[ Original Dixieland Jazz Band ]
Overview:
This all-White group came north fully one year BEFORE the Black exodus that followed the closing of 'Storytown', -the New Orleans Red-Light district. Led by drummer, Johnny Stein, the quintet were booked into Chicago's Schiller Cafe. In Chicago, the four musicians left Stein and formed their own group with Nick LaRocca as titular head. They found great success and were eventually booked into New York's Reisenweber's Restaurant, at Eighth Avenue near Columbus Circle. It was a three story building that had famed vaudevillian Gus Edwards and his review on the first floor; The ODJB and their hot jazz on the second floor, and Emil Coleman's orchestra on the third floor, where the restaurant's society patrons could dine and dance the night away. (Sophie Tucker was appearing their also.)

Here's a photograph of The ODJB, often referred to as America's first all-white jazz band (originally formed in 1914), which still has Nick La Rocca on Trumpet; Alcide "Kid Yellow" Nunez on clarinet; Eddie Edwards on trombone; and the rhythm was supplied by Tony Spargo (né: Sbarbaro) on drums and Henry Ragas on the piano. Here's one of their earliest Hits, Palesteena, (554 kb), as played by the ODJB (digitally re-recorded by Mr Verne Buland). The band had originally come north with Alcide " Kid Yellow" Nunez on the trombone, but Nunez and LaRocca were not compatible, and they traded Nunez to Tom Brown's Dixieland Jazz Band in exchange for Larry Shields.

Dominick James La Rocca (Nick), b. April 11, 1889, New Orleans, LA. Nick played with the "Papa" Laine Band in New Orleans, and may have learned his music there. During his lifetime, Nick vociferously claimed to have invented Jazz claiming that certain negro musicians had been given too much credit. Against this claim, it is interesting to note that before leaving their home town of New Orleans, the band that many members of the ODJB listened to was Joe 'King" Oliver's Creole Jazz Band.

In New York, a hub of recording activity, the ODJB became the very first to record the new Jazz sounds. At Victor's studios in Feb. 26, 1917, they cut "Livery Stable Blues" and "The Original Dixieland One Step". The record was a smash hit.

The top musicians then in New York flocked to their shows. Stride pianist James P. Johnson was thrilled and even Bix Beidebecke was totally enthalled when he later heard them at New York's Balconades. Among the songs that the ODJB played four or five times nightly during 1919, and that were to become Jazz standards were: "Jazz Me Blues"; "At The Jazz Band Ball"; "Sensation Rag"; "For Me and My Gal"; "After You've Gone"; "Ja Da"; "Indiana", and "Tiger Rag'. Bandleader Vincent Lopez was often in the audience, also enthralled by the new music. He later recalled that "Dark Town Strutter's Ball" was his favorite. This song, composed by Shelton Brooks would make Joe Frisco a star, when he did a shuffle dance while outfitted with a black derby and smoking a cigar. It is worth noting that while the ODJB was entertaining New Yorkers, the NORK were working their musical magic on Chicagoans.

In 1919, the ODJB sailed for London, where they scored an even greater success than at Reisenbweber's. Before the band left for it's sensational tour of England, Ragas died, and his place was taken by J. Russell Robinson. Edwards declined the trip to England and he was replaced by Emil Christian. The group broke up in 1925.

What a great time that must have been for American Popular Song. Irving Berlin was waiting tables at Reisenweber's, writing poetry on his shirtcuffs for patrons like Sophie Tucker and Al Jolson.

Nick La Rocca was active in music until 1938, when he became a building contractor (while writing music on the side). Nick's son - still in New Orleans - is very active and carrys on the tradition. The ODJB is alive and well today (5-2000).

   [ The Original Indiana Five ]
This photo of The Orig. Indiana 5 does show just Five men, but they actually were a 6 piece New York City area band (none of them ever saw Indiana) that cut about 100 records for several record companies using many different band names. Among the names used was John Sylvester and his Orch.. From 1923, they recorded for the Olympic group of labels, including Olympic, La Belle, and Triangle, mostly as The (Original) Indiana Syncopators, including such songs as "Bees Knees", and "Two Time Dan". From 1923-'24, they recorded for the Pathe' labels including Pathe, Perfect, and Apex, also as 'John Sylvester and His Orch.' There are also 3 rare Gennett sides including a very hot "Sweet Georgia Brown", rec'd May 1, 1925 (and here digitally re-engineered by Mr. Verne Buland). They made numerous radio broadcasts and became quite popular in their area.

They were most active during 1923-27, and during that time, the band's makeup varied and had such men as: (The sidenotes are a result of research by Michael May of Harrisburg, PA, USA)
Tom Morton - dms/leader;
Johnny Sylvester - tp;
James Christie - tp;
Tony Tortomas - tp (started when he was 10 years old and loved playing the trumpet -always practising, . After the Indiana Five days he played with studio bands, including Vincent Lopez, NBC Symphony Orchestra with Arturo Toscinini. He died in 1954)
Vincent Grande - tb;
Pete Pellizzi - tb (quite an individual voice of the1920s; -didn't sound like Miff Mole or anyone else; had his own taste, his own character. Pete's son Nicholas, himself a drummer in the 1940s - 50s, worked at Nick', a Jazz clubs in New York City, has said that . there was an OI5 reunion band in 1948 but Tom Morton chose not to return so he (Nicholas) sat in on drums. Harry Ford was there and performed. No records were cut. In the 1950s Pete played in a lot of bands, e.g., behind Frank Sinatra. Pete's wife passed away in early 1999 ) ;
Nick Vitalo - cl; (avid fan of ice hockey. Often took his sons to see the Rangers Ice Hockey team playing in New York. Nick was involved with music all his life. Had a brother and sister. )
Newman Fier - pno;
Harry Ford - pno (who also played in Magee's Dixielanders. Ford's real name was Moskowitz and was active into the late 1950s. He had two children.);
Tony Colucci - bjo;
Benny Davis - voc;