Biography
Originating in Oklahoma City and also known as Walter Page's Blue Devils, the territory band assembled an all-star roster that ranked it among Kansas City's top jazz ensembles of the late 1920s and early 1930s. It gained its chief renown by launching the career of a gifted young pianist, William Basie, who later achieved widespread recognition as Count Basie. Additional standouts in the lineup were singer Jimmy Rushing, alto saxophonist Buster Smith, trumpeteer Oran "Hot Lips" Page, and, for a brief period, tenor saxophonist Lester Young. Walter Page, whose playing covered bass, tuba, and baritone sax, formed the group after the Billy King Road Show disbanded in 1925. The ensemble recorded Blue Devil Blues in 1929, William Basie's first session; he exited the band soon afterward. Starting with nine members, the unit eventually swelled to as many as 15, at times incorporating James Simpson on trumpets, Eddie Durham on trombone, Willie Lewis on piano, Reuben Lynch on guitar, Edward McNeil on drums, Ernie Williams on vocals, Abe Bolar on bass, Lemuel C. Johnson on clarinet and tenor saxophone, and Don Byas on tenor and alto saxophone. The band prevailed over nearly every rival in battle-of-the-bands contests, save the older Bennie Moten band, which eventually absorbed most of the Blue Devils, Walter Page included. The core personnel of the group subsequently performed with Count Basie.