
BL Lieut. Will H. Vodery (1885-1951)
ABL Sgt. Ralph S. Redmond (1890-1960)
ABL Sgt. Louia Vaughn Jones (1895-1965)
Drum Major Opal D. Cooper (1889-1974)
808th Pioneer Infantry
BL Lieut. James Riley Wheelock (1874-1941)
ABL Leo H. Davis (1895-1981)
809th Pioneer Infantry
BL Lieut. Charles W. Bushman (white; 1891-1950)
ABL Sgt. Eugene D. Freels (1891-1967)
ABL Bnd Sgt. Wesley I. Howard (1889-1962)
Bnd Sgt. Lucion Ramseur (1886/88-1969)
Bnd Sgt. Earl D. Washington (1892/93-1973)
810th Pioneer Infantry
(no service in Europe)
Bnd Sgt. Major Ira D. Oliver
811th Pioneer Infantry
--Bnd Sgt. John W. Brown
Bnd Sgt. Edwin H. Hopper
812th Pioneer Infantry
(no service in Europe)
813th Pioneer Infantry
-----
814th Pioneer Infantry
“Black Devils”
Lieut. Maxom (white)
ABL Sgt. Ralph W. E. Brown (1893-1989)
61
815th Pioneer Infantry
--ABL Sgt. Oliver Mead (Meade?)
Bnd Sgt. Ulysses S. Everly (1889-1938)
816th Pioneer Infantry
--Bnd Sgt. Major Joseph L. Bartlett
Sgt. Amos M. White (1889-1980)
Chief Trumpeter Vernon L. Page (1897-1957)
Commentary:
The appendix provides a list of all the black combat and Pioneer Infantry regiments, with the names of as
many of their identifiable Band Leaders, Assistant Band Leaders, and Band Sergeants as I have located to
date. Some were singled out in publications by contemporaries such as Emmett Scott, Maud Cuney-Hare,
or Hunton and Johnson as making an especially noteworthy contribution.
Band Sergeant Major (BSM) is, I believe, essentially equivalent to Assistant Band Leader. I think the way
it works is that the ABL is always some kind of sergeant, and the highest ranking sergeant the ABL could
be is BSM.
-------H&J give William Bailey for 803rd but the individual in question is actually Edward Walter Bailey.
Redmond is said to be the ABL with 807 and Vodery (in the New York Age) when Louia V. Jones is
simply a member on violin and saxophone. At some point, I guess, Redmond must move to another band
or step aside, and Jones gets late promotion. Demobilization in May, acc. gravesite info., is odd to my
mind if he remains with 807th.
Leo H. Davis is named as Band Leader of the 808th in an on-line reference, but I have not confirmed that
unit in any other source. I have indicated him as ABL above. His US Veterans Gravesites information
identifies him as a WWI bandleader, as does his gravestone.
Wallace (351st) and Cason (366th) are assigned correctly to a unit; both were probably Band Sgts. In both
cases, U.S. Veterans Gravesites information calls them simply BAND SGT or SGT.
Wesley Howard is referred to as ABL in 809th, but Freels seems to have been the first (?) one.
It was announced that Charles Harris (b.1875), leader of the Commonwealth Band of Baltimore and a
central figure in the African American musical community of that city, was "appointed assistant band
leader and will soon go to France with one of the colored organizations. After six months he will be made
a second lieutenant" (Topeka Plaindealer, October 4, 1918, p. 1; New York Age, October 5, 1918, p. 2). I
have seen no additional evidence that this was ever followed through, and in all likelihood it is because
of the Armistice and the return of troops.
-------Anthony Pendleton Taylor (1894-1957) is an African American ABL, according to genealogy and US
Veterans Gravesites data. His dates of service are July 3 to December 7, 1918. According to his gravestone
and his U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Form, he was Asst Band LDR 49 CO 151 Depot
Brigade.