Ford Dabney (1883-1958) is just a footnote in jazz history. A long-forgotten figure, if he is remembered at all it is for composing the jazz standard “Shine.” But as the extensive liner notes and the music reissued in Archeophone’s After Midnight point out, he was a significant contributor to the music of his era.
Dabney had a wide-ranging life, particularly for an African-American of the early 20th century. Born in Washington DC, he was well educated, sang in the church choir, and studied music extensively. After moving to New York in 1901, he played piano for society functions, worked as the personal pianist for the president of Haiti during 1903-06, and also performed in France and Germany. Back in the US, Dabney co-founded the Clef Club booking agency with James Reese Europe, went on the road with vaudeville groups, and during 1910-11 owned and ran a club in Washington DC. called Ford Dabney’s Theater. Dabney composed several popular numbers around this time including “Shine,” and he worked with James Reese Europe including playing piano on Europe’s groundbreaking recordings of 1913-14.
During 1914-22 Dabney led the house band for Florenz Ziegfeld’s Midnight Frolic shows. While he made test recordings in 1914 and 1916 that were unreleased, Dabney’s Syncopated Orchestra recorded around 60 titles during 1917-20 and three songs in 1922. After that period, while co
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