Webb was born in Baltimore, Maryland to William H. and Marie Johnson Webb. William Henry "Chick" Webb came up from Baltimore to New York at age 17 in the Mid-20's and started playing with Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, and Duke Eillington. Eillington told him to put together his own band. So he put together an orchestra that included such sidemen as;Taft Jordan and Louis Bacon on trumpets; Sandy Williams on Trombone and Edgar Sampson on alto sax. Edgar slowly became the band's arranger,and a great one at that. He went on to arrange for many other bands. Chick webb was a hunchback (almost) dwarf who led one of the most swinging bands of the era from the drummer's throne. He may have been small in statue but behind the drums he was a "Giant" His was the"house band' of the Savoy Ballroom 1931-1935. His manager, Moe Gale was also the owner of the Savoy. When other big bands came into the Savoy Ballroom for "Cutting contests" Chicks orchestra usually"blew them away"with the arrangements of Edgar Sampson. Gene Krupa credited Webb with raising drummer awareness and paving the way for drummer-led band, which Krupa would later employ. His thundering solos created a complexity and an energy that paved the way for Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson who studied Webb's intensely. Chick is also remembered for discovering Ella Fitzgerald. Chick died June 16, 1939 of Tuberculosis of the Spine. And his last words were.......I'm sorry I've got to go.
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