BBR bass week kicks off with Walter “Big ‘Un” Page. Big ‘Un was from KC in the early 20th Cemtury and invented the practice of walking bass, a style which is used even today. He made his bones as part of the Blue Devils, a band which at one point featured a young Count Basie. When the Count formed his own band Big ‘Un joined that too, although he left to work in smaller groups. Upon his return to Basie, the latter said “Big ‘Un was ready to come back”. Basie valued Big ‘Un so much that when Duke Ellington wanted to hire him away from the Count, the latter convinced Duke to lay off by inventing a story that Page owed him money. We remember you today Big ‘Un, with the honor of debuting BBR bass week.
April 10, 2017
The Browns - with Love, always... 