Career
Webb first began playing on violin and mellophone before switching to drums. By 1923 he was performing locally around Peru, Indiana, and in 1925 co-founded the Hoosier Melody Lads, a cooperative band. In 1926 the band, led by Webb, had a recording session with Gennett Records (of Richmond, Indiana), although no discs were issued.
Later that year the band moved to California, where it had residencies at various clubs and from 1928-1929 appeared in several films, including Sins of the Fathers (1928), Riley the Cop (1928) and His Captive Woman (1929).
After 1929 Webb led a number of bands (see below), mostly as conductor but also at times as drummer and singer, up until 1938 when he retired from full-time performance.