Biography
Erskine Tate, who played violin and led his own ensemble, contributed to the early development of Chicago jazz and big band styles through performances by the Vendome Orchestra at the Vendome Theater on East 31st and State streets. A young Louis Armstrong was among the group's members, and they supplied live accompaniment for silent films both during screenings and between them at movie theaters. Tate remained active as a performer into the mid-'30s, after which he left the stage to focus on teaching music. The lineup also included Freddie Keppard on cornet, Buster Bailey on saxophone, Jimmy Bertrand on drums, Ed Atkins on trombone, and Teddy Weatherford on piano.
Singles
