Jess Stacy

Swinging, mostly self-taught stride pianist of the big band era, initially trained on drums. The son of a railroad engineer and well-grounded in jazz from early childhood, Stacy began his professional career in the early 1920's. He first played on Mississippi and Missouri riverboats with local bands (often playing the cumbersome steam calliope), such as Peg Meyer's Original Melody Kings and groups led by Harvey Berry (S.S. Majestic) and Tony Catalano (S.S. Capitol). By 1926, he had made his way to Chicago, first joining Joe Kayser's band at the Arcadia Ballroom. Over the next nine years, Stacy was steadily employed with various orchestras, performing at night clubs and speakeasies, at least some of which were operated by gangsters like Al Capone. Noteworthy engagements included bands led by trumpet player Paul Mares (at Harry's Bar), Maurie Stein (at the Paramount Club) and Earl 'Fatha' Hines , for whom he often worked as a relief pianist and who strongly influenced his own style of pl