By Noel (65.59.46.167 - 65.59.46.167) on Saturday, July 20, 2002 - 04:19 am:

The Freep did a story yesterday on the early Birmingham Jazz Festival (1960 and 61) and mentioned the first Detroit Jazz Festival at the Fairgrounds in 1959. I was there and again in 60 and 61 (at Cobo Arena as I remember). Does anyone out there remember that far back? Were any of you there? I know that Basie performed along with Lambert, Hendricks and Ross and I think Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie and Jimmie Rushing. Sure would like to know if anyone else can add to this personal archive.

By marktdj (206.148.225.172 - 206.148.225.172) on Sunday, July 21, 2002 - 01:58 pm:

Yes Noel I was involved with it in a small way, I was 16 at the time Ed Sarkasian was the festival promoter, he asked me If I wanted to help out at the Festival, so every day we would have to straighten out all the chairs at the fairgrounds i got to go back every nite and hangout and see the show as a matter of fact somewhere I still have a program with autographs of most of the stars, random thoughts coming now, Standing backstage watching the Four Freshmen next to Julie London with Stan Kenton resting his elbow on my shoulder Julie was going out with one of the Four Freshmen at the time, talking with Joe Williams, about photography he showed me his Minnox camera (a miniture spy camera) and he played around with my Praktica fx3 (a early slr) sharing a bottle of whiskey (in a brown paper bag), with the great Louie Armstrong, wow memories, I will check out the program as soon as i find it to see who else was there oh i just remembered Gene Krupa was there also---- enjoy the memories

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, July 21, 2002 - 02:55 pm:

Those are some pretty good memories Mark.

By Noel (65.56.191.254 - 65.56.191.254) on Sunday, July 21, 2002 - 05:17 pm:

Wow! I too was 16 and thought I was lucky to have attended, but you do have great memories. Your musician list helps my memory a lot, too. I remember a couple of other odd items:
1. at one of the days it was Count Basie's 55th birthday - William Basie was born in Red Bank on August 21, 1904.
2. that all at the band shell spotted "Sputnik" above - and I seem to remember that we were all looking into the skies when Mr. Basie's birthday was being announced (but, it is a long time ago.)

Mark, would it be possible for you to scan the program?
- Noel

By SteveS (209.219.207.4 - 209.219.207.4) on Monday, July 22, 2002 - 04:11 pm:

I spoke with Ed Sarkesian's son yesterday and told him about this thread. He has the program for this and some other concerts that Ed promoted. If nobody else has them I'll scan them and upload them next time I see him.

By Noel (136.1.1.101 - 136.1.1.101) on Monday, July 22, 2002 - 09:01 pm:

Thank you, Steve. This is great. I am sure there are still quite a few people out there who would love to see these programs.

By ,marktdj (206.148.229.23 - 206.148.229.23) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 04:40 am:

I knew Eds brotherinlaw Karnie or was it Carnie I think Darbanian, thats how I got involved with Ed Sarkesian, is his son still in Michigan?, what does he do?, last time I saw Ed, was in the late sixties, he had booked Peter Paul and Mary, at the Masonic temple in Detroit. found the program, I worked both years at the fairgrounds, here is the lineup for August 19-20 21 1960 the second one
please note an A after the name means they autographed the page about them so here goes
august 19 1960
Fred Kaz---Cannonball Adderley A----Dinah Washington A----Chico Hamilton A-----Dave Brubeck A---Duke Ellington-----
august 20 1960
Oscar Peterson.... Nina Simone A-----Gene Krupa A
Jackie Kain and Roy Kral AA----Kai Winding A----Louis Armstrong A
august 21 1960
Horace Silver A-----The Four Freshmen AAAA---Dizzy Gillespie A ----Dakota Staton A----Count Basie and Joe Williams AA--- also two women in the end page Marge Dodson and Frances Burnett

hope this jogs your memory a bit more, why not come to the Clawson Steak House for the thingie that George Katsakis is putting on soon, I would be glad to show it to you.also Mitch Miller, and Julie London were there, Mitch came to hang out,and Julie London was dating one of the Four Freshmen, Soupy Sales was ther to hang out also and last but not least Leonard Feather was the mc
Mark

By SteveS (209.219.207.4 - 209.219.207.4) on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 - 12:53 pm:

Jon Sarkesian is an architect in Royal Oak and his brother Peter is a lawyer. Jon also plays guitar and sings with a group called the Fabulous Imperials that plays mostly motown / r&b. I think Ed moved to Florida but comes back here fairly often.

By Noel (136.2.1.101 - 136.2.1.101) on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 08:14 pm:

It does indeed jog the memory. I know now that I was there on August 21 for the show and even seem to remember the two ladies - I suppose they were local talent. May have been to the Saturday performance but do not remember seeing Nina - which does not mean much because it was so long ago. Pretty sure I did not get to the Friday performance because I don't think I saw Ellington until a few years later.

By Noel (64.152.154.237 - 64.152.154.237) on Friday, July 26, 2002 - 01:30 am:

Mark - I would come to the thingie at Clawson Steak House, but I will be in France the first part of September. Maybe there will be another chance later. Do you guys know if any of the Detroit connection is performing in England or Europe these days?