King Oliver

Joe (Joseph) Oliver , known as King , was a American Cornettiste of Jazz, founder and Leader of the Creole Jazz Band.

Biography

Birth date

Its birth date remains unknown although several dates were proposed: 1874 (Happy Down, June 1938), 1877 (interview of Clyde Bernhardt, Soryville, No 58), 1880 (interview of Fred Moore, Jazz Record, 1945), between 1884 and 1886 (King Oliver by Russ-Wright, 1987) and even 1890 (A. Marshall, Chronology, 1923).

Beginnings

With La Nouvelle-Orléans, Oliver first of all learns the Trombone then about 1908, it turns to the horn. From 1908 to 1917 it belongs to various orchestras like Olympia, Onward, the Magniolia, Eagle, the Original Superior Orchestra and that of Edward “Kid” Ory who gives him his nickname of “King”.

It goes up to Chicago in 1918 to join the whole of the clarinettist Lawrence Duke then with that of the double bass player William “Bill” Johnson whom it takes again into 1920 before moving towards California where it spends a few months to be played in various establishments of San Francisco. In 1921, it is of return to Chicago where it is immediately engaged in Lincoln Gardens. It will remain there, with the head of various formations, until 1924. King Olivier is in particular a type-setter, moreover here some one of these composition: " Chimes Blues" , " Blues" Canal Street; and " West and blues".

The Creole Jazz Band

In 1922, it creates its Creole Jazz Band, composed of itself with the horn, of Honore Dutrey with the trombone, of Johnny Dodds with the clarinet, of Bertha Gonsoulin with the piano, of “ Bill ” Johnson with the double bass and of the brother of Johnny Doods, Warren “Baby” Dodds with the battery.

In August of the same year, Oliver which made it come of New-Orleans, adds to this unit, a young cornet player who will make much speak about him: Louis Armstrong. In December, Bertha Gonsoulin having left the unit, Oliver replaces it by Lillian “Lil” Hardin.

This unit will quickly become the whooping-cough of the music lovers hot of Chicago. It will last, with some additions, a little more than one year during which its musicians will engrave thirty-seven recordings (forty and one makes some but four were lost) which are, today, regarded as being essential with whoever is interested so much is little with the jazz and more particularly with the jazz known as of New-Orleans.

Dissensions within this orchestra made that at the beginning of 1924, each one decided to fly of its own wings, Armstrong melting her own group after having married “ Lill ” Hardin. The Dodds brothers ended up following it to New York while Honore Dutrey continued to play in various formations in Chicago. In 1924 King Oliver records various duet including two with Jello Roll Morton.

Other orchestras

Its engagement in Lincoln Gardens having ended, Oliver forms a new group, King Oliver & His Dixie Syncopators, for another engagement, with the Plantation Coffee which will last until 1927. The members of this orchestra are: Oliver and Bob Shoffner (horns), Kid Ory (trombone), Johnny Dodds (clarinet), Shine Russell (piano), Bud Scott (banjo), Bert Cobb (tuba) and Paul Barbarin (battery). In 1928, it is with the head of another formation, King Oliver and His Orchestra, while recording various duet including four with the singer Susie Edwards (Butterbeans and Susie).

End-of-life

Not drinking, nor not smoking, Oliver however adored to eat and eat especially delicacies. Starting from the end of the year twenty, its health started to worsen but it was especially side of the teeth which it had more and more of problems and without good teeth, one knows what arrives at a cornet player. About the middle of the Thirties, incompetent to play, it opened a small shop of fruit and vegetables and finishes his caretaker days in a room of billiards with Savannah.

He dies the April 10th 1938 with Savannah (Georgia) and is buried with New York. He thus had between 48 and 64 years.

External bonds

English biographies with extracts audios

http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_oliver_joe_king.htm
http://www.redhotjazz.com/kingo.html

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