He (Waldron) died in 1955, so I always wished I could have studied longer with him. I didn’t know much about his music background. I was playing music every weekend with the Dave Lewis Combo for teen dances around Seattle and at various high schools. So I was able to apply his music teaching lessons while playing in the band on Friday and Saturday nights.
I learned more about his excellent music background while reading the newspaper on February 12, 2002. The Seattle PI published an article in the Life and Arts section entitled “Seattle’s Black History” by Cecilia Goodnow. There was a large photo of Black musicians in the Wang Doodle Orchestra. Frank Waldron was holding a trumpet, although he was better known as a sax player. The picture was around 1915.
That was my first knowledge that Frank Waldron was a giant in the music field. I was so surprised, I saved the article. I learned so much from him in such a short time. I often wondered how much my knowledge of music would have improved during my years at high school had he lived longer.
Listen to the full content of Barney’s story linked below.
About Frank Waldron (1890–1955)
Frank Waldron was a legendary Seattle jazz veteran and 1930s jazz giant. A multi-instrumentalist known primarily as a saxophonist, Waldron taught generations of Seattle musicians, including Quincy Jones, Jabo Ward, and Barney Hilliard. He was a central figure in the Pacific Northwest’s Black music community.
Learn more:
- Frank Waldron biography — BlackPast.org
- About Barney Hilliard’s career – Seattle’s Black Music History — NW Music Archives
Transcript recorded November 26, 2021, for the Black Heritage Society of Washington State.