Jimmy Cavallo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jimmy Cavallo
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Cavallo in 1949
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| Background information | |
| Born | March 14, 1927 Syracuse, New York, United States |
| Died | December 2, 2019 (aged 92) Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S. |
Jimmy Cavallo (born March 14, 1927 – died December 2, 2019) was an American musician. He was famous for his band, the Houserockers. They appeared in the 1956 movie Rock, Rock, Rock. This movie was promoted by the famous DJ Alan Freed. Jimmy and his band made history. They were the first white band to perform at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. This happened when their movie was released.
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Jimmy Cavallo's Early Music Days
When Jimmy Cavallo was in high school in Syracuse in the 1940s, he played music. He started in a swing band. He played the alto sax for harmony. But Jimmy wanted to play the main tune. He also wanted to sing and lead his own band.
He began listening to records by Louis Jordan. He learned many of these jump blues songs. Soon, he switched to the tenor sax. This instrument usually played the main melody in jump blues music. Around age 16, Jimmy started his own band. They mostly played at local weddings.
Jimmy Cavallo joined the United States Navy at the end of World War II. He took his saxophone with him. While serving in North Carolina and Washington DC, he spent his free time in clubs. He listened to the newest blues music. He also played with musicians who would become stars in rhythm and blues. This music later became known as rock and roll.
After leaving the Navy, Jimmy formed a new band. It was called the Jimmy Cavallo Quartet. They played on the Carolina beaches. This band was one of the first white R&B bands. They played songs by artists like Wynonie Harris and Louis Jordan. The band included Bobby Wrenn on drums, Max Alexander on bass, and Bobby Hass and Diz Utley on saxophones.
They played beach music in North Carolina from 1947 to 1948. In 1949, they had a regular show at a club called Bop City in Carolina Beach. Many dancers came to see them play.
Working with Alan Freed and Rock, Rock, Rock
In August 1956, Jimmy Cavallo's band played with famous artists. They performed with Fats Domino and Big Joe Turner. After this, they appeared in the movie Rock, Rock, Rock. They played the movie's title song and another tune called "The Big Beat."
The movie came out on December 5, 1956. At the same time, the Houserockers played at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. This was to help promote the movie. For their 10-day show, they had a big band join them. This band included musicians who had played with Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Playing at the Apollo Theater made the Houserockers famous. They were the first white rock 'n' roll band to perform there.
In 1957, they played all summer in Wildwood, New Jersey. Later, Alan Freed put them in another movie, Go, Johnny, Go, in 1959. Jimmy Cavallo's band also recorded many songs for different record labels.
Continuing to Perform and Record Music
Jimmy Cavallo loved to visit his hometown of Syracuse every summer. He would play a few shows there. His fans, even those in their 80s and 90s, would dance like they were young again. Jimmy also had regular performances in Florida.
In 2002, Jimmy played his first show in the United Kingdom. It was at the Rhythm Riot festival in England. The unique sound of two saxophones, which Jimmy used since the 1940s, continued to be a part of his music.
From 2006 to 2013, Cavallo performed regularly in Fort Lauderdale. He continued to play music even at age 92 in March 2019.
Jimmy Cavallo released several music CDs. These included Jimmy Cavallo Live at The Persian Terrace and Live At Freddy's. He also released Jimmy Cavallo and the Houserockers, Then and Now in 2006. Another CD, The Houserocker, came out in 2002. There is also a collection of all the songs Jimmy recorded from 1951 to 1973.
Jimmy celebrated his 89th birthday in 2016 by performing. He kept playing music even after he turned 90.
See also
In Spanish: Jimmy Cavallo para niños
