Page toured Texas and the TOBA circuit during the 1920s, accompanying Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Ida Cox.

From 1928 to 1931, Page was a featured soloist with Walter Page's Blue Devils. In 1932, he joined the exodus of Blue Devils to "Bennie" Moten's band. Page worked with "Count" Basie at the Reno Club before launching a solo career in 1936. Unfortunately, Page did not enjoy the same prominence as a leader that he had enjoyed as a sideman.

"Page, Oran Thaddeus"

The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. London: Macmillan Press, 1988.

Dance, Stanley.

The World of Count Basie. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1980.

Pearson, Nathan.

Goin' to Kansas City. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1987.

[ index | people | sounds | venues | articles | kansascity.com ]

all content © 1996 University of Missouri-Kansas City