What did Count Basie, Herschel Evans, Lester Young, Mary Lou Williams, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Glenn Miller, and Charlie Christian share in common? Their careers were massively impacted by the genius of Eddie Durham (1906-1987).
This book chronicles the life, extensive musical contributions, and career of one of the world’s most prolific and influential artists overlooked in the 20th Century. Raised as a Spanish-speaking cowboy in southern Texas by a Native American mother and African-American/Irish father, Eddie Durham is the most important jazz master you've NEVER heard of... His career began in the southwest circuses but if you remove him from the equation, the Swing idiom may not have happened.
As a performer, he innovated a non-pressure technique on his trombone, amplified his own guitar, built his amp, innovated a whammy bar, and was one of the first to record on amplified and electric guitar. He was a musician’s musician who pioneered 6-part harmony in his compositions and arrangements, and a showman who choreographed brass sections to add visual excitement to the performances.
Eddie's charts spawned, then his charts document the swing era craze.
He became the “hit-maker” scouted by promoters and bandleaders, who hired him to be the primary creative force in their bands. He was also Musical Director for several all-girl’s orchestras. Bandleaders needed him in more ways than they ever admitted. It was Durham’s 1939 arrangement of "In The Mood" which was inducted into the N.A.R.A.S. Hall of Fame.
Eddie Durham’s unique perspective has never been revealed… Until now…
