1946	Fats Navarro Chronology
	Created by Leif Bo Petersen and Theo Rehak	Last updated: January 7, 2017.
Date	Event	References/Further Details
January early	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Probably: Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Raymond Orr, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro (tp); Chippie Outcalt, Robert Scott, Jerry Valentine (tb); Norris Turney, Junior Williams (as); Gene Ammons, Arthur Sammons (ts); Tate Houston (bars), Linton Garner (p); Connie Wainwright (g); Bill McMahon (b); Art Blakey (d); Ann Baker (voc). Sid Field becomes new roadman with Eckstine.	"The Drama Desk," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 3, 1946: mentions McMahon and Ann Baker as members of the Eckstine band. “Music–As Written,” Billboard, January 5, 1946, 28.
January 3	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Raymond Orr, Kenny Dorham (tp); Chippie Outcalt, Robert Scott, Jerry Valentine (tb); Norris Turney, Junior Williams (as); Gene Ammons, Arthur Sammons (ts); Tate Houston (bars), Linton Garner (p); Connie Wainwright (g); Bill McMahon (b); Art Blakey (dr). Unidentified Studio, New York, NY. Commercial recordings for National. Fats Navarro seems not to have participated here.	Booklet to The Chronological Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra 1946–47, Classics 1022. L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 73–74.
January 3	Andy Kirk and His Orchestra Harry Lawson, Claude Dunson, John Lynch, Fats Navarro (tp); Henry Wells, Wayman Richardson, Milt Robinson, Bob Murray (tb); Reuben Philips, Joe Evans (as), Jimmy Forrest, Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts); John Porter (bars); Hank Jones (p); Floyd Wonderful Smith (g), All Hall (b), Ben Thigpen (dr); Beverly White, Bea Booze, Billy Daniels (voc); Andy Kirk (dir). WOR studios, New York, NY. Commercial recordings for National. Navarro subs here.	L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 88–89.
January 5	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Probably: Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Raymond Orr, Fats Navarro, Kenny Dorham (tp); Chippie Outcalt, Robert Scott, Jerry Valentine (tb); Norris Turney, Junior Williams (as); Gene Ammons, Arthur Sammons (ts); Tate Houston (bars), Richard Duke Ellington or Linton Garner (p); Connie Wainwright (g); Bill McMahon (b); Art Blakey (dr); Ann Baker (voc); Billy Eckstine (voc, dir) Jimmy Lunceford Orchestra 13th Regimental Armory, Brooklyn, NY. Benefit for the Brooklyn NAACP. Band Battle.	"Eckstine Vs. Lunceford Set for NAACP Benefit," Billboard, December 29, 1945, 31. “Where They Are Playing,” Chicago Defender, January 5, 1946, 12. D. Gillespie and A. Fraser, To Be or Not... to Bop (1979), 92. Billy Eckstine in I. Gitler, Swing to Bop (1987), 27.
January 11	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Bill Bailey Pitts & Pitts Revue Regal Theatre, Chicago, IL. January 11-17, 1946.	Ad in Chicago Tribune, January 11, 1946, 19. Ad in Chicago Defender, January 12, 1946, 21.
January 21	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Probably: Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Raymond Orr, Fats Navarro?, Kenny Dorham (tp); Chippie Outcalt, Robert Scott, Jerry Valentine (tb); Norris Turney, Junior Williams (as); Gene Ammons, Arthur Sammons (ts); Tate Houston (bars), Richard Duke Ellington (p); Connie Wainwraight (g); Bill McMahon (b); Art Blakey (dr): Ann Baker (voc); Billy Eckstine (voc, dir) Akron Armory, Akron, OH.	Ad in Akron Beacon Journal, January 20, 1946, 10.
January 25	Billy Eckstine and His band The Jubilaires 4 Macks Cindy and Windy Pigmeat and His Gang Apollo Theatre, New York, NY. January 25–31, 1946.	Ad in New York Age, January 26, 1946, 10. “Billy Eckstine’s band and Jubilaires Come to Apollo for a Week,” New York Age, January 26, 1946, 10. “Eckstine at Apollo for Fifth Engagement,” Afro-American, January 26, 1946, 10: Ann Baker, Shorty McConnell, Valentine, Gene Ammons, and Arthur Sammons mentioned.
February	Billy Eckstine Orchestra Probably: Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Raymond Orr, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro (tp); Chippie Outcalt, Robert Scott, Jerry Valentine (tb); Norris Turney, Junior Williams (as); Gene Ammons, Johs Jackson (ts); Leo Parker (bars), Linton Garner (p); Connie Wainwright (g); Bill McMahon (b); Art Blakey (dr); Billy Eckstine (voc, dir). Unidentified Studio, New York, NY. Commercial recordings for National. Fats Navarro is soloing here.	Booklet to The Chronological Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra 1946–47, Classics 1022. L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 73–74.
February early	Billy Eckstine and His band Eckstine gets a New Singing Star Esquire Award. The band has a vacation until the Adams Theatre engagement.	“Eckstine to Receive Reward,” Pittsburgh Courier, February 9, 1946, 18.
February 14	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Probably: Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Raymond Orr, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro (tp); Chippie Outcalt, Robert Scott, Jerry Valentine (tb); Norris Turney, Junior Williams (as); Gene Ammons, Josh Jackson (ts); Leo Parker (bars), Linton Garner (p); Connie Wainwright (g); Bill McMahon (b); Art Blakey (dr); Billy Eckstine (voc, dir). Joe Liggin’s Honeydrippers Canfield and Lewis Slim and Sweets Adams Theatre, Newark, NJ. February 14–20, 1946.	“House Reviews: Adams, Newark,” Variety, February 20, 1946, 47: reviewed on February 14 (opening day): Ann Baker and Maurice [sic for Norris] Turney (as) are mentioned. “Sew What!” Billboard, March 2, 1946, 15: An anecdote of new uniforms to the band is revealing that Fats Navarro was in the band here.
February 21	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Felix and His Crazy Cats Golden Gate Ballroom, New York, NY. Better Business Circle Annual Ball.	Ad in New York Amsterdam News, February 16, 1946, 21. Fats Navarro may have been in the band here. It is more dubious if he participated in the bands out-of-town engagement in the following period.
March	Billy Eckstine Orchestra Unidentified Studio, New York, NY. March ?, 1946. Commercial recordings for National. Fats Navarro is listed here in standard discographies, but this may be a mistake.	Booklet to The Chronological Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra 1946–47 Classics 1022. L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 90.
March 3	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Mary Small Guy Kibbe Al Strohman’s Orchestra Auditorium, Springfield, MA. Shows 2:15; 5:15; 8:25 p.m. Albert Laragione (prod).	Laragione to Resume Sunday presentations,” Springfield Republican, February 23, 1946, 12.
March 12	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Savoy Ballroom, Pittsburgh, PA. March 12, 1946. 9:30–1:30.	Ad in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 3, 1946, 18.
March 15	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Dynamite Jefferson Johnny Mason King Johnson Paradise Theatre, Detroit, MI. March 15—21, 1946.	Ad in Detroit Free Press, March 15, 1945, 25.
March 30	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, MO.	Ad in Kansas City Star, March 28, 1946, 14.
March 31	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, MO.	Ad in Kansas City Star, March 29, 1946, 8. “Billy Eckstine Thrills Crowd,” Plaindealer (Kansas City), April 5, 1946, 14: this article implies that there was only one concert.
April 2	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Wichita, KS. The band shows up for an engagement in Wichita, which was not in effect.	“Wichita Switch,” Billboard, April 13, 1946, 16.
April 12	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Billie Holiday Canfield and Louis Otto Easen Earle Theatre, Philadelphia, PA. April 12—18, 1946	Ad in Philadelphia Inquirer, April 13, 1946, 18. “Billy Eckstine and His Band on Earl Stage,” Philadelphia Inquirer, April 13, 1946, 18. “Eckstine’s Zowie 31 1/23, Philly Earle,” Billboard, April 27, 1946, 45.
April 19	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra State Armory, Canonsburg, PA. 9 p.m. Pre-Easter Ball. Steel City Council no. 8 (prod).	Ad in Daily Notes (Canonsburg, PA.), April 4, 1946, 6.
April late	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Pittsburgh, PA.	“George F. Brown…Show Shopping,” Pittsburgh Courier, April 27, 1946, 8.
April 25	Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra 8 brasses, 5 reeds; 4 in the rhythm. Probably: Boonie Hazel, Shorty McConnell, Raymond Orr, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro (tp); Chippie Outcalt, Robert Scott, Jerry Valentine (tb); Norris Turney, Junior Williams (as); Gene Ammons, Frank Wess? (ts); Leo Parker (bars), Linton Garner or Hank Jones (p); Connie Wainwright (g); Bill McMahon (b); Art Blakey (dr); Ann Baker (voc); Billy Eckstine (voc, dir). Patterson and Jackson Leroy Carrington Canfield and Louis Sudanettes Club Sudan, New York NY. April 25—May 13, 1947. 3 shows nightly: 10:30; 12:10; 2:30. Prolonged: Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Holmes and Jean Al & Billy Richards Tequila-Spizzy Canfield Sudanettes John Soler’s Rhumba Orchestra May 14—29, 1946. 3 shows nightly: 10:30; 12:10; 2:30.	“Billy Eckstine’s Ork Set for N.Y Club Sudan,” Pittsburgh Courier, April 27, 1946, 18. “Variety Bills: Club Sudan,” Variety, May 1, 1946, 63. “Night club Reviews: Club Sudan, N.Y., Variety, May 1, 1946, 60: 17 pieces and Ann Baker. “Variety Bills: Club Sudan,” Variety, May 8, 1946, 55. “Variety Bills: Club Sudan,” Variety, May 22, 1946, 55. Ad in New York Evening Post, May 14, 1946, 49: Held over by popular demand. Ad in New York Age, May 18, 1946, 10: Patterson & Jackson Leroy Carrington Spivy and Canfield Stella and Sadie Club Sudan Trio Sudanettes Weekly ad in New York Amsterdam News. "Band Pull Cue by Sudan's Renewal of Billy Eckstine" Billboard, June 1, 1946, 43. "Night Clubs-Vaudeville: Club Sudan" Billboard, June 8, 1946, 46: Review on May 23: First trumpet and other trumpet were out ill in review date. Hank Jones in "Oral Histories," Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program (2004): Hank Jones tells that he played with Eckstine during this gig and that Fats Navarro was in the band here. He also mentions Frank Wess . Tells an anecdote of Navarro jumping down and breaking the bandstand floor. http://americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz/collections-and-archives/oral-histories#JonesH Jones' participation may refer to the prolonged part of the engagement.
May 12	Rebop Jam Session Charlie Ventura Red Rodney J. J. Johnson Dexter Gordon Sonny Stitt Sarah Vaughan Billy Eckstine Gene Ammons Fats Navarro Red Garland Art Blakey Leo Parker Bill McMahon Lincoln Square Center, New York, NY. 3 p.m. New Jazz Foundation, Monte Kay-Symphony Sid (prod).	F. Driggs and H. Levine, Black Beauty - White Heat (1996), 326: photo of handbill.
September?	Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra Fats Navarro (tp); J. J. Johnson (tb); Porter Kilbert (as); Coleman Hawkins (ts); Milt Jackson (vib); Hank Jones (p); Curly Russell (b); Max Roach (ts); Gil Fuller? (arr). Unidentified studio, New York, NY, September ?, 1946. Commercial recordings for Sonora.	For details see: L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 120–22. The recordings are usually dated December 1946, but this is wrong. A release list in Billboard tells that two tracks from this session will be out in a couple of weeks (“Advance Record Releases,” Billboard, October 19, 1946, 30).
September 5	Kenny Clarke and His 52^nd Street Boys Fats Navarro, Kenny Dorham (tp); Sonny Stitt (as); Ray Abrams (ts); Eddie DeVerteuill (bars); Bud Powell (p); John Collins (g); All Hall (b); Kenny Clarke (dr); Gil Fuller (arr). Victor Sound Studios, New York, NY. Commercial recording for (French) Swing and Victor. Charles Delaunay (prod).	For details see: L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 113–15.
September 6	The Be Bop Boys Fats Navarro, Kenny Dorham (tp); Sonny Stitt (as); Morris Lane (ts); Eddie DeVerteuill (bars); Bud Powell (p); All Hall (b); Kenny Clarke (dr); Gil Fuller (arr). Unidentified studio, New York, NY. September 6, 1946. Commercial recordings for Savoy. Teddy Reig (prod).	For details see: L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 116–20.
September 24	Fats Navarro Navarro signs an exclusive contract with Savoy Records.	For details see: L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 104: the contract is signed September 24. “Savoy Diskery Incorporates,” Billboard, October 12, 1946, 16: Dated October 5: Savoy is now incorporated and has signed exclusive contract with Sonny Stitt and Fats Navarro.
October	Jam sessions Navarro and Bud Powell are reported jamming at Minton’s, New York, NY.	Bill Triglia quoted in F. Büchmann-Møller, You Just Fight for Your Life (1990), 136–37. L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 111.
December 18	Eddie Davis and His Reboppers Fats Navarro (tp); Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts); Al Haig (p); Huey Long (g); Gene Ramey (b); Denzil Best (dr). Unidentified studio, New York, NY. Commercial recording for Savoy. Teddy Reig (prod).	See L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 122–23.
December 20	Eddie Davis and His Reboppers Fats Navarro (tp); Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts); Al Haig (p); Huey Long (g); Gene Ramey (b); Denzil Best (dr). Unidentified studio, New York, NY. December 20, 1946. Commercial recording for Savoy. Teddy Reig (prod).	See L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 123–24.
December late?	Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra Navarro joins Jacquet December late or January early.	See L. B. Petersen and T. Rehak, Infatuation – The Music and Life of Theodore “Fats” Navarro (2009), 125.
December 25	Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra All Star band maybe including Fats Navarro. Elates Hall, Philadelphia, PA.	“Sets Philly Record,” California Eagle, January 2, 1947, 15. "Jacquet Sets Philly Record in band Debut," Baltimore Afro-American, December 31, 1946, 9.
December 27	Illinois Jacquet Five Maybe including Fats Navarro. Johnny ‘Beat’ Davis Orchestra Pigmeat Markham and Co 6 Marvelettes Howard Theatre, Washington, DC. December 28, 1946–January 1, 1947.	“Variety Bills,” Variety, December 25, 2956, 41. Ad in Evening Star (Washington, DC), December 27, 1946, 14.