This 1990 release from Collectables contains 14 tracks.
Johnny Sparrow was born in Grenada, in the British West Indies. In the mid-1940s, he played the saxophone in the Jay McShann, Lionel Hampton and Louis Armstrong orchestras, before striking out on his own in '49 when he formed his own band, Johnny Sparrow and His Bows and Arrows. The group was based in Philadelphia, and in 1952 began recording for the Gotham label. (Gotham was formed in New York City in 1946 by Sam Goode [Goody] and Irvin Ballen but moved to Philadelphia in 1948 when Ballen bought out Goode's interest.) His Gotham releases used some anonymous musicians in groups that ranged from a 3 piece rhythm group to a full blown band with trombone, flute, baritone sax, vibes, and piano.
This CD contains selections from his Gotham sessions, and Collectables includes it in their "Hot Jazz Series." But back in the 1950s, Allan Freed used to play some of Johnny's tunes on his radio show on WINS in New York City - early rock 'n' roll instrumentals. Not every track on this CD would qualify as "rock 'n' roll," but there are enough "jump" instrumentals here for you to include this CD in your "early rock/r&b" collection.
Johnny died on April 24, 1990.
Tracks:
1. Boudoir Boogie
2. When Your Lover Has Gone
3. Paradise Rock
4. What's New
5. Serenade To Satchmo
6. Always
7.Indiana
8. Jump Steady
9. Sparrow's Flight No. 2
10. Sparrow In The Barrel
11. I'll See You In My Dreams
12. Yesterdays
13. Am I Blue
14. What's New
