William “Chick” Webb
February 10, 1905* – June 16, 1939
Chick Webb was a dynamic jazz drummer and band leader who was one of the most influential players during New York City’s swing movement of the ’20s and ’30s. In 1935, Webb introduced the world to his orchestra’s new vocalist, Ella Fitzgerald. Webb had health problems most of his life and died prematurely at the presumed age of 34.
*There is debate about Chick Webb’s actually year of birth, various sources list different dates between 1902 and 1909.
What You Should Own
Amazing how close the anniversary of Chick Webb and Ella are.
One of the BEST drummers of all time and led, on record, THE most drummer-prominent band of the Swing Era. Not as flashy as Sid Catlett, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson or Lionel Hampton, Chick’s propulsive licks were either closely miked or especially loud such that he seemed to be literally riding on top of the band… kicking the music along more dramatically than Krupa or any of the other drummer-led bands. The perceived INTENSITY of this orchestration– Artie Shaw did a similar thing and was a distant second– made Webb’s band competitive with or superior to most of his contemporaries who relied on gifted soloists. Chick only had Taft Jordan in that regard… and of course the incomparable Ella! The recordings these three made in the ’30s deserve to be in anyone’s “desert-island collection.” They’re surely in mine.