I’ll admit I’d never heard of him until a few days ago, when I saw Go, Johnny, Go (1959). One of the numbers sung by then-singing sensation Sandy Stewart, who also appeared in the film was the old song *“Playmate.”
Anyway, I noted that the song was written by a chap named Saxie Dowell, whose given name appears to have been “Horace.” The SSDI has a “Horace Dowell,” born in 1904 and dying in 1974, but all other Web references say he was born in 1904 and died in 1968. If they are the same person, one of them has to be wrong.
Anyone???
*If you’re not familiar with it: WARNING!!! Has sound!!!
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/playmate.htm
If it’s any help, Horace Kirby Dowell, born in North Carolina in 1904, was the musician.
There was also a Horace B. Dowell, born in Texas in 1904.
According to these reference works, Horace Kirby “Saxie” Dowell died in 1974:
• ASCAP Biographical Dictionary. Fourth edition. Compiled for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers by Jaques Cattell Press. New York: R.R. Bowker, 1980.
• The Big Bands. Revised edition. By George T. Simon. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Collier Books, 1974. Use the Index to locate biographies.
I haven’t been able to find any reference book that gives a 1968 year of death. However, the book Jazz and Death: Medical Profiles of Jazz Greats, by Frederick J. Spencer, says that he died in 1978.
The Dead Rock Stars Club, an excellent source for musicians’ deaths, has this blurb:
Saxie Dowell (Horace K. Dowell) - Died 1968 ( Jazz ) Born in North Carolina, U.S. - Saxophonist and singer - (He wrote, “Three Little Fishes”) - Worked with Hal Kemp.
They ususally have cause of death, but this one didn’t.
