Freddie Slack

Freddie Slack left a lasting imprint on jazz through his contributions to a pair of swing-era hits. After relocating to Chicago in 1927 he abandoned the drums for piano, and his first professional association was with Johnny Tobin. Upon settling in Los Angeles four years later he performed in the orchestras of Henry Halstead, Earl Burtnett, Archie Rosate, and Lennie Hayton. Notice came his way during stints with Ben Pollack from 1934 to 1936 and then with Jimmy Dorsey through 1939. Serving as principal pianist in Will Bradley & His Orchestra between 1939 and 1941, he received prominent exposure on the celebrated “Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar,” the track widely credited with igniting the boogie-woogie craze. He remained a central soloist on Bradley’s subsequent recordings in that style and also delivered effective accompaniments on several sides by Big Joe Turner. Slack launched his own band in 1942, quickly achieving success with the hits “Cow Cow Boogie” and “Strange Cargo.” Fronting Ella Mae Morse at the outset, Freddie Slack & His Orchestra briefly ranked among the more prominent swing ensembles, appearing in multiple motion pictures and cutting sides for Capitol between 1942 and 1947. Although he remained in California throughout the 1950s and 1960s, his visibility declined after the close of the 1940s, culminating in a final small-group session for EmArcy in 1955.