Bose, Sterling (Belmont) (Boze, Bozo)

Bose, Sterling (Belmont) (Boze, Bozo) , early jazz trumpeter, cornetist (singer); b. Florence, Ala., Feb. 23, 1906; d. St. Petersburg, Fla., June 1958. He sat in with various New Orleans bands in early 1920s (including Tom Brown’s). Late in 1923 he moved to St. Louis; gigged with various bands, then with Crescent City Jazzers and Arcadia Serenaders until 1927. He joined Jean Goldkette in Detroit and during winter 1927-28 played a season for Goldkette at Pla-Mor Ballroom, Kansas City. Then he worked for Radio WGN house band in Chicago until autumn 1930. He joined Ben Pollack in November 1930; played there on and off until May 1933. He was with Eddie Sheasby in Chicago. Then in N.Y., he did extensive studio work with Victor Young. He joined Joe Haymes’ Band in spring of 1934; remained when Tommy Dorsey assumed leadership in 1935. He was with Ray Noble in early 1936, occasionally did vocals with the Noble Band (i.e. “Big Chief de Sota” recording). He was with Benny Goodman in August and September 1936; left through illness. Early in 1937 he was a member of Lana Webster Band in N.Y., then joined the Glenn Miller Orch. until October 1937, then was with the Bob Crosby Band until early in 1939. He played regularly at Nick’s in N.Y.; had a short spell with Bobby Hackett Big Band in spring of 1939. He was a member of short lived Bob Zurke Big Band until April 1940, then he spent six months with Jack Teagarden until taking his own trio into Muggsy McGraw’s Club in Chicago (December 1940). He played with Bud Freeman’s Big Band in Chicago (February 1942). He moved back to N.Y during early 1943, and worked with Geory Brunis at Famous Door, then with Bobby Sherwood’s Band from July until November 1943. He performed regularly with the Miff Mole Band at Nick’s: also with Art Hodes at same venue in June 1944, and briefly with Horace Heidt in August 1944, then freelanced in N.Y. before moving back to Chicago in 1945. Freelanced in Chicago, N.Y., and Mobile before moving to Fla.; had occasional work with the Tiny Hill Band. From March 1948, he led his own band at the Municipal Ballroom, St. Petersburg, Fla., then various club residencies before playing at Soreno Lounge, St. Petersburg, from 1950-57. Bose suffered a long illness before dying of self-inflicted gun-shot wounds.

Discography

Arcadian Serenaders: “You Gotta Know How/Angry” (1925). J. Goldkette: “Just Imagine”, “My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now/Don’t Be Like That” (1928). J. Teagarden: “Rockin’ Chair/Loveless Love”, “You Rascal, You” (1931). B. Pollack: “Two Tickets to Georgia” (1933). Dorsey Brothers Orch.: Harlem Lullaby (1933). J. Mercer: “Lord, I Give You My Children/The Bathtub Ran Over Again” (1934). Tommy Dorsey: Having a Wonderful Time (1935). R. Noble: “Big Chief De Sota” (1936). Bob Crosby and His Orch.: South Rampart Street Parade (1936). Bing Crosby: “I’m Prayin’ Humble” (1938). B. Zurke: “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea/I’ve Found a New Baby” (1939).

—John Chilton, Who’s Who of Jazz/Lewis Porter