Charles Creath was one of the principal leaders in St. Louis from 1928 onwards. A Missouri man himself, and able to play saxophone and accordian as well as trumpet, he established himself as a brass player first and foremost; it is said that he could and did break up a razor fight in a dance hall with one powerful note!

His sister Marge was a pianist who married drummer Zutty Singleton from Louisiana, and it was Zutty whose powerful drums were part of his brother-in-law’s rhythm section on the third Creath record session. It is interesting to note that the trombonist on this occasion was Sonny Lee, who was a White musician from Frank Trumbauer’s Orchestra at the Arcadia Ballroom in St. Louis, and he fits the general Creath pattern perfectly.

by Brian Rust (from the liner notes of Jazz In Saint Louis 1924 – 1927 on Timeless Records)

If you would like to order the Timeless Records’ CD of Jazz In Saint Louis 1924 – 1927 you can do so direct from Timeless Records.