Introduction
Herman L. Walder (April 2, 1905—October 17, 1991) was an American jazz and rhythm & blues musician who played clarinet and alto saxophone in Kansas City, Missouri.
Life and career
Herman Walder was born on April 2, 1905, in Dallas, Texas. He had an older brother, Woody Walder (1902—1978), also a clarinetist and saxophonist.
Walder started his career on trumpet in Jerry Westbrook Orchestra but later switched to woodwind instruments after an accident.
In the early 1920s, Walder played clarinet and saxophone in pianist Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra alongside Buster Moten (accordion); Harlan Leonard, Laforet Dent, Jack Washington (saxophone); Abe Bolar (bass); Ed Lewis (cornet); Willie Hall(drums); Thamon Hayes (trombone); and Ada Brown (vocals). He also toured with Moten.
Walder then worked in George E. Lee's Singing Novelty Orchestra with Sam Utterbach and Harold Knox on trumpets; Jimmy Jones on trombone; Clarence Taylor on soprano saxophone; Albert "Budd" Johnson on tenor saxophone; Jesse Stone on piano; Charles Russo on banjo and guitar; Clint Weaver on tuba; Julia Lee(vocals); and Pete Woods and A. G. Godley on drums.
In the mid-1930s, Herman and his brother Woody Walder formed their own band named Walder Brother's Swing Unit with Elbert "Coots" Dye (piano); Pete Johnson(piano); Bill Terry (vocals); Baby Lovett (drums); and Jack Johnson (bass). The band played regularly for several years at many famous venues such as Paseo Tap Room, the Spinning Wheel, Lucille's Paradise, The Old Kentucky, and Vine Street Varieties, among others. They didn't make any recordings and only performed live in the city.
In 1937, Walder and Mary Lou Williams composed "A Mellow Bit of Rhythm" which was heard on Andy Kirk and His Clouds Of Joy's recording on Decca (1579).
He also played briefly with Laura Rucker, Lester Young, Terrence Holder, Herschel Evans, and Count Basie, and Thamon Hayes and Harlan Leonard's Kansas City Rockets with trumpeters Ed Lewis, Richard Smith, and James Ross; trombonist Vic Dickenson; pianist Jesse Stone; guitarist Charles Goodwin; and drummer Baby Lovett (drums).
One of Walder's compositions, "Just for You" was covered by many musicians in later years:
- Jay McShann's 1977 album The Last of the Blue Devils on Atlantic Records
- Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra on Decca (BM 03371)
- Live At The Jubilee by Frank Muschalle Trio (pianist Frank Muschalle, drummer/vocalist Dirk Engelmeyer, double bassist Matthias Klüter) on Styx Records in 2008.
Death
Walder died on October 17, 1991, at age 86.