Trumpeter Langston Curl, whose name sounds like a fusion between black poetry and basic hair styling, did the main body of his recording work between 1927 and the mid 30's. He retired in Bridgeport, Connecticut, following some three decades out of the music business and was indeed so removed from the public spotlight by this time that his death... [+] Read More

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The best-known musician by the name of Leonard Davis also garnered the nickname of "Ham" during his lifetime -- but not for anything he did during any of his trumpet solos, at least not based on any of the dozens of records he appears on with real hams such as Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller. Davis began performing as a lad in St. Louis and was... [+] Read More

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An excellent Dixieland player, Pete Daily, never quite broke into the big time despite his talents and he received less fame than he deserved. He started out playing baritone horn, switched to tuba in high school, and then soon afterward cornet. Daily worked steadily in Chicago during 1930-1942, with Frank Melrose, Bud Freeman, and Boyce Brown,... [+] Read More

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Born Lester Rallingston Collins, this trumpeter had already settled on the more casual stagename of Shad Collins when in his late teens he joined the band of Charlie Dixon, at that time featuring the remarkable vocalist Cora La Redd. From here he moved to a combo led by pianist

Eddie White, staying with him for several years until... [+] Read More

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