The Missourians were an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

band active in the 1920s, who performed at the

Cotton Club The Cotton Club was a New York City nightclub from 1923 to 1940. It was located on 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue (1923–1936), then briefly in the midtown Theater District (1936–1940).Elizabeth Winter"Cotton Club of Harlem (1923- )" Blac ...

in New York City and eventually became the backing band for Cab Calloway. The Missourians were formed by Wilson Robinson in the early 1920s under the name Wilson Robinson's Syncopators, or Wilson Robinson's Bostonians. Andrew Preer took leadership of the group in 1925, which performed at the

until 1927 under the name Andrew Preer's Cotton Club Orchestra. In 1927 the group became the accompanying band for

Ethel Waters Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an American singer and actress. Waters frequently performed jazz, swing, and pop music on the Broadway stage and in concerts. She began her career in the 1920s singing blues. Her no ...

on tour, and changed its name to The Missourians, since Duke Ellington's band had become known as the Cotton Club Orchestra. After returning to New York the band took up residency at the

Savoy Ballroom The Savoy Ballroom was a large ballroom for music and public dancing located at 596 Lenox Avenue, between 140th and 141st Streets in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Lenox Avenue was the main thoroughfare through upper Harlem ...

from 1928 to 1929; reedist George Scott was its leader during this period.Frank Driggs, "Missourians". '' The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz''. 2nd edition, ed. Barry Kernfeld, 2004. In 1929, Cab Calloway led the group intermittently, and assumed leadership of the band in 1930; soon after he began recording as Cab Calloway and His Orchestra. Prior to Calloway's arrival, the group recorded for Gennett Records and

Victor Records The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer that operated independently from 1901 until 1929, when it was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and subsequently operated as a subsidi ...

. The group's membership in the 1920s included

Lammar Wright Sr. Lammar Wright (June 20, 1907 – April 13, 1973) was an American jazz trumpeter. Biography Wright was born in Texarkana, Texas, and grew up in Kansas City, where he played with Bennie Moten's band in 1923. He relocated to New York City in 1927 t ...

, R.Q. Dickerson,

Dewey Jackson Dewey Jackson (June 21, 1900 – January 1, 1994) was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist. Early life Jackson was a native of St. Louis, Missouri. Career Jackson began playing professionally at an early age, with the Odd Fellows Bo ...

, William Thornton Blue, David Jones, Earres Prince, and Andrew Brown.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Missourians Musical groups from Harlem American jazz ensembles from New York City Jazz musicians from New York (state)