Jack McVea (November 5, 1914 – December 27, 2000[1]) was an
American swing, blues, and rhythm and blues woodwind player; he played clarinet
and tenor and baritone saxophone. His father was the noted banjoist Satchel
McVea, and banjo was Jack McVea's first instrument.
Born John Vivian McVea in Los Angeles ,
California Los
Angeles for several years, he joined Lionel Hampton's
orchestra in 1940. From 1944 on he mostly worked as a leader. Perhaps his most
impressive performance as a sideman in those years was at the first Jazz at the
Philharmonic concert in 1944. From 1966 till his retirement in the 1980s he led
a group which played traditional jazz at Disneyland ,
called "The Royal Street Bachelors" in New
Orleans Square . The good looking
"bachelors" as they thought, created their bands name after
performing for the first time on Royal Street .
The trio consists of the following men- Jack McVea, Herb Gordy and Harold
Grant.
McVea was leader of the Black & White Records studio
band and was responsible for coming up with the musical riff for the words
"Open the Door, Richard". Ralph Bass got him to record it in 1946 and
it became immensely popular, entering the national charts the following year,
and was recorded by many other artists.
He is also known for his playing on T-Bone Walker's
"Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)." McVea also
played on 1945's "Slim's Jam" by Slim Gaillard alongside Charlie
Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
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