Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Panama Francis was born David Albert Francis on December 21, 1918 in Miami, Florida to a Haitian father and an English property-owning mother in the Bahamas. He began playing the drums even before attending school and initially played in marching bands and local drum and bugle corps.
His first professional playing was in the 1930s as part of George Kelly’s band from 1934 to 1938. He then became a member of the Florida Collegians in 1938. After his move to New York City that year, he worked with Tab Smith, Billy Hicks, and Roy Eldridge before the 1940s. Francis acquired his nickname from Eldridge at a moment when he was wearing a panama hat and Eldridge could not remember his new drummer’s name.
Joining Lucky Millinder’s big band in 1940, he often played at the Savoy Ballroom. After leaving Millinder he was with Willie Bryant’s band in 1946 and then Cab Calloway from 1947 to 1952. He performed in three short films alongside the latter. For much of the 1950s, Panama was a studio musician in New York, accompanying the likes of Bobby Darin, the Four Seasons, the Platters, Dion DiMucci, Neil Sedaka, and Jackie Wilson.
He went on to tour with Dinah Shore, then moved to California where he struggled to find work. The early Seventies saw him touring Japan with Sam “The Man” Taylor, then appeared on film in 1972, in Lady Sings the Blues. Back in New York in 1973, Francis was part of Sy Oliver’s nonet for two years and during this period he played jazz festivals and toured internationally with other bands.
He revived the Savoy Sultans jazz and dance band in 1979, and he appeared regularly at the Rainbow Room in New York City for eight years from 1980. Panama became drummer in the Benny Goodman Quartet for concerts in 1982. He appeared in the 1994 film The Statesmen of Jazz as a member of the Statesmen of Jazz.
Over his career he recorded with Ray Bryant, Eddie Barefield, Arnett Cobb, Earl Hines, Ray Conniff, Eubie Blake, Oscar Brown Jr., Dorothy Donegan, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie and numerous others.Drummer Panama Francis, who mainly played swing jazz, transitioned in Orlando, Florida on November 13, 2001 following a stroke at age 82.
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Three Wishes
While at a club or her Cathouse, Pannonica ventured the question to C. Stroman Scoby asking him to give her his three wishes he would want granted and his reply was:
- “Self~realization, by which I mean to realize my connection to the universe.”
- “Harmony among all the creatures in the universe. I wouldn’t need a third wish if those two.”
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Cousin Joe was born Pleasant Joseph on December 20, 1907 in Wallace, Louisiana. He worked at Whitney Plantation throughout his childhood. Until 1945, he toured Louisiana, but that year he was asked to take part in the King Jazz recording sessions organized by Mezz Mezzrow and Sindey Bechet.
In the 1970s, Cousin Joe toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, both individually and as part of the American Blues Legends ’74 revue organised by Big Bear Music. He also recorded the album Gospel-Wailing, Jazz-Playing, Rock’n’Rolling, Soul-Shouting, Tap-Dancing Bluesman From New Orleans for Big Bear.
Vocalist and pianist Cousin Joe transitioned in his sleep from natural causes in New Orleans, Louisiana at the age of 81 on October 2, 1989.
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ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY
Tony nominee Ann Hampton Callaway, one of the leading pop/jazz singers of our time, has created an exciting night of songs and stories in celebration of her inspiration and one of America’s most beloved artists, Peggy Lee. On the heels of Ann’s Streisand Songbook symphonic triumph, this show celebrates the 100th birthday of the trailblazing woman who gave the world “Fever” through six decades of iconic songs from sultry to sizzling. Fall under the spell of love songs from Peggy’s swinging Benny Goodman days through decades of hits from film and recordings that earned this iconic singer songwriter her powerhouse nickname, “The female Frank Sinatra.”
She is one of the leading champions of the great American Songbook, having made her mark as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, TV host and producer. Voted recently by Broadwayworld.com as “Performer of the Year” Ann is born entertainer. Her unique singing style that blends jazz and traditional pop, making her a mainstay in concert halls, theaters and jazz clubs as well as in the recording studio, on television, and in film. She is best known for Tony-nominated performance in the hit Broadway musical Swing! and for writing and singing the theme song to the hit TV series The Nanny. Callaway is a Platinum Award winning writer whose songs are featured on seven of Barbra Streisand’s recent CD’s. The only composer to have collaborated with Cole Porter, she has also written songs with Carole King, Rolf Lovland and Barbara Carroll to name a few.
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