Tate, Erskine

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Tate, Erskine

Tate, Erskine, leader, violinist, multi-instrumentalist; b. Memphis, Dec. 19, 1895; d. Chicago, Dec. 17, 1978. While Tate was in his teens, his family relocated to Chicago. He studied violin there at the American Cons, of Music, making his first performance on the instrument in 1912. From 1919 until 1928, he directed the band at the Vendôme Theatre, Chicago (Louis Armstrong recorded with him in 1926), then at other theaters including the Cotton Club (of Chicago) before opening a music studio in 1945. At his studio, Tate concentrated on teaching violin, saxophone, trumpet, guitar, piano, and drums. Among his other 1920s-era sidemen were Earl Hines, Freddie Keppard, Buster Bailey, and in the 1930s, Milt Hinton.

—John Chilton/Lewis Porter