David Albert "Panama" Francis (December 21, 1918
in Miami, Florida – November 13, 2001 in Orlando, Florida) was an American
swing jazz drummer.
His distinctive "slowing down" swing style
anticipated rock steady, and his drumming brought order and focus to
interactions with jazz musicians and dancers. His philosophy of the drummer as
boss worked brilliantly on stage - but made for stormy scenes elsewhere.
Born in Miami, Panama's father was Haitian, while his mother
came from an English property-owning background in the Bahamas. Their clash of
cultures and temperaments underpinned their son's responses to the iniquities
of the American music scene. He progressed through local marching and jazz
bands to touring the south with George Kelly's Cavaliers in the 1930s.
Having heard his idol, Chick Webb, broadcasting from the
Savoy ballroom in Harlem, he moved to New York in 1938, making his mark in
after-hours sessions. Early collaborations included Tab Smith and Billy Hick's
Sizzling Six. An invitation to join Roy Eldridge - who provided the Panama
nickname - followed, and within six months he had made it to the Savoy as a
member of the Lucky Millinder Orchestra. This proved the six most enjoyable
years of his life, stimulating dancers and driving the band. After the Second
World War, however, a dispute with Lucky resulted in his departure.
Following an unsuccessful attempt to launch his own swing
band at the Savoy in 1946, Panama spent five years touring with the Cab
Calloway Orchestra; discipline was strict, but the pay was good. He then spent
a month with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, whose elegant informality was a
culture shock after Calloway.
Panama soon settled into studio work. As rhythm and blues
and rock and roll went mainstream Francis became even more sought after. He
drummed on the Elvis Presley demos, and he is featured on hits by the Four
Seasons ("Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like a Man"), the
Platters ("Only You", "The Great Pretender", "Smoke
Gets in Your Eyes" and "My Prayer"), Bobby Darin ("Splish
Splash"), Neil Sedaka ("Calendar Girl"), and Dion ("The Wanderer").
Among the 1950s hits he played on were the Colonel Bogey
march from the film The Bridge Over The River Kwai and Jackie Wilson's Reet
Petite. His distinctive double beat featured at the start of the original
Barbie Gaye version of My Boy Lollipop, replicated by Millie on her British hit
version. In the 1960s, Panama's arrangement of Perez Prado's Patricia put it
into the American charts for 15 weeks.
Here's "
Panama The Drummer Boy" from above 1959 album.
Panama then worked as personal drummer for Dinah Shore, and
Ray Conniff. He also played with Tommy Dorsey and Sy Oliver,
becoming a highly successful studio drummer. He recorded with John Lee Hooker,
Eubie Blake, Ella Fitzgerald, Illinois Jacquet, Ray Charles, Mahalia Jackson
and Big Joe Turner.
Later gigs included a musician role in the Diana Ross biopic
about Billie Holiday, Lady Sings The Blues, and an improbable recording date
with Madonna.
Despite snide remarks by other musicians about becoming a
rock 'n' roll drummer, he never gave up on jazz, playing festivals on the
George Wein circuit and, in 1979, reforming the Savoy Sultans - the other major
Savoy band of his time. Leading his own swing outfit, he toured the United
States, Europe and Asia, including memorable residencies at Manhattan's Rainbow
Rooms and Ronnie Scott's in London in the early 1980s. Neither did he forget
the dancers; at Carnegie Hall, he brought former Savoy Lindy Hoppers on stage
to demonstrate the music's real purpose.
Francis received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues
Foundation in 1993 and was also inducted into the Smithsonian National Museum
of American History. His drum sticks are on display at the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame.
Panama's wide interests included African-American history.
The ups and downs of his private life, apart from an on-going relationship with
his daughter Naomi, were resolved with his marriage to his last wife, Alyce,
and reconciliations with children of previous relationships. Health problems
curtailed his performing career,but he notably featured with the 1995 Golden
Men of Jazz, led by Lionel Hampton.
(Info mainly edited from an article by Terry Monaghan @ The
Guardian)
5 comments:
For “Panama Francis and the Savoy Sultans – Everything Swings” go here:
http://www114.zippyshare.com/v/iVONgQBd/file.html
1. Air Mail Special 4:35
2. Stolen Sweets 4:55
3. Stompin’ At The Savoy 4:40
4. Sentimental Journey 7:00
5. It Don’t Mean A Thing 3:24
6. In The Mood 4:27
7. Just You, Just Me 4:24
8. Take The A Train 4:58
9. Funky Willie 3:43
10. Undecided 3:17
Recorded in NYC, 1984
trumpets: Spanky Davis, Irvin Stokes
reeds: Bobby Watson, Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr, George Kelly, Phil Bodner
piano: Sammy Benskin
guitar: John Smith
bass: Bill Pemberton
drums: Panama Francis
Panama Francis' Savoy Sultans was one of the top mainstream jazz combos of the late '70s and early '80s, reviving the joy of small-group swing with its riffing and concise but heated solos. This excellent effort, its fourth and thus far final recording, finds the group expanding to ten pieces and featuring hot solos from the likes of trumpeters Irv Stokes and Spanky Davis, veteran tenor George Kelly and (in a bit of a surprise) the modern but flexible altoist Bobby Watson. Sticking mostly to swing standards, the Savoy Sultans uplift and bring joy to such songs as "Air Mail Special," "Stomping at the Savoy," "In the Mood" and "Just You, Just Me." (Scott Yarrow – All Music Guide0
Thanks Bob. Never knew he had played on such a wide range of recordings.
Hi Bob, can you honor Panama this year by renewing this link? Thank you!
Hello paulo, here's the new link
https://www.upload.ee/files/14600068/Panama_Francis_Swings.rar.html
Thank you very much!
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