Walter Harrold began his professional musical career, at age 16, and
attributes his success to his father, Holland Harrold, who was also a
great drummer and teacher.
Walter was still a teenager, when the wire came from Count Basie,
wanting Walter to come to Kansas City, to join the band he was
organizing. But, as luck with have it, Walter was traveling, and never
received the message. His mother intercepted, sent the ticket back with
a note that Walter would not be interested. Walter did not find out
about the wire, until much later, while getting a haircut, at a local
barbershop.
Although, very modest, and not one to brag, Walter was admired by many,
and shared fond memories of the two occasions; he shared the stage with
Ella Fitzgerald, first, at the old Angelos on 10th Street, and later,
at the Offbeat.
Walter was the drummer for Dinah Washington and Billy Eckstine, when
they performed at the Offbeat. And, Walter and his band had the
privilege, of backing Roy Hamilton, at the opening of Omaha's City
Auditorium.
In the late 40's, Harrold's band was playing Omaha's Legion Club, when
the famed Cab Calloway dropped in after an Orpheum appearance. Calloway
sat in with the band, played drums, sang, and entertained the crowd.
Also, Johnny Carson was the emcee for that evening.
Walter remembers another great moment...when he first met Lionel
Hampton. Hampton had been performing at the Orpheum that evening, and
later came out to hear Basie Givens Band, with Walter on drums. Hampton
liked the band, and told Walter, "You're too nice a drummer to be
around here." He thought Walter should have moved to Chicago, to start
his own band. But, Walter, like so many other musicians, from Omaha,
did not really want to leave home.
The Trocadero would be spot for Walter and other members of the band,
including trumpeter, Mason Prince, bassist William Parr, Eli Brown on
sax and reeds, and Doris Shephard on piano, for seven years, with
sometimes as many as three shows per night, and seven days a week.
In later years, Walter played most often for his niece, Richetta
Wilson, famed vocalist, and Mort Well's Dixie Band.
It was a special night, back in the late 80's, when crowds gathered at
Witherspoon Concert Hall, of Joslyn Museum, to hear Blues great,
Alberta Hunter perform, and also honor Walter for his 50+ years, in the
entertainment business. Walter, the slim drummer, with the ready
smiles, says..."they think they should pay respect to somebody from
Omaha, but, I don't know why they picked me" Well many people know why.
Including, Jazz great, Lester Young, who met Walter, back in the
1940's, and said...."Gosh, I like the way you play those drums."
