My mother and I started this blog last February as a labor of love. When we began this project, we simply wanted to find out more about the man: my Great, Grandfather Bob Effros. This blog has become so much than we ever imagined.
We are inspired by other relatives and descendants of Jazz & Blues musicians from the 1920's and 1930's exploring their family history. Through these new friends and acquaintances, we have found out more about Bob and other talents from "Big Band and Swing" era.
Relatives of famous artists such as Ben Selvin and The Boswell Sisters have reached out to us and shared knowledge and excitement about these acclaimed musicians. These discussions have lead us to more information about this era and the stars who made the amazing songs, captivating people around the world to this day!
With this influx of findings, we are starting to solve the mystery of who Bob Effros really was and the exciting life he experienced. This post is a big thank you to the many people who have connected with us, and are helping us along our journey. We still would love to know who made up Bob's entourage and we can use your help. If you have any information about Bob Effros or the people he played music and travelled with in Europe and along the Mississippi River, please contact us. Our emails are listed below or add to the comment section.
Robert "Bob" Effros was
born December 6th, 1900 in London, England. At the age of three, his Russian
Jewish immigrant family moved to Memphis, Tennessee.
Raised in the South strongly influenced the
foundations of Jazz trumpet Bob played throughout his illustrious musical
career. Bob ran away from home at age eleven and had a job as a “purser” on a
Mississippi river boat. Along the “Great
Delta” he learned to play the coronet leading him to his true love; the
trumpet. His course of trumpet playing began by following the leads of
"King Oliver".
Between 1917 and 1919, Bob served
as a bugler in the United States Army. After the war ended, Bob settled down in
Baltimore playing under big band leader, Bea Palmer. Throughout the 20's, Bob
played the trumpet as a member of the Vincent Lopez Orchestra. The trumpeter
flourished in this environment leading him to compose over a dozen hit songs
such as: "Why The Twenties Roared", "Tin Ear"
"Cornfed" and "Why Don't You Get Lost?" Much of Bob's success can be attributed to his
trumpet performances with great band leaders such as: Vincent Lopez, Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, Sam Lanin, Red
Nichols, Harry Reser & Ben Selvin.
Bob Effros’ sizzling, trumpet can
be heard on over 125 recordings along with the hottest “jazz sideman”. A
partial list include: Jimmy & Tommy Dorsey, Xavier Cugat, Al Jolson, Joe
Venuti, Joe Tarto, Jimmy Durante, Wash Board Sam, W.C. Handy, Scrappy Lambert, Red Nichols
& Fats Waller. He is also known for
being chosen by Paul Whiteman to fill in for the legendary trumpeter Bix Beiderbecke.
Jazz women singers such as Annette Hanshaw, Bessie
Smith, The Boswell Sisters, Mae Questal, Fanny Brice and Ethel Waters are just a few of the powerful, enchanting vocalists whom Bob
Effros enjoyed performing trumpet.
The Vincent Lopez Orchestra
toured Europe extensively. The most infamous trip was in 1925, on the Ship Leviathan. Effros, Cugat, Tarto and others had to
smuggle their instruments on board per Lopez instructions. The Orchestra toured for two months at the
Kit Kat Club, Piccadilly Palace and other hot British Clubs.
Bob performed and had great stories working with Max Fleischer Orchestra for countless zany cartoons like: “Betty Boop”,
Pop-Eye, and "Felix the Cat" (Mel Blanc Cartoons).
( Bob Effros Archives, Copyright Protected. Not for reproduction)
Vitaphone label hired Effros as a house
musician where he joined a group of up-and-coming bandleaders including the
sizzling banjo player, Harry Reser. Bob performed and composed “Memr’y of This
Dance” with the great bandleader/violinist, Ben Selvin. Ben and Bob are known for their recorded humorous
laughter and remained life, long friends.
By 1929, Bob was leading his own
orchestra and churning out hits such as "Sweet and Hot", an ode to
Chinese soup. Bob was a staple in the radio studios through the 1930’s and 1940's
with The Hit Parade, Camel Hour and Philco Radio Hours.
He settled in and made
a home in Queens, NY. It was here that
he met his wife, our Grandma of blessed memory, Selma Sternick. They had two sons, George and Alan Effros. Bob Effros enjoyed weekends with his six
grandchildren. He lived a healthy, happy
life and died in his sleep at age 83.
Music, family and friends made him one of the happiest people one could
ever meet.
Happy Birthday Grandpa and Great Grandpa Bob! We thought about time for a
an updated biography! Written by: Barbara Effros, 1st Granddaughter and Jonathan Schwartz, 1st Great Grandson
A few weeks ago, many viewers tuned into the History Channel to watch a two-part miniseries about the most famous magician the world has ever known: the great Houdini. When I was younger, my mom would tell me stories about the amazing spectacles Houdini performed. As a kid, I was ecstatic to find Harry Houdini's signature in my great grandpa Bob's autograph book.
I wanted to find out how the world's most recognized magician could have come to know my great grandfather. After doing research on the subject, I discovered that Bob Effros and Harry Houdini both belonged to the St. Cecile Masonic Lodge #568 (Lodge of the Arts) in New York City. This Masonic Lodge had many famous musicians and entertainers such as Irving Berlin, Vincent Lopez, Al Jolson, and Paul Whiteman.
If you have been a fan of our humble blog for some time, you will remember one of my first posts about great grandpa Bob's magic quarter trick. Bob was fascinated by all forms of entertainment, and he loved magic tricks. According to various members of the Effros family, Bob claimed that he learned several of his magic tricks from the great Houdini himself! One of these tricks included Bob putting a cigarette out on his tongue without being hurt or burned.
Not your typical Betty Boop cartoon! Graveyard scenes, tears, fears with a happpy ending. Grandpa Bob Effros played trumpet in many classic cartoons. Here is great jazz intro featuring Cab Calloway. Click arrow for some mind blowing entertainment!
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaZOXF83zBg&sns=em
Rated PG-13 by yours truly, Barbara & Jonathan.
Jazz influences and big band orchestras music on cartoons of the 1920's and 30's was powerful. Opening of "Minnie the Moocher" 1932 features fabulous Cab Calloway. Awesome dance movements and rythm band! Remind you of anyone of post 1960?
Cab Calloway became one of the most popular entertainers of the1930's and 40s, following success of his first hit "Minnie the Moocher". Success did not come easy for Calloway. He became famous through perseverance and hard work. Calloway also went to law school until he met a man who would change his life forever. Calloway met Louis Armstrong, who tutored him in the art of scat singing (using nonsensical sounds to improvise melodies)" (1)
According to grandpa and other knowledgeable sources we can say: Bob Effros probably did the laughter in the graveyard for this Betty Boop Cartoon. He played trumpet on countless Max Fleischer cartoons including Betty Boop, Popeye, Donald Duck. As children, we always told our friends " listen to our grandpa on these cartoons!" As young ones we knew little about his impressive career in Jazz Big Bands.
A wonderful personal memory: meeting Mae Questel, Grandpa's friend and better known as the voice of of over 150 "Betty Boop" cartoons. At 11 years old, I was skeptical of all the famous people Grandpa claimed to know. (Remember, this blog is a journey of research, joy and love, delving into Bob Effros' jazz music, life and legacy).
I met Mae Questel in Forrest Hills, New York at my grandparents apartment. She told us "when she was 17, she won a local contest for a girl that sounded and resembled famous singer Helen Kane, whom resembled Max Fleisher's sexy, witty cartoon character." According to IMDB, "Mae Questel came from an Orthodox Jewish family whom deeply disapproved of her having an entertainment career and had their wills drawn up accordingly." In the last years of her life, she starred in a Woody Allen movie - she showed them show biz can be a real career!
Mae Questel
I was only convinced by Mae of her identity, when she did her "Betty Boop" voices along with hilarious sounds imitating voices of "Popeye", "Olive Oyl" and the quacking voice of "Donald Duck". Grandpa Bob was also infamous for his celebrity impressions. The two of them completely delighted us grandchildren - whom adored these cartoons, and of course remain major fans. Any writing of "Betty Boop", credit must be given to Mae Questel's influences, not only to Helen Kane (photos below) but Esther Jones, known as "Baby Esther" a wonderful early African American Jazz singer.
Helen Kane
Note:"there is quite a bit of evidence showing that Kane stole her schtick from a Black woman named Esther Jones who went by the stage name Baby Esther. (2)
Jones, an African American singer in the late ’20′s, worked regularly at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Jones was known for singing in a distinctive baby voice. Her signature song was” I Wanna Be Loved By You” where she scatted the lines "Boop oop a doop.”
Esther Jones aka "Baby Esther"
Credits with more on Max Fleischer and other cartoons in future posts.
"Minnie the Moocher" was banned due to early censorship laws. People felt that the content of the video was too mature be shown as a cartoon. To the best of our knowledge this cartoon and image are public domain. If not, please advise, and they will respectfully be removed.
Grandpa Bob knew all these wonderful women through his performing. Wish I could recall every detail of these fabulous female jazz singers!
A personal family favorite composed by Grandpa Bob Effros and friend, Phil Wall. The group is most likely "Roane's Pennsylvanians" under the pseudonym of "Calloway's Hot Shots". Cab Calloway and numerous others bands recorded this humerous, satiricle break up song.
Band spin off's and credits are often difficult to authenticate. Liner notes and orchestra credits were minimal at best. Roane's Pennslyvannnian's were a group of Irish family brothers whom did not seem to get the recognition they were due.
Enjoy the lyrics! A jealous, silly break up love song that we can all relate to at one time or another. A genuine sense of our Grandpa's humor!
The credits I have found for this version are:
Vocals by Cliff Nazarro (a popular comedian of the 20's and 30's) The orchestra includes: Harry Berman, Louis Martino, Terry Page, Dyke Bittenbender, Johnny Nadlinger, Joe Allard, Paul Savage and Herbert Lee. (Corrections welcome). Thank you Kevin Mueller for posting. http://youtu.be/Z8aRuiAwb_4
Call it intituition. Call it a familiar feeling. Call it whatever you want to call it. I may have never met my great grandfather but I have come to a strong understanding that I know the man he was. Bob Effros was a hard worker who put his family above everything. He influences me to be the man of principles that I am today.
My great grandfather not only worked to live, he lived to work. Playing music was not just a job for him, but also an outlet for expression. Jazz clubs in the 1930's and '40s allowed him to earn a living doing what he loved. While these clubs did well all year round, they were particularly popular in the summertime. It is for that reason that Bob loved the summer and considered it his favorite season. That same feeling of joy and excitement has been passed down to my generation and contributes to my love of the summer as well.
"Life is something like this trumpet. If you don't put anything in it you don't get anything out. And that's the truth". William C. Handy
Grandpa Bob adored W.C Handy: Memphis friend and fellow trumpeter known as "Father of the Blues".
At 11 years old, I composed my first letter to a US President. What was the pressing issue? Being a young stamp collector, grandpa urged me to write the US Government in support of a Postage stamp honoring the well deserved W.C Handy issued May 17, 1969.
Thanks to Dorian Henry for this "Memphis Blues" Lyrics below:
http://youtube/p1Jr0QgS1V8
"There's nothing like the Handy Band that played the Memphis Blues so grand.
Oh play them Blues.
That melancholy strain, that ever haunting refrain
Is like a sweet old sorrow song.
Here comes the very part that wraps a spell around my heart.
Tomorrow is Ella Fitzgerald's birthday. To celebrate this wonderful woman's career is a photo of her with Marilyn Monroe. The Mocambo club refused to book Ella Fitzgerald because of her race, until Marilyn Monroe said she'd reserve a front row.
Louis Armstrong plays trumpet for his wife, Lucille, in front of the Great Sphinx of the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt.
In the early 1900's, jazz music was not always played so freely. For quite some time, black and white jazz musicians were forbidden to play together in public. After playing on Mississippi Steam Boats, Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke began playing late night, after hours shows in Chicago in the 1920's. This was a big deal because Bix was a white man. But, you cannot stop the good song from being played! As we discovered through our research, Great Grandpa, Bob recorded with Armstrong and Beiderbecke during this period.
Photo credits: Louis Armstrong "Satchmo" and Bix Beiderbecke - approx. 1921
(photographer credits to follow)
As we all know, Louis Armstrong is an American Jazz legend. In our family he is considered a friend. His warmth and kindness towards Jewish people is remembered and outstretched to this very day. I believe that jamming with men like Great Grandpa Bob and Bix Beiderbecke cemented Armstrong's belief the music should not be segregated. Stay posted for music recorded by these great trumpeters!
P.S. Fun fact: Louis Armstrong spent part of his childhood with a Jewish family, the Karnofsky's of New Orleans. Armstrong's Jewish influences and music like "Go Down Moses" remains a key song at Passover Seder meals. Sources: Hentoff, Nat. "How Jazz Helped Hasten The Civil Rights Moment." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2014. "Louis Armstrong." 2014. The Biography Channel website.
Apr 06 2014, 09:13http://www.biography.com/people/louis-armstrong-9188912
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