Christiern Posted February 8, 2005 Author Report Posted February 8, 2005 Willie was a very good friend of Steve and Edie, as well as Sinatra. He was a great guy, and the highest-paid DJ in the country--probably the world. He also loved jazz and hosted some memorable live programs--I recall one from Basin Street East, with Duke, his band, and Billy Strayhorn. Others with Nat King Cole, Ella, et al. When I was at WNEW, Billy Taylor was there, too, and the station played a lot of good jazz, along with the good pop. In the 1940s, it was quite jazz-oriented. Here's a 1945 photo... Quote
Christiern Posted February 8, 2005 Author Report Posted February 8, 2005 Is that bar the place Bessie Smith first sang "Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer" ? No, but she would have loved that place, and it was a half block from the Apollo Theater, where she often performed. Quote
catesta Posted February 8, 2005 Report Posted February 8, 2005 Nice, Chris. Thanks for sharing the pic with us. Quote
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