Dear Jazz Enthusiasts, Musicians, Music Students & art lovers (for your Jazz-loving Aunts/Uncles)
Available on PRIME, softcover, hardcover & AUDIO. Big 14pt font.

The SWINGIN' THE BLUES compendium book series (4 volumes) is an authorized biography by Topsy M. Durham, the daughter of Eddie Durham (1906-1987), focusing on the musical careers of the Durham Brothers Orchestra. This series is the only detailed chronicle of Eddie Durham and his entire musical family.

Volume 1, titled "The Virtuosity of Eddie Durham," along with Volume 2, titled "Eddie Durham & The Ladies of Jazz," features the stunning book cover artwork by Chuck Frazier. His cover designs are as impressive as the biographies themselves!

Volume 2, titled "Eddie Durham & the Ladies of Jazz," pays tribute to all the women—past and present—who performed with the Durham Brothers for over fifty years. The 1940s marked the height of Eddie's publicity and financial success, during which he dedicated himself to leading all-girl orchestras as their musical director. Prepare to be captivated by the global spotlight and publicity that female orchestras received during the World War II era. This book unveils Eddie's monumental yet often overlooked contribution to their success and contains over 100 stunning pictures.

Eddie Durham served as the musical director, mentor, and arranger for orchestras Ina Ray Hutton and her Melodears, and The International Sweethearts of Rhythm and The Darlings of Rhythm.
In 1943, the Eddie Durham All-Star Girl Orchestra (formed by merging the best members of The Sweethearts and the Harlem Playgirls) were teamed up with Ella Fitzgerald by her Management.

Up until 1955 Eddie Durham traveled with his own vocal and brass quintet, The Durhamettes.

Eddie shared his adventures with his 5 children and a close-knit group of friends. The timeline of his activities in the 1940s, includes verified personnel and venues as chronicled in news articles. Later, in the mid-1950s, Eddie collaborated with artists such as Thelma Baxter, Annie Laurie, and Dinah Washington. He served as the Musical Director and arranger for Sarah McLawler and the Synchoettes, where they backed headlining artists like Billie Holiday, and sometimes college student Quincy Jones came in to be mentored.

Volume 1, titled "The Virtuosity of Eddie Durham (1900-1940)," immerses readers in the rich tapestry of his childhood and his remarkable musical career from 1906 to 1940. It features the debut of a discography of The Durham Brothers Orchestra. In 1927, they toured with the vaudeville extravaganza "Mamie Smith 7-11." Eddie recorded on banjo in 1929, just a few months after his iconic, historical recordings with Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra, an event that would resonate through musical history. During the 1930s, he performed on, choreographed, wrote, and arranged massive hits for artists Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, including singers Billie Holiday, Helen Forrest, Helen Humes, June Richmond, Marion Hutton, Kay Starr, Myra Taylor. Eddie briefly mentored Mary Lou Williams and Charlie Christian.

2022 Vol.4-"Eddie Durham with the Harlem Blues & Jazz Band 1977-1987" This volume unveils the magnificent decade-long detailed tour diary of Swedish band manager Albert Vollmer, featuring over 100 photos and collages.

2026: Vol.3-"Eddie Durham - A Century of Secrets" 1947-1980 forthcoming.

This Series is self-published. Thank you for your support and mostly, for your REVIEW on Amazon.

2024: See the Documentary "WHAM REBOP BOOMBAM-The Swing Jazz of Eddie Durham," on PBS (USA only).

The mid-October Eddie Durham Festival is held in the Eddie Durham Park, San Marcos, Texas, USA 78667. See

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