Freddie Moore certainly had a long career. He started playing drums when he was 12 in 1912 and was still active 80 years later. Moore began his career playing in traveling shows and he picked up much experience in variety shows and on vaudeville. He was with Charlie Creath in 1927 in St. Louis, led his own band in Detroit, recorded with King Oliver from 1929-30 and played in New York with Wilbur Sweatman from 1928-31. Moore toured with Oliver from 1931-32, led a trio also including Pete Brown and Don Frye from 1933-37 and freelanced with many top players during the next 20 years including John Kirby, Art Hodes, Sidney Bechet, Bob Wilber and Conrad Janis. The drummer was with Wilbur DeParis' New New Orleans Jazz Band from 1952-54, played in Europe with Mezz Mezzrow from 1954-55 and had associations with Sammy Price, Tony Parenti and even Roy Eldridge in 1971. Through the 1980s and into the '90s, Moore stayed active, playing with various bands in the New York area and often doubling on washboard. He was a colorful performer, often mugging and adding showbiz effects to the music. Moore, who appeared on a Rahsaan Roland Kirk record playing "Sweet Georgia Brown," led his only record date for the New York Jazz label in 1981. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi