Joe Haymes
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lawrence Haymes was an American jazz
bandleader and arranger.
Born in Marshfield, Missouri
, Haymes relocated with his family to Springfield, Missouri
, after his railroader father was killed in an accident. Joe attended Greenwood Laboratory School
in Springfield and was a drummer in the local Boy Scout Band; as a youth he also learned the piano. Entering Drury College in 1926, he played locally with his own dance band before being hired as arranger by Ted Weems
in 1928 and leaving school. Haymes arranged the hit "Piccolo Pete", among many others, for Weems, setting a new, highly jazz-informed style for the orchestra.
Haymes struck out on his own again in 1930, leading a band in Tulsa, Oklahoma
, and relocating to New York City
by 1932. That year the Haymes orchestra was one of the country's hottest dance bands, with a particular knack for jazz novelties and recording on all 3 major labels, but in late 1933 he sold the band to actor-leader Buddy Rogers, beginning a habit of selling orchestras to others. Early in 1934, Haymes put together a swing group with assistance from arranger Spud Murphy
, but after Tommy
and Jimmy Dorsey
split in 1935, Tommy arranged a deal with Haymes to take over the latter's group. Haymes himself hired several of Charlie Barnet
's musicians for a new band, which recorded for ARC
from 1935-1937 but was only modestly successful.
Haymes toured as an arranger with Les Brown
in 1938, and then found work writing and arranging anonymously for radio. He was briefly inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942, where he served as a medical orderly. On his return, he continued arranging for Hollywood studios from the 1940s into the late 1950s, interrupted by spells with Phil Harris
and Johnnie Lee Wills
. Haymes' chief employer during the 50s was Lawrence Welk
's television show, although he sometimes performed solo in L.A. area piano bars.
, then home to several semi-retired bandleaders (Ted Weems chief among them) who occasionally employed his scoring skills. Never married, Haymes died of heart failure at age 57.
, Pee Wee Erwin
, Toots Mondello
, Chris Griffin
, Sterling Bose
, Bud Freeman
, Walt Yoder
, and Lee Castle
. He is buried in his native Marshfield, Missouri
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
bandleader and arranger.
Born in Marshfield, Missouri
Marshfield, Missouri
Marshfield is a city in Webster County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6,633 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat and part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, Haymes relocated with his family to Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, after his railroader father was killed in an accident. Joe attended Greenwood Laboratory School
Greenwood Laboratory School
Greenwood Laboratory School is a comprehensive K-12 laboratory school affiliated with, and located on the campus of, Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. Greenwood is often mistakenly called a private school since it does have tuition...
in Springfield and was a drummer in the local Boy Scout Band; as a youth he also learned the piano. Entering Drury College in 1926, he played locally with his own dance band before being hired as arranger by Ted Weems
Ted Weems
Wilfred Theodore Weems was an American bandleader and musician. Weems' work in music was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.- Biography :...
in 1928 and leaving school. Haymes arranged the hit "Piccolo Pete", among many others, for Weems, setting a new, highly jazz-informed style for the orchestra.
Haymes struck out on his own again in 1930, leading a band in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, and relocating to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
by 1932. That year the Haymes orchestra was one of the country's hottest dance bands, with a particular knack for jazz novelties and recording on all 3 major labels, but in late 1933 he sold the band to actor-leader Buddy Rogers, beginning a habit of selling orchestras to others. Early in 1934, Haymes put together a swing group with assistance from arranger Spud Murphy
Spud Murphy
Lyle Stephanovic, better known as Spud Murphy was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, and arranger....
, but after Tommy
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
and Jimmy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey
James "Jimmy" Dorsey was a prominent American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and big band leader. He was known as "JD"...
split in 1935, Tommy arranged a deal with Haymes to take over the latter's group. Haymes himself hired several of Charlie Barnet
Charlie Barnet
Charles Daly Barnet was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader.His major recordings were "Skyliner", "Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffle".-Early life:...
's musicians for a new band, which recorded for ARC
American Record Corporation
ARC, the American Record Company, also referred to as American Record Corporation, or as ARC Records, was a United States based record company...
from 1935-1937 but was only modestly successful.
Haymes toured as an arranger with Les Brown
Les Brown
Les Brown may refer to:*Les Brown , U.S. Big Band leader, or his son, Les Brown Jr., leader since 2001*Les Brown , American author-See also:*Leslie Brown...
in 1938, and then found work writing and arranging anonymously for radio. He was briefly inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942, where he served as a medical orderly. On his return, he continued arranging for Hollywood studios from the 1940s into the late 1950s, interrupted by spells with Phil Harris
Phil Harris
Harris and Faye married in 1941; it was a second marriage for both and lasted 54 years, until Harris's death. Harris engaged in a fistfight at the Trocadero nightclub in 1938 with RKO studio mogul Bob Stevens; the cause was reported to be over Faye after Stevens and Faye had ended a romantic...
and Johnnie Lee Wills
Johnnie Lee Wills
Johnnie Lee Wills was an American Western swing fiddler popular in the 1930s and 1940s.-Biography:Wills was born in Jewett, Texas, and was the younger brother of Bob Wills. He played banjo with Bob as a member of the Texas Playboys starting in 1934, the year the ensemble began playing on KVOO-AM...
. Haymes' chief employer during the 50s was Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
's television show, although he sometimes performed solo in L.A. area piano bars.
Death
About 1960, he relocated to Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, then home to several semi-retired bandleaders (Ted Weems chief among them) who occasionally employed his scoring skills. Never married, Haymes died of heart failure at age 57.
Other
Among the players in Haymes's orchestras were Johnny MinceJohnny Mince
Johnny Mince was an American swing jazz clarinetist.Mince played with Joe Haymes from 1929 to 1934, and recorded with Red Norvo and Glenn Miller in 1935. He then worked with Ray Noble in 1935-37 and Bob Crosby in 1936 before joining Tommy Dorsey in 1937...
, Pee Wee Erwin
Pee Wee Erwin
Pee Wee Erwin was an American jazz trumpeter.-Biography:Erwin started on trumpet at age four. He played in several territory bands before joining the groups of Joe Haymes and Isham Jones...
, Toots Mondello
Toots Mondello
Toots Mondello was an American swing jazz alto saxophonist.Mondello played with Mal Hallett from 1927-1933 and also with Irving Aaronson's Commanders, Joe Haymes, and Buddy Rogers...
, Chris Griffin
Chris Griffin
Chris Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is the son and middle child of Peter and Lois Griffin, brother of Stewie and Meg Griffin. Chris is voiced by Seth Green.-Personality:...
, Sterling Bose
Sterling Bose
Sterling Belmont "Bozo" Bose was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist. His style was heavily influenced by Bix Beiderbecke and changed little over the course of his life....
, Bud Freeman
Bud Freeman
Lawrence "Bud" Freeman was a U.S. jazz musician, bandleader, and composer, known mainly for playing the tenor saxophone, but also able at the clarinet. He had a smooth and full tenor sax style with a heavy robust swing. He was one of the most influential and important jazz tenor saxophonists of...
, Walt Yoder
Walt Yoder
Walt Yoder was an American jazz double-bassist, best known for his association with Woody Herman.A piano player from age ten, Yoder switched to bass as a teenager. He worked in the bands of Joe Haymes, Tommy Dorsey, and Jimmy Dorsey early in the 1930s. Yoder played with Herman in Isham Jones's...
, and Lee Castle
Lee Castle
Lee Castle was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He was born Lee Aniello Castaldo, and performed under this name early in his career....
. He is buried in his native Marshfield, Missouri
Marshfield, Missouri
Marshfield is a city in Webster County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6,633 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat and part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
.