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The Original Salty Dogs
In 1947, a group of Purdue University students formed the Salty Dogs Jazz Band. In the earliest
days of jazz, Indiana was the place where the great bands played, recorded and set down their
musical roots. The Salty Dogs Jazz Band was born from that tradition and they continue today
as living testament that great, hot jazz will live forever.
When the Salty Dogs left the Purdue campus in the early 1960s, a contingent continued at Purdue
as the band performed and spread the joy of traditional jazz across the United States. Today, with
the same personnel from the 1950s and with 40 additional years of experience and polish, they
are acclaimed as one of the foremost traditional jazz bands in the world.
The roots of the Salty Dogs dig deep to the early jazz musicians of the 1920s – Hoagy Carmichael,
King Oliver, The New Orleans Rhythm Kings, Jelly Roll Morton, Bix Biederbecke, Hitch's Happy Harmonists, and Louis Armstrong. They all recorded in Richmond, Indiana, and many of their
sidemen settled in the Chicago area. In the 1950s and 1960s, many of these players were still
active and performed side-by-side with members of the Salty Dogs. The list includes some of the greatest names in jazz history: Georg Brunis, Lil Armstrong, Quinn Wilson, Darnell Howard, George Lewis, Lou Black, Jim Lannigan, "Little Brother" Montgomery, "Banjo" Ikey Robinson, Franz
Jackson and a host of others who shared their music, knowledge and notes with theSalty Dogs.
When you listen to these Salty Dogs play, their music turns a concert into a party.
Lew Green (cornet) joined the group at Purdue in the mid-1950s. He is the son and nephew of the
famous Green Brothers -- prolific recording artists of the 1920s and '30s. Lew also performs with the
Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble of New Orleans. He and his wife, Mary, a pianist, perform
with Greens' New Novelty Orchestra and The Ragtime Evolution Quartet.
John Cooper (piano) was still in high school in Lafayette, Indiana, when he joined the Salty Dogs.
After graduating from Purdue, he moved to Chicago where he performed in a variety of clubs and
toured with the Dogs and other groups. His robust piano style is one of the strengths of the Salty
Dogs' unique sound.
Kim Cusack (clarinet) has been a Salty Dog since 1958. He also spent time with Smokey Stover,
recorded with Wild Bill Davidson, and performs with Jim Dapogny's band. Kim makes numerous
appearances as a guest artist at festivals throughout the year -- and we consider him the best
sax player in town, too.
Wayne Jones (drums) is one of the busiest drummers in the country and has been tagged by his
peers as "the best drummer in traditional jazz," in the February Mississippi Rag. He also performs
with Jim Dapogny, and performed in 1987 with Turk Murphy at his Carnegie Hall concert. Wayne
has been a "Dog" all his life.
Tom Bartlett (trombone) joined the Salty Dogs in 1959, then took a leave to spend time in the Peace
Corps and the Army. Tom is the arranger and session organizer. He brings a unique "tailgate" sound
to the band. He performs in a variety of bands in the Chicago area and on the West Coast.
Mike Walbridge (tuba) has been a Salty Dog since the late '50s. He spent a year with the Turk
Murphy Band in San Francisco and performed and recorded with the likes of Terry Waldo and the
Gutbucket Syncopators. He leads his own band, The Chicago Footwarmers, playing hot dance band
arrangements from the '20s and '30s.
Jack Kuncl (banjo) joined the band in the late 1960s after years of playing on Rush Street, State
Street and all around Chicago. He can also be seen in the Chicago Cubs Band at Wrigley Field.
Go Cubs!
Carol Leigh (vocals) is the first and only vocalist the Salty Dogs have ever had. She started with
the bands of San Francisco and recorded with Turk Murphy, Bob Helm, and others. Carol performs
regularly in Japan and France. She is featured on all the Salty Dogs' recordings since she joined
the band. Check out "Wild Woman" on GHB records.
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