Webster, Paul (Francis)

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Webster, Paul (Francis)

Webster, Paul (Francis), big band jazz trumpeter; b. Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 24,1909; d. N.Y., May 6, 1966. He initially was taught by his uncle, trumpeter Sam Ford. Attended Lincoln H.S. and gigged with band led by Clarence Lover (1925). Went to Fisk Univ. and played with the Memphis band, The Boston Serenaders (1926), returned to Kansas City and worked as an embalmer before becoming a professional musician. He had long associations with Bennie Moten (summer 1927-summer 1928, with brief returns through the early 1930s); Jimmie Lunceford (1931, and then spring 1935-44); Cab Calloway (late 1940s to early 1950s); and Charlie Barnet (1946-47 and again 1952-53). After his last stint with Barnet, he took a day job in the U.S. Immigration Service; later, he worked for the N.Y. subway, and he continued to play and record regularly in the early 1960s. He died of a respiratory ailment.

—John Chilton/Lewis Porter