Glover Compton facts for kids

John Glover Compton (born January 6, 1884 – died June 11, 1964) was an American ragtime and jazz pianist. He was usually known as Glover Compton. He was a talented musician who played a key role in the early days of jazz and ragtime music.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Glover Compton was born in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, in 1884. He started his music career as a pianist and entertainer around 1904 in Louisville. In that same year, he met another pianist named Tony Jackson. They worked together to create a song called "The Clock of Time." Parts of this song were later used in a popular tune from 1922, "My Daddy Rocks Me (With One Steady Roll)."

Compton traveled a lot as a piano player. He performed in many cities, including Chicago in 1906. He also spent time playing music in places like Wyoming, Washington, and New York.

Building a Career and Collaborations

In 1911, Glover Compton married a singer named Nettie Lewis. They moved to Chicago, where he lived with his wife and mother. He often performed as a duo with Tony Jackson. He also played the piano to accompany his wife's singing.

Compton worked with many famous musicians of his time. He collaborated with composer Shelton Brooks, who dedicated his 1916 song "Walkin' the Dog" to Compton. Glover also performed in San Francisco, where he met and played with jazz legends like Jelly Roll Morton, Florence Mills, and Ada "Bricktop" Smith. Between 1917 and 1919, Compton and his wife also worked in Los Angeles and Seattle. After that, they returned to Chicago.

Recording and International Performances

For several years, Glover Compton mainly worked in Chicago and Seattle. He played with small bands that included talented artists like singer Alberta Hunter, clarinet player Jimmie Noone, and drummer Ollie Powers. In 1923, Compton made recordings with Powers' Harmony Syncopators. This group later became known as J. Glover Compton and the Syncopators. He also traveled to New York to record music with Alberta Hunter.

In 1926, "Bricktop" invited Compton to perform at her famous cafe, Chez Bricktop, in Paris, France. He played with the cafe's band, The Palm Beach Six. Sometimes, he also performed with the well-known musician Sidney Bechet. Compton continued to work in Paris even after Bechet left the country due to an incident. He also returned to New York to perform during this time. His last trip to play music in Paris was in 1939.

Later Years and Legacy

In the 1940s, Glover Compton and his wife moved back to Chicago. He continued to play music there, working again with Jimmie Noone. In 1949, he was interviewed by Rudi Blesh for his book They All Played Ragtime, which tells the story of ragtime music.

In the early 1950s, Compton opened his own bar in Chicago. He was recorded performing there in 1956 for an album called Meet Glover Compton. In 1957, his health declined, and he passed away in 1964 at the age of 80. Glover Compton's contributions helped shape the sound of early ragtime and jazz music.