This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless. In this section appear basic biographies for all musicians known to have worked with the Southern Syncopated Orchestra in Europe, although without repeating information on major figures which may easily be recovered from standard reference sources on jazz or African-American music.
In many cases these biographies are extremely sparse, and in a few cases nothing is known of the musicians' origins and career beyond their involvement in the SSO. The length of the biographies does not reflect either the relative or absolute importance of the performers, but the amount of information available and whether it has previously been available in an accessible format. As a general rule, personal relationships are mentioned only when relevant to professional activities or when marriages were contracted or children born while the artist was in Europe.
It must be emphasized that SSO engagements listed are those at which the artist's presence can be demonstrated from contemporary sources. It will be evident from the main text that for many engagements only the names of principals are known. The most important sources and record series used in the compilation of this data are listed in the list of record series consulted, which appears at the end of this article.
Allen, David Cornelius. Banjoist, vocalist. Nationality unknown. Member of SSO for five weeks. Dismissed in Glasgow, January Archer, Frederick real name: Akinlawon Olumuyiwa. Reportedly a former medical student at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London. Baker, George N. Born Louisville, Kentucky, August 16, Came to Europe in September, as an actor. Registered as a U. Wrote music and lyrics for and performed in touring show Dark Town Jingles. Described himself as a music-hall artiste when he registered for the draft in London in Bates, Frank Allan Fitzgerald.
Born St. Michael, Barbados, July 14, , according to his apparent birth certificate, or November 19, , according to his U. Seamen's Identity Certificate. Served as able seaman in the British Merchant Marine. Gave his profession as actor in July Died in Rowan disaster, October 9, Not securely identified. Benny Peyton was by his own testimony the drummer on this engagement.
