Willie Bryant

Willie Bryant was significant to music twice in his career, as the leader of a talented big band during 1935-38 and as a popular MC and disc jockey in the 1950's. He grew up in Chicago and tried unsuccessfully to learn the trumpet. Bryant began his career in show business in 1926, working as a dancer in the Whitman Sisters' Show. He performed in vaudeville for several years, was in the 1934 show Chocolate Revue and shared the stage with Bessie Smith, singing "Big Fat Ma and Skinny Pa." Bryant organized his big band in late 1934 and during the next few years they had six record...