Savoy Sultans

The original Savoy Sultans were formed by saxophonist Al Cooper

Al Cooper

Al Cooper wasa saxophonist, clarinetist and bandleader.He founded the Savoy Sultans and was their leader from 1937 to 1946.He also played at the 101 Club on Lenox Avenue in New York andother places.- Al Cooper - 1938-1941 CD :...

, and played at the Savoy Ballroom

Savoy Ballroom

The Savoy Ballroom, located in Harlem, New York City, was a medium sized ballroom for music and public dancing that was in operation from March 12, 1926 to July 10, 1958. It was located between 140th and 141st Streets on Lenox Avenue....

 from 1937 to 1946. This small swing jazz ensemble was comprised, at various times, Jack Chapman

Jack Chapman

John Curtis "Jack" Chapman was an American Major League Baseball player and manager who was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began playing in the National Association when he played for the Brooklyn Atlantics and the St. Louis Brown Stockings. In , when the National League formed, he became the...

, Sam Massenberg, Jesse Drakes

Jesse Drakes

Jesse Drakes was an American jazz trumpet player.He was born October 22, 1924 in New York.Drakes hung out at Minton's Playhouse in his youth, and attended Juilliard in the 1940s. He played in the 1940s with Al Cooper's Savoy Sultans, Sid Catlett, J.C. Heard, Eddie Heywood, Deke Watson, and Sarah...

 and Pat Jenkins on trumpets; Skinny Brown, Rudy Williams

Rudy Williams

Rudy Williams was an American jazz alto saxophonist, son of the well-known bandleader Fess Williams and cousin of the jazz great Charles Mingus....

, Ed McNeil, Lennie Simmons, Thomas Turrentine Sr. and George Kelly

George Kelly (musician)

George Kelly was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, vocalist and arranger born in Miami, Florida, perhaps best-known for his works with Panama Francis first in the 1930s and again in the 1970s, the latter dates representing a newly formed "Savoy Sultans"...

 on saxophones; Cyril Haynes, piano; Grachan Moncur II on double bass; Alex "Razz" Mitchell on drums and vocalist Evelyn White.

Opening at the famous Savoy Ballroom on Lenox Avenue, Harlem, on Labor Day 1937, they recorded seven times with Decca Records

Decca Records

Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....

 between 1938 and 1941. According to one reviewer, their recorded legacy leaves much to be desired although contemporary reports by musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie

John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...

 gave the group high praise.

Savoy Sultans (1974-early 1990s)

The name Savoy Sultans was resurrected by Panama Francis in 1974 for a one-off concert, and was turned into a regular ensemble in 1979. He maintained the same instrumentation but added rhythm guitar. This group recorded for Black & Blue Records

Black & Blue Records

Black & Blue Records is a French record label specializing in swing jazz and blues.Black & Blue was founded in 1968, and in its early years concentrated on reissuing jazz that had been previously released on American labels. The label recorded Blues and Jazz musicians both in America and France and...

 in 1979 and again with Stash Records in 1982-83. Members included Francis Williams

Francis Williams

Francis Williams was a scholar and poet born in Kingston, Jamaica.Francis Williams was born around 1700 to John and Dorothy Williams, a free black couple in Jamaica. John Williams had been freed by the will of his former master and within ten years was able to acquire property...

, Irv Stokes, Spanky Davis

Spanky Davis

Ronald J. "Spanky" Davis is an American jazz trumpeter.Davis played early on with Charlie Palmieri , Sam Jones , Machito , and Benny Goodman . He toured Ireland with Al Cohn in 1983-84, then played with Bob Haggart in 1984-85...

, Norris Turney

Norris Turney

Norris Turney was an American jazz flautist and saxophonist.Turney began his career in the Midwest, playing in territory bands such as the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra. He played with Tiny Bradshaw in Chicago before moving to New York City, where he played with the Billy Eckstine Orchestra in 1945-46...

, Howard E. Johnson

Howard E. Johnson

Howard E. Johnson was an American swing alto saxophonist. Although never a prominent figure in jazz, during a career which lasted from the 1930s to the 1980s he worked and recorded with many of the most famous jazz musicians of his time, including Benny Carter, Don Redman, Dizzy Gillespie, Bessie...

, Bobby Watson

Bobby Watson

Bobby Watson is an American post-bop jazz alto saxophonist, composer, producer, and educator. Watson now has 26 recordings as a leader. He appears on nearly 100 other recordings as either co-leader or in a supporting role...

, and Red Richards

Red Richards

Charles Coleridge "Red" Richards was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:...

. George Kelly reprised his role in this later ensemble as well.