Gene Coy

b. USA, d. 1966, California, USA. Formed in Amarillo, Texas, USA, during the mid-20s, Gene Coy’s dance band included sidemen such as Red Thompson, Alton Moore, Ted Manning, Clyde Durham, Ben Webster, Allen Durham, Isaiah Young, Oscar Cobb, Dick Wilson, Lester Taylor, Eddie Walker, Junior Raglin, Otto Sampson, Henry Powell, Andre Duryea, Charlie Lewis, ‘Bat’ Johnson, Tyree Johnson and Coy’s wife, Ann Coy. They embarked on a series of one-night engagements throughout the southern states of the USA, but as a black group the better venues were never open to them. By the 40s Coy had switched their base to San Francisco, and from there they concentrated on tours of the west coast. These performances soon extended further north and west, including bookings in Canada. Although they were never allowed the opportunity of recording any part of their stylish, energetic live act, they remained a popular attraction into the late 50s.