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Wild Bill Davison.
 1957, and living in Leicester, I went along to see and hear the ‘Eddie
Condon and his All-Stars’ Band from the USA, who were touring
the UK, at the De Montfort Hall. As a latecomer I was given a
seat on stage in the ‘orchestra’ seats. It was brilliant,
sitting behind the band – about a yard away (1 metre in today’s
money) from legendary drummer George Wettling – and we were
privy to all the band’s backchat, in particular the repartee
between Condon and his cornettist Wild Bill Davison. A great
concert, the Yanks being backed by the Humphrey Lyttleton band.
After the 2-band finale, a few of us got some of the Americans
to sign our programmes, and I obtained Condon, Wettling and
trombonist Cutty Cutshall.
Moving forward to May, 1989, and Wild Bill was again touring the
UK (at 83 !) with veteran American pianist Art Hodes, (aged 85
!) and the John Petters Dixieland Band, which included Campbell
Burnap. I saw them at the Albert Halls in Bolton’s marvellous
Victorian town hall. At the interval, I contrived to go
back-stage and get Wild Bill to sign my 1957 programme, and I
managed to persuade a steward to let me through. In a corridor,
the great man was sat on a ‘canteen’ chair, and when he saw me
with my distinctive black and yellow programme, he called out to
his wife, who was in his dressing –room – “Hey, Anne, come and
look at this !” I offered him the programme if he didn’t have
one, and his reply – “Gee, sir, you really are a gentleman.
After all these years I think you deserve to keep it !” And he
signed my programme – ‘To Terry, All the best, Wild Bill
Davison.’ Sadly, 6 months later he passed away.
Terry Birkinhead.
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