AUDIO: Chick Webb and his Orchestra Performing "Harlem Congo" 1937

Born William Henry Webb, know as Chick Webb was and American jazz ad swing music drummer. Born in Baltimore, he suffered from tuberculosis of the spine. He worked as a newspaper boy to save enough money to buy drums and he first played professionally at age 11. At the age of 17 he move to New York City and began leading his own band in Harlem. His band became the house band at the Savoy Ballroom. He became one of the best-regarded band leader and drummers of the new “Swing” style. Drumming legend Buddy Rich cited Webb’s technique and performances as heavily influential on his own drumming and referred to Webb as “the daddy of them all.” At the Savory in “Battle of the Bands” Chicks often won and was deemed “King of Swing.”

Listen to his performance above!