Wayman Carver - flute (1905 - 1967)
Wayman Alexander Carver was born December 25, 1905 in Portsmouth, Virginia. At an early age, Carver showed not only an interest in but talent for music. Both his father and uncle were accomplished musicians who played in the Metropolitan Marching Band of Portsmouth, Virginia. The band was a combined jazz and marching band composed largely of “ear musicians”. Carver’s uncle, Derrick Copeland, had some musical training and was the leader of the band as well as the town’s music teacher. Copeland gave Carver his first instrument and directed his music training. Carver related that his first flute was one that was found in the trash at the naval yard where his father worked. He was then 14 years old.
During Carver’s formative years, he played with the Metropolitan Band and small combos that played for social functions. Meanwhile, Carver’s mastery of instruments expanded to include the clarinet, saxophone, and flute.
Mr. Sykes, a local resident of Portsmouth, who was a professor of music at Haven Music Conservatory, MS., noted the music potential of Carver. Sykes secured a scholarship for Carver to attend Haven. It was at Haven Conservatory that Carver got his first experience as a concert performer and as a soloist. When Sykes received an offer to join the music faculty at Clark University, Atlanta, Georgia, he took Carver with him and continued to guide his musical training.
While a student at Clark University, Carver was not only active but outstanding in the Music Department. He assisted with instrument and band direction. Carver often gave band concerts with voices added. Although Carver played other wind instruments, he played flute most of the time.
Carver’s talent ran the gamut from classical flutist to jazz instrumentalist. During his college years, Carver organized a group known as the Collegiate Ramblers or Collegians. The Collegians was composed of Clark University students as well as other players from the city. The group, composed of six or eight instrumentalists, would play for social events on and off the campus.
Wayman Carver graduated from Clark University in 1929. Not too many of the Afro-American musicians of the swing era had formal educational background. He then moved to New York City. He formed a band which played in New York City and Atlantic City, New Jersey. The formation of this band is obscure. It is not certain whether it included Collegians or whether it was a new entity.
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In 1934, Carver joined the Chick Webb orchestra. While a member of this orchestra, Carver wrote several of the orchestral arrangements, of which “Spinning The Web” was among the most notable. Others are “Down Home Rag,” “Tain’t What You Do,” “My Heart Belongs To Daddy,” “Holiday In Harlem” and “Pack Up Your Sins.” While with Webb, he also wrote, arranged and copyrighted an original, “Swinging on The Reservation.” In 1938 he wrote “All’s Fair At The World’s Fair”, but it is not known if any orchestra ever played it.
After the death of Chick Webb (June 16, 1939), Ella Fitzgerald took over the Webb orchestra. Carver remained for awhile but left the orchestra in 1940.
After leaving the Ella Fitzgerald orchestra, Carver established a music repair and accessory business in New York City, and was arranging for various bands during this time. As the big band era drew to a close, Carver accepted a position as Associate Professor of Music at his Alma Mater, Clark College, Atlanta, Georgia, 1942.
Carver’s short but impressive career as a jazz musician earned for him an outstanding recognition. International Musician, April, 1963, cited Carver as being known internationally as the first and only jazz musician to play the flute (which with regard to Alberto Socarras is not quite true). Time Magazine, January 3, 1944, cited Carver as being a brilliant hot flutist who had played with some of the best jazz bands.
The life of Wayman A. Carver, after becoming Associate Professor of Music at Clark College, was perhaps as noteworthy as his life during the big band era. While a professor at Clark College, Carver directed the marching and concert bands, composed an overture “Road To Metropolis” (dated April 12, 1948), a march “Jolly Roger”, and wrote the music to the College fight song “Hail Roaring Panther”.
In 1950, Clark College presented a musical “Paradise Park” written by Clark College Professor M. Carl Holman with music written by Carver. The musical, performed by Clark College students, was presented at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, the only large auditorium in the city at that time.
Carver did further study at Julliard School of Music, NYC.. Carver received the Master of Music Education Degree from Vandercook College of Music in 1952.
Wayman Carver’s impact was felt not only in the college world but in the outer community as well. Carver organized the first elementary school bands of the City Schools of Atlanta. This pioneer feat brought together students from elementary schools throughout the city. The performance of these students, under the direction of Carver was heralded as a major break-through in public school education.
Carver played local engagements sometimes with a band, “The Troubadours”, lead by Ralph Mays. Some of the band members were in Clark College in the 50’s.
Throughout his years in Atlanta, Georgia, Wayman Carver was a member of Warren Memorial United Methodist Church and participated faithfully as a member of the choir. He was also an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
As a music educator, Wayman Carver inspired and molded many young musicians. The musician graduates of Clark College were often in demand to fill positions as teacher-band director throughout the public school systems of the Atlanta Metro Area and other cities as well. Through these men and women the impact of Wayman Carver continues today. His significance in the jazz world and as a music educator is most ardently kept alive by Clark Atlanta University under the auspices of Associate Professor James Patterson, former student of Carver, an accomplished musician in his own right, and present director of the Clark Atlanta Jazz Orchestra.
Wayman Carver died May 6, 1967, after serving twenty-five years as professor at Clark College, Atlanta, Georgia. Source: Wayne Carver website
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