Chick Webb was born as William Henry Webb on February 10, 1909 in Baltimore, MD. Born fatherless and poor, Chick Webb developed spinal tuberculosis and was a hunchbacked dwarf in constant pain, yet he virtually invented modern drumming and built the hottest band of the 1930s (it was the Savoy Ballroom's house band).



Swing-era drummer and bandleader Chick Webb was mentored by Duke Ellington, toured with Louis Armstrong, argued with Jelly Roll Morton, jammed with Artie Shaw, married a beautiful dancer, discovered and practically adopted Ella Fitzgerald, beat Benny Goodman and Count Basie in legendary battle of the bands, befriended Mario Bauzá (The Father of Afro-Cuban Jazz), encouraged a struggling Dizzy Gillespie, and helmed the first Black band to host a national radio show... all before drumming himself to death at age 30.



The jazz drummer worked with Benny Carter, Louis Jordan and Johnny Hodges. Chick Webb's band also did 'A Tisket-A-Tasket' with Ella Fitzgerald and 'T'aint What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It)'.



Chick Webb died June 16, 1939 after a major operation.