Education
Born on September 5, 1896 in Navarro County, Texas, he graduated from Daniel Baker College.
composer conductor bandleader jazz musician
Born on September 5, 1896 in Navarro County, Texas, he graduated from Daniel Baker College.
He is perhaps best known for his novelty song, "Piccolo Pete", a notable hit for Ted Weems and His Orchestra. Another song, "I"m a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas" was successfully recorded by many artists, including Sidney Bechet, Bennie Moten, Arthur Godfrey and Louis Armstrong. Baxter led his own orchestra in the 1920s through the mid-1930s, leading two recording sessions, the first in October 1925 in Saint Louis, Missouri, and the second in October 1929, in Dallas, Texas.
In June 1927, "Philosophy Baxter and His Texas Tommies" performed at the just-opened El Torreon Ballroom in Kansas City, Missouri, becoming, as "Philosophy Baxter and His El Torreon Orchestra", the ballroom"s houseband from 1927 to 1933.
Baxter would open and close each night with the band"s theme song, "El Torreon", and their nightly performances were frequently broadcast by KMBC. He ultimately suspended much of his musical activities due to difficulties stemming from arthritis. Baxter died on November 21, 1972.
Piccolo Pete
Going, Going, Gone
The One Manitoba Band
"Leven Miles from Leavenworth
Smile Foreign Maine
A Faded Summer Love
Five Piece Band
Let"s Have a Party
Harmonica Harry
You"re the Sweetest Girl
Have a Little Dream on Maine
I"m a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas.