Willie “Mack” Washington

This drummer’s short life — he came and went in only shy of 30 years — was spent in Kansas City. Willie “Mack” Washington arranged the pace throughout that time for just one from the jazz mecca’s grandest organizations, the Count number Basie music group. During a 10 years from 1926, Washington drummed using the music group of Bennie Moten, ultimately featuring Basie around the piano bench. Washington was just 18 years of age when he started this association. Pursuing Moten’s loss of life, Basie overran the music group, keeping Washington until 1936 when he was changed by Jo Jones, who became somewhat more well-known. Washington continued to function in the band of Buster Smith. A fantastic collection entitled Kansas Town Powerhouse examines the changeover from Moten to Basie and features both Washington and Jones.