The Chocolate Dandies

The name was used by different bands, and was taken from the title of an extremely successful 1924 show co-written by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle. The earliest ensemble using it was directed by Don Redman, and recorded for OKeh in 1928 and 1929. Recordings that Redman supervised for McKinney's Cotton Pickers also were issued under that name. During the early '30s, several groups under Benny Carter's leadership were called Chocolate Dandies. Coleman Hawkins was featured in editions of the group in both the '30s and '40s; others who were featured in subsequent editions included Max Kaminsky, Floyd O'Brien, Buck Clayton, plus members of both Carter's and Fletcher Henderson's bands. ~ Ron Wynn