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Who Cares?

Eddie Elkins & His Orchestra

Charles Strickfadden, Eddie Elkins, George Crozier, George Marsh, George Vaughn, Joseph Colling, Loren McMurray, Matt Grogan, Thomas Swift, W E Frost

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This recording was made in New York City on October 27th 1922 featuring Eddie Elkins violin & director, Joseph Colling trumpet, George Crozier trombone, Loren McMurray and George Vaughn alto sax, Charles Strickfadden tenor sax, Thomas Swift piano, Matt Grogan banjo, and W E Frost bass sax, George Marsh drums.

*"Who Cares?" was composed by Milton Ager.

Eddie Elkins (1897-1984) was a violinist and leader of the jazzy "Knickerbocker Grill Orchestra", a popular supper-club band in New York during the Roaring Twenties. All musicians from California made up his original band, many of whom had played in the "L.A. Symphony Orchestra", according to a 1922 press release. Elkins made a good number of dance records with his ten piece band between 1921 and 1925 for Columbia Records. His final recordings were produced for the Perfect label during April of 1934.

October 1922 proved to be a very hectic month for the "Eddie Elkins Orchestra" that would ultimately end in tragedy. The group was in the middle of a tour on the Keith vaudeville circuit, and Victor manager Eddie King was waiting to discuss the possibility of his label recording Loren McMurray's satellite group "McMurray's California Thumpers". The budding saxophone star was studying clarinet in his spare time with bright hopes for the future. Sadly two days after taking part in this recording session Loren McMurray died on October 29th 1922 from blood poisoning brought on by a fatal sinus infection.