Those Were the Days
By Claude Kelly
Miami and Miami Beach was a hustle and bustle city during the WWII days....many servicemen were in the area. Big Swing Bands were the music of the times. Many were short of players who were drafted or joined the military. Most of the bands would search out local musicians when on tour.
Wally Piper's club "The Pipers" on Coral Way featured many traveling musicians and vocalists--plus Benny Hawkins on guitar and bass. Benny used to travel to jobs on his motor cycle ...with his big bass strapped on. A very funny man besides.
My love for big bands brought me to the Harlem Square Club in "Overtown." I looked forward to being in the great sax section of Kiah Brown's excellent big band. Eddie "Cleanhead " Vinson, a master of the saxophone, sat next to me...I learned a lot from him and Kiah. I was the only OFAY CAT in the band, but was treated like a brother! Later, Louis Armstrong played a one-nighter there. I will never forget the words he gave to me--a young 17 year old budding musician. He said, "Never say NO to a customer...just say 'We'll get around to it'". And also, "Always set up a band AS CLOSE to he edge of the stage...to be as close to the people as possible." and the third, always responding, "You are absolutely right." He said that will work 90% of the time. It was a great time in my life to be able to have been around people that were all actually, TEACHERS to me --I thank all of them wherever they may be.
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