Panama Francis
Albert David "Panama" Francis ( born December 21, 1918 in Miami, † 13 November 2001 in Orlando ( Florida)) was an American jazz drummer of the swing and a well-known studio musicians in rock ' n ' roll and rhythm and blues.
Life and work
Francis played with 13 years in nightclubs in Miami ( where he picked up his mother after) and has performed in the band of saxophonist George Kelly. At age 19, he went to the parents' separation with his coming from Haiti father to New York, where he played with Tab Smith, Billy Hicks " Sizzling Six" and the orchestra by Roy Eldridge, of him because of his hat the nickname "Panama" gave. 1940 to 1947 he was in the band of Lucky Millinder and then to 1952 in Cab Calloway. Afterwards he was short on Slim Gaillard, played briefly with Duke Ellington and Tommy Dorsey and led his own band in 1953 in Montevideo, but then worked mainly as a much sought-after studio musician. He is inter alia to " Peggy Sue " by Buddy Holly, " The Wanderer" by Dion & The Belmonts, "What a Difference a Day Makes " by Dinah Washington, on plates of The Platters, The Coasters, The Four Seasons ( " Big Girls Do not Cry ," " Walk Like a Man " ), the Platters ( " Only You ", " the Great Pretender ", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" ), Bobby Darin ( " Splish Splash" ) and Ray Charles ( " Drown in my own tears" to hear ) and "Prisoner of Love " by James Brown. In 1959, he also played on recordings of the orchestra Ray Conniff. At the same time, he participated in sessions of mambo king Perez Prado. He also arranged Prados biggest hit " Patricia ". He also played with Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Big Joe Turner, Eubie Blake, John Lee Hooker and Illinois Jacquet.
From 1963 to 1968 he toured with singer Dinah Shore and then moved to California, where he played among others in 1972 with Teddy Wilson. In 1973 he went back to New York, where he played two years in the band by Sy Oliver. In the 1970s, he participated in various projects of the " Harlem Renaissance ", including in new editions of the band of Chick Webb at the Apollo Theater and - initiated by him - the " Savoy Sultans " (often in the 1940s alternated Milli DERs band and the Savoy Sultans in Harlem " Savoy Ballroom " from ) sporadically from 1974 and fixed tape from 1979. 1980 she won as best new group the " new York Jazz Award". 1980 to 1985 they resided in the "Rainbow Lounge". They released six plates (eg " Grooving " in 1982 and "Everything swings " at Stash ), two of which were nominated for a Grammy. In 1978 he played at the Newport Jazz Festival on the 50 - year celebration for Lionel Hampton and 1982 in a rematch of the Benny Goodman Quartet ( with Teddy Wilson and Hampton). He also appeared in the 1970s, a member of the " New York Jazz Repertory Company " and in the 1990s of "The Statesman of Jazz". Francis stepped up to kidney failure due to diabetes in 1996 ( he died in 2001 of a stroke ). In 1999 he published his autobiography, " Davis Gets his drum ."
Francis was married and had two sons and four daughters. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ( where his Drumsticks are issued ), honored in 1993 by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and. Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Francis was also seen in several films with Cab Calloway in 1950, but also for example in " Angel Heart " with Mickey Rourke and "Lady sings the blues " with Diana Ross, as well as in the Madonna video "Secrets".