Monk McFay
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Jack "Monk" McFay (June 27, 1908, Wichita Falls, Kansas
- October 22 or 23, 1994, Los Angeles
) was an American jazz
drummer and bandleader, known especially for leading jazz bands in Hawaii
.
McFay was working as a bellhop
in Amarillo, Texas
when he was asked by Roderick Thomas to substitute on drums in the house band; he played with Thomas's territory band
until 1934, also doing a short stint with Red Williams during that time. In 1934 he played in Oklahoma City
with the Spotlight Entertainer Orchestra, the band led by Joe Brantley. In 1935 he relocated to Los Angeles
and played with Bernard Banks, who took his band to the Casino Ballroom in Honolulu. He led his own band at the Casa Loma Ballroom in 1936, then returned to Oklahoma City to play in the Spotlight band again, now under the leadership of Leonard Chadwick
. In 1937 he toured Honolulu with his own band again, and returned to Oklahoma City a third time in 1938 to play with Leslie Sheffield's band. From 1939 to 1941 he once more played in Honolulu with a band which included Henry Coker
; he left Hawaii due to legal troubles. Following this he played with Harlan Leonard
in 1945 and then joined Buddy Banks
's band, where he recorded for the first time. He played with Banks until 1949.
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
- October 22 or 23, 1994, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
) was an American 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...
drummer and bandleader, known especially for leading jazz bands in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
McFay was working as a bellhop
Bellhop
A bellhop, also bellboy or bellman, is a hotel porter, who helps patrons with their luggage while checking in or out. Bellhops often wear a uniform , like certain other page boys or doormen...
in Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
when he was asked by Roderick Thomas to substitute on drums in the house band; he played with Thomas's territory band
Territory band
Territory bands were dance bands that crisscrossed specific regions of the United States from the 1920s through the 1960s. Beginning in the 1920s, the bands typically had 8 to 12 musicians. These bands typically played one-nighters, 6 or 7 nights a week at venues like VFW halls, Elks Lodges,...
until 1934, also doing a short stint with Red Williams during that time. In 1934 he played in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
with the Spotlight Entertainer Orchestra, the band led by Joe Brantley. In 1935 he relocated to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and played with Bernard Banks, who took his band to the Casino Ballroom in Honolulu. He led his own band at the Casa Loma Ballroom in 1936, then returned to Oklahoma City to play in the Spotlight band again, now under the leadership of Leonard Chadwick
Leonard Chadwick
Leonard Chadwick was a Spanish-American War Medal of Honor recipient who served in the United States Navy as an Apprentice 1st Class aboard the .-Biography:...
. In 1937 he toured Honolulu with his own band again, and returned to Oklahoma City a third time in 1938 to play with Leslie Sheffield's band. From 1939 to 1941 he once more played in Honolulu with a band which included Henry Coker
Henry Coker
Henry Coker was an American jazz trombonist.Coker studied music at Wellesley College before making his professional debut with John White in 1935. From 1937 to 1939 he played with Nat Towles's territory band, then moved to Hawaii to play with Monk McFay...
; he left Hawaii due to legal troubles. Following this he played with Harlan Leonard
Harlan Leonard
Harlan Leonard was an American jazz bandleader and clarinetist from Kansas City, Missouri.A professional musician from the age of 17, he joined Benny Moten's orchestra in 1923, where he led the reed section until 1931. In 1931 he and Thamon Hayes formed the Kansas City Skyrockets, which included...
in 1945 and then joined Buddy Banks
Buddy Banks (saxophonist)
Ulysses "Buddy" Banks was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, pianist, and bandleader....
's band, where he recorded for the first time. He played with Banks until 1949.