Chick Webb

William Henry (Chick) Webb ( Baltimore ( Maryland ), February 10 1905 - there, June 16 1939 ) was an American jazz and swing drummer known for his peerless technique and achievements as leader of his own swing band.

Webb was born in Baltimore in the US state of Maryland . Since his youth he had trouble tuberculosis, leaving him barely grew and had a severely deformed spine. His first drum kit he bought from the money he had earned as a newspaper delivery boy and at age 11 he had his first experiences as a professional musician.

At age 20 he moved to New York City where he received drum lessons from Tommy Benford and in 1926 started his own band in Harlem . From 1931 he exhibited his band night after night in the Savoy Ballroom . Despite the fact that he was seen by insiders as the King of Swing, that title went to the general public to Benny Goodman .However, this did lead to a healthy rivalry that resulted in regular so-called Battle of the Bands. On these evenings the orchestra Webb competed with those of example, Benny Goodman and Count Basie .

In 1935 he married a woman named Sallye and took the young Ella Fitzgerald under his wing. Not only was she the singer of his orchestra, but also his adoptive child. In November 1938 his health deteriorated. From that moment on he alternated appearances with hospital visits, until he died in June 1939.

After his death, Ella Fitzgerald took over the band of Webb, until towards the end of the swing, over.

Birthdate
Like Louis Armstrong , Nat King Cole and Coleman Hawkins Chick Webb is not only entered the history books as an influential musician, but also with inaccuracies regarding his date of birth. Despite the fact that many resources in 1909 as his birth name, there are also indications that this would not be correct.

The New York Times wrote an article about Webb in 1939, which was claimed that he was born in 1907. Writer and filmmaker Eric B. Borgman, however, claims that everyone wrong. He claims to have evidence that the father in 1905 came into the world.

The death certificate of Webb offers no clear outcome. This gives 1909 as a date, the year 1907 has been crossed out. In contrast, the book Rhythm on Record - written by Hilton Schleman when Webb was alive - again 1907.

To date, the exact date of birth Webb still unavailable. For this article uses data from Borgman, without any correctness of speaking other assertions.