Wild Bill Davison

Wild Bill Davison stood among the foremost Dixieland trumpeters, bringing a vivid and impassioned approach that moved between biting sarcasm and tender sentiment while relying on frequent growls and shakes. His solos gained distinction from the surprising insertion of high notes, and his commanding presence gave him a decisive edge over contemporaries. Throughout the 1920s he worked with the Ohio Lucky Seven, the Chubb-Steinberg Orchestra—on which he made his first recordings—the Seattle Harmony Kings, and Benny Meroff. A 1932 car crash in which a taxi struck his vehicle took the life of Frankie Teschemacher and left Davison living in Milwaukee for the balance of the decade. By 1941 he had reached New York, and in 1943 he cut a series of outstanding Commodore sessions, among them a definitive reading of “That’s a Plenty,” that secured his reputation. After Army service he became a regular member of Eddie Condon’s ensembles beginning in 1945, appearing nightly at Condon’s. He proved effective on two 1950s albums with string orchestras, yet most of his work centered on leading Dixieland groups or performing with Condon. From the 1960s he traveled to Europe repeatedly, recorded without interruption, led a lively existence filled with striking incidents, and stayed active until his death. Hal Willard’s detailed 1996 biography The Wildest One gathers many humorous anecdotes and reveals the singular character of Davison’s life.