— Playing in the Bands —

Dallas Bartley arrived in Chicago in 1937. Initially he worked in a restaurant, but his career as a professional musician quickly began. He soon signed on with pianist Tommy Rigsby's group and later with the King Kolax band. Unfortunately, no images remain of this time in Bartley's career.

In his own words, "after spending several lean years giging (one night dances) and touring around the country with several Chicago bands, which lady fame had turned a deaf ear to, Dallas joined Louis Jordan's Tympani [sic] Five." Jordan embarked as a bandleader and formed his Tympany Five in 1938. He led this group, with many changes of personnel and instrumentation, for three decades. Dallas Bartley joined the original Tympany Five in 1940. He left in 1943, but did return to work with Louis Jordan periodically over the years, the last time being in the late 1960s.

In his book on Louis Jordan, John Chilton writes of Dallas Bartley: Dallas Bartley "was an important addition, a good player who was also a fine showman. In the past, Louis had had to provide most of the light relief and fun himself, but the group's showmanship was considerably augmented by the arrival of Bartley. Berle Adams [Jordan's longtime manager] commented: 'Dallas Bartley was a great asset, and played a part in shaping the band. He knew a lot of novelty songs and comedy routines....'" (From Let the Good Times Roll: The Story of Louis Jordan and His Music, p. 85.)

The Record Parade of Hit Tunes divided music into categories, such as "Popular," "Waltzes," and "Children's Records." On the back was a category titled "Race" for black musicians. It was possible, but not easy, for black musicians to cross into popular music. Several of the songs Bartley wrote with Louis Jordan managed to cross that gulf.

Bartley formed his own group, the Small Town Boys, in 1943. Photos of this group appear below.

In his handwritten autobiography, Bartley wrote: "After spending three years with the Tympani Five, Dallas Bartley started on his own, as an Orchestra Leader in Joe's Deluxe Club. This began as a two weeks trial engagement and extended into a three year successful engagement."

Among the vocalists who worked with Bartley was Annie Laurie, who sang "St. Louis Blues" on the reverse side of this 78 RPM record. The recording is also mentioned in the advertisement at right.

Images below show Bartley in 1953, when he was appearing at the Royal Theater in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

 

This online exhibit is from the
Special Collections and Archives Department,
Missouri State University
Springfield, Missouri.
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This exhibit was last updated on May 18, 2006.