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Stomp Gordon - page 2 of 4

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   The next stapled picture in the nearly ruined book composed of string and construction paper was of a smiling, mature white woman, who resembles a baroness who was patron to Charlie "Yardbird" Parker in his last days, but in fact, according to Sheila Kidd, Stomp's surviving daughter, the woman is her mother. The woman had two children with Stomp, but did not want to a part of the children's lives and has insisted on remaining anonymous (She is now deceased).
   Included on the next page was a menu from the Bus Depot Lunch, open twenty-four hours in some unknown location, but hamburgers and barbecue beef deluxe baskets came with fries and coffee for $1.00.
   The next artifact in the book is probably in the best condition. The center of the art board is hand lettered "Stomp Gordon and His Orchestra," and the sepia photos that surround the lettering are four action shots of the mini-orchestra. The saxophonist is the legendary Hiawatha, Bruce Woode is holding his string bass at shoulder level, Chick has his drumsticks high and Stomp has his hands held high in a mock attack of the piano.
   The newspaper clippings contained here are long yellowed but very readable and the first is identified from the Philadelphia Daily News, February 26,1953. It is a twenty photo feature, "Around The Clubs" promoting the week's entertainers including stars Danny Thomas at the Latin Casino, pioneer Negro actor Mantan Moreland at the Town Tavern, jazz clarinetist Buddy DeFranco at the Blue Note, Buddy Greco at the Rendezvous and Stomp Gordon at the Butler Cafe.
   The next clipping must have been Stomp's favorite promo picture, he is perched on a very high stool, mouth open wide, hands high and bare feet flailing at the piano keys. The caption reads, "Look at him, old Toe Stomping Gordon wailing away up at Butler's cafe. This mad man, who plays piano with his toes, is making his first East coast appearance... is in such great demand that he is here for only one week."
   Another black and white photo is in superb condition of the five performers boarding a Delta airliner and posed with huge smiles. The photo is embossed "Pierce's Studio, Columbus, Ohio," so the boarding is likely at Port Columbus.
   The next item is pasted to construction paper and there is likely information hiding on the other side. The Joe G laser Agency promotion flyer says "Now Available...King of Bop and Boogie. The character who stomped his way to fame with his All Star Combo. Hottest Music In Town... in person Stomp Gordon, one ton of torrid rhythm.” A head shot of the leader is pasted on a cartoon of white hands playing an upright piano. Glaser was also agent-manager who directed Louis Armstrong's career.
   The next very yellowed articles document an appearance at 1042 Club by nationally loved jazz singer Billie Holiday, "America's No. 1 Song Stylist". Billie had lost her New York cabaret performing license due to felony drug charges and the 1042 Club was located as far from the Big Apple as possible; Anchorage, Alaska. "The other group is the Stomp Gordon Combo. Gordon, it will be recalled, he is the pianist who plays with his feet”. Admission was $2.50, with a $7.50 minimum, including setup and 1/2 pint of your favorite whiskey or drink.
   The aforementioned promo picture of Toe Stomping Gordon is pasted on the next leaf with two of his sidemen clear, Hiawatha and Bruce. At the bottom the glossy reads "Decca recording Artist, Associated Booking Corp., New York, Chicago, Hollywood”.
   The Gordon Orchestra traveled the roads of America in a 1955 Plymouth station wagon, Ohio license number E 12391 and Stomp seemed to pride himself in a growing collection of traffic violations. Municipal notices that appeared in his archives were from Wildwood, New Jersey (driveway); Philadelphia; Niagara Falls, New York (in alley); Montreal; Atlantic City; Atlanta (wrong way one way street); Goshen, New Jersey (speeding); (Green Bay (overtime parking); St. Louis (parked contrary to legal signs); and Columbus.
   He addressed a February 22,1953, letter to the Early Family in Columbus, "Hello Drake, Marvin, Nickademus, Bob, Louis and Leo/a. Hi sweet heart! Here is a ticket to add to my scrap book. Please Please save everything I send you.
   I am going to start putting you on my payroll. I am going to send you $10.00 each 9th day of the month to cover all of my postage that you send to me, OK? I will write more next time. Please hold all mail untiI I send for it. Stomp Gordon.”
   The next page has clippings from the Washington Daily News, February 19,1953, entitled "Tips On Tables" under a byline by Ray Keziah. "On first glance he looks like the Wildman From Borneo. I had just sat down to catch the Blue Mirror's Seven Star Holiday Revue...and it happened Stomp Gordon and his Combo made their entrance. Dig this...Stomp's musical attire consists of zoot pants, a zebra length drape coat with waist-length flowing yellow handkerchief and a head of hair that would make Charles Antell cry. And Stomp's music is just as wild as his outfit. On one jam session they paraded 'round the room on the tables, under the tables and almost climbed up the wall”.
   Dated September 11, 1954, is the Alaska Spotlight from Anchorage and it documents Stomp's complaint of racial discrimination. According to Stomp, who is alleging to be "a graduate and former football great of the Ohio State University,... upon arriving at the Last Chance his party was told by the girl at the door 'colored people aren't admitted.' However, the manager, upon hearing the statement rushed forward and exclaimed, ' Oh no, that's not the reason; you have no reservations”.

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