Elmer Snowden (October 9, 1900 – May 14, 1973) was a banjo
player of the jazz age. He also played guitar and, in the early stages of his
career, all the reed instruments. He contributed greatly to jazz in its early
days as both a player and a bandleader, and is responsible for launching the
careers of many top musicians. However, Snowden himself has been largely
overlooked in jazz history.
Born in Baltimore ,
Snowden is remembered today mainly as the original leader of the
Washingtonians, a group he brought to New York City
from the capital in 1923. Unable to get a booking, Snowden sent for Duke
Ellington, who was with the group when it recorded three test sides for Victor
that remain unissued and are, presumably, lost.
Ellington eventually took over leadership of the band, which
contained the nucleus of what later became his famous orchestra. Snowden was a
renowned band leader – Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, Bubber Miley,
"Tricky Sam" Nanton, Frankie Newton, Benny Carter, Rex Stewart, Roy
Eldridge and Chick Webb are among the musicians who worked in his various
bands.
Very active in the 1920s as an agent and musician, Snowden
at one time had five bands playing under his name in New
York , one of which was led by pianist Cliff Jackson.
Unfortunately, most of his bands were not recorded, but a Snowden band that
included Eldridge, Al Sears, Dicky Wells and Sid Catlett appeared in a 1932
film, Smash Your Baggage. Snowden also made numerous appearances as a sideman
on almost every New York label
from 1923 on. Unfortunately, he rarely received credit, except for two sides
with Bessie Smith in 1925, and six sides with the Sepia Serenaders in 1934.
Though Snowden continued to be musically active throughout
his life, after the mid 1930s he lived in relative obscurity in New
York . He continued to play throughout the 30s, 40s
and 50s, but was far from the limelight. After a dispute with the musicians union
in New York , he moved to Philadelphia
where he taught music, counting among his pupils pianist Ray Bryant, his
brother, bassist Tommy Bryant, and saxophonist Sahib Shihab (Edmond Gregory).
Snowden was working as a parking lot attendant in 1959 when
Chris Albertson, then a Philadelphia
disc jockey, came across him. In 1960, Albertson brought Snowden and
singer-guitarist Lonnie Johnson together for two Prestige albums, assembled a
quartet that included Cliff Jackson for a Riverside session, Harlem Banjo, and,
in 1961, a sextet session with Roy Eldridge, Bud Freeman, Jo Jones, and Ray and
Tommy Bryant—it was released on the Fontana and Black Lion labels.
In 1963, his career boosted, Snowden appeared at the Newport
Jazz Festival. He toured Europe in 1967 with the Newport
Guitar Workshop. He moved to California
to teach at the University of California ,
Berkeley , and played with Turk
Murphy.
In 1969, Snowden moved back to Philadelphia ,
where he died on May 14, 1973 .
Viola McCoy v / Edgar Dowell p / Robert Coocksey h / Elmer Snowden bj (West Indies Blues).
Recorded in New York on April 14, 1924.
Viola McCoy v / Edgar Dowell p / Robert Coocksey h / Elmer Snowden bj (West Indies Blues).
Recorded in New York on April 14, 1924.