ABSTRACT

Luck’s in My Corner is a comprehensive biography of one of the most compelling jazz musicians of the Swing Era, Oran "Hot Lips’ Page. Page was the greatest of the Kansas City trumpeters, whose crackling, growling solos made him the go-to man during Count Basie’s earliest days as a bandleader. Page went on to be a featured trumpeter with Artie Shaw, a star of New York’s 52nd street, and a pioneer of the R & B scene of the 1950s. This book presents an in-depth chronology of Page’s career, with special attention paid to the development of his trumpet style.

Luck’s in My Corner examines the life and music of a forgotten figure of the Swing Era and returns him to his rightful place as a leading light in the world of jazz. Todd Bryant Weeks has combined genealogical, musicological, discographical and historical research, resulting in a revealing and entertaining examination of a life that spanned major changes in American popular music. This book includes a new and complete discography by the author and dozens of unpublished photos.

chapter |2 pages

Prelude

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

part I|39 pages

Texas

chapter 1|3 pages

Cuero 1900

chapter 2|14 pages

Black Dallas

chapter 3|8 pages

Goin' to the Territory 1923–1927 1

chapter 4|12 pages

Texas Trumpeter

part II|60 pages

Barnstorming

chapter 5|22 pages

The Blue Devils

chapter 6|9 pages

Ya Got Love 1931

chapter 7|17 pages

With Bennie 1931–1935

chapter 8|10 pages

Kansas City Man

part III|100 pages

Luck's In My Corner

chapter 9|16 pages

Home to Harlem 1936–1939

chapter 10|21 pages

The Street 1939–1941

chapter 11|27 pages

The Big Time 1941–1945

chapter 12|15 pages

Jumpin' Uptown 1945–1949

chapter 13|19 pages

Open the Door Richard 1949–1954

chapter |7 pages

Epilogue: Miss Larceny

chapter |3 pages

Coda: Mr. After Hours