John Spikes
Encyclopedia
John Curry Spikes was an American
jazz
musician and entrepreneur.
Along with his brother Reb Spikes
, John ran a traveling show band in early 1900s. At one point, Jelly Roll Morton
was a member of the band. In around 1915, the Spikes were performing in San Francisco under the name The Original So-Different Orchestra, with Reb Spikes billed as the "World's Greatest Saxophonist".
Around 1919 they then settled in Los Angeles, where they started a music store, a nightclub, an agency and a publishing house.
They were the first to record an all-black jazz band in 1922. In 1927 they shot a short sound film
that predated The Jazz Singer
, the first full-length sound film. Their most enduring musical collaborations were writing the lyrics to Morton's "Wolverine Blues" and their own composition, "Someday Sweetheart
", which has become a jazz standard
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
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...
musician and entrepreneur.
Along with his brother Reb Spikes
Reb Spikes
Benjamin Franklin "Reb" Spikes Benjamin Franklin "Reb" Spikes Benjamin Franklin "Reb" Spikes (October 31, 1888 – February 24, 1982 was an American jazz saxophonist and entrepreneur. His composition with his brother John, "Someday Sweetheart", has become an often-recorded jazz standard.-Biography:...
, John ran a traveling show band in early 1900s. At one point, Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
was a member of the band. In around 1915, the Spikes were performing in San Francisco under the name The Original So-Different Orchestra, with Reb Spikes billed as the "World's Greatest Saxophonist".
Around 1919 they then settled in Los Angeles, where they started a music store, a nightclub, an agency and a publishing house.
They were the first to record an all-black jazz band in 1922. In 1927 they shot a short sound film
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
that predated The Jazz Singer
The Jazz Singer (1927 film)
The Jazz Singer is a 1927 American musical film. The first feature-length motion picture with synchronized dialogue sequences, its release heralded the commercial ascendance of the "talkies" and the decline of the silent film era. Produced by Warner Bros. with its Vitaphone sound-on-disc system,...
, the first full-length sound film. Their most enduring musical collaborations were writing the lyrics to Morton's "Wolverine Blues" and their own composition, "Someday Sweetheart
Someday Sweetheart
"Someday Sweetheart" is a jazz standard written by Los Angeles-based musicians John and Reb Spikes in 1919. It was the biggest hit the brothers wrote, and was performed by many recording artists of the period. The first one to record the tune was blues singer Alberta Hunter...
", which has become a jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
.