Chapter 6 - Swing Era Legends

Summary

Through Danny Barker, Shipton is introduced to trumpeter Buck Clayton, beginning a friendship that ultimately leads to Shipton inheriting some of Clayton's music and forming a band in his memory. But Clayton prompts Shipton into writing and researching a book about Fats Waller. Shipton meets as many Waller band survivors as possible, including guitarist Al Casey (with whom he tours in the UK), trumpeters Jabbo Smith and Bill Coleman, saxophonist Franz Jackson, and significantly, drummer Harry Dial. This chapter gives background to Shipton's book on Waller, and brings alive the era of 1930s New York and of swing bands on the road.