Taking their name from a show written by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, a small group led by Don Redman recorded in the late '20s as the Chocolate Dandies. Redman also used the name for some McKinney's Cotton Pickers record dates but during the early '30s the name was picked up by other musicians, notably Benny Carter, who used it for a string of fine recordings he made with Coleman Hawkins and others. Carter revived the name in the early '40s, again with Hawkins in the band and often creating timeless miniature masterpieces of small group jazz.

Thanks to Uncle Dave Lewis for his help with this page.