I could have sworn it was a mention in Ted Gioia's book that made me aware of the Tom Talbert orchestra of the late 40s, but he does not figure in the index. Neither is he in the WCJ books by Robert Gordon and by Alain Tercinet.
I had to think hard what made me search for the CD I linked, and I guess it must have been his entry in the "Bebop - The Essential Listening Companion"guide by Scott Yanow (et al.). At the time I became aware of him (a good 20 years ago) I also must have read about him onlline, and this made me spring for this CD with his early recordings on his Sea Breeze label.
Re- drummer Jimmy Pratt, his name rang a bell. To the best of my recollections (confirmed by some indications on the www), he worked in Europe (including Germany) for several years in the late 50s and the 60s. So to some extent he is a "name" over here.