Chick Webb: The 1940 Memorial Concert
This photo comes from the March 1940 Metronome article, “7,500 Baltimoreans Pay $10,600 to Further Webb’s Dream.” It captures the friendship and camaraderie between Chick Webb, Jimmie Lunceford, and Cab Calloway. The image is poignant because of the timeline: Chick Webb passed away on June 16, 1939, just months before this article appeared.
Chick Webb: A Final Battle
Chick Webb was the undisputed “King of the Savoy Ballroom,” famously leading the band that beat Benny Goodman and Count Basie in legendary “Battles of the Bands.” But offstage, Webb fought a lifelong battle with spinal tuberculosis. Standing only four feet tall and suffering from a hunchbacked spine, he played with a custom-made drum kit that allowed him to power through immense physical pain.
By 1939, his health took a sharp turn. Despite undergoing major surgery at Johns Hopkins, he never fully recovered. On June 16, 1939, Webb passed away at just 34 years old. His final words to his mother were reportedly, “I’m sorry, I’ve got to go.”
Chick Webb’s Dying Wish for East Baltimore
Chick Webb didn’t just want to be remembered for his drumming; he wanted to give back to the neighborhood that raised him. The “Dream” mentioned in the article was his dying wish—a safe recreation center for the children of East Baltimore. He wanted to provide a haven for youth in a heavily segregated city.
Swing Royalty Unites for “The Dream”
While Chick couldn’t be there to see it, his peers ensured his vision became a reality. On February 12, 1940, Jimmie Lunceford and Cab Calloway headlined a massive benefit concert in his honor. This wasn’t just a musical event; it was a major civic movement that united the community.
The concert was attended by 7,500 people, including heavyweight champion Joe Louis and the Governor of Maryland. Together, they raised $10,600—an enormous sum that successfully crowd-funded the first major recreation center for Black youth in Baltimore.
The Legacy Today: 623 N. Eden Street
That legacy lives on at its original location. Following a $17.5M modernization, the Chick Webb Memorial Recreation Center officially reopened on April 16, 2026. The facility now features a state-of-the-art recording studio and a modernized pool, ensuring that nearly a century later, Webb’s wish is still inspiring the youth of Baltimore.
References & Historical Sources
- Original Publication: Metronome Magazine, March 1940, “7,500 Baltimoreans Pay $10,600 to Further Webb’s Dream.”
- Biographical Records: Rhythm Man: Chick Webb and the Beat that Changed America by Stephanie Stein Crease (Oxford University Press, 2023).
- Civic Archives: Historical records of the February 1940 benefit concert and the $10,600 fundraising effort for the Baltimore Recreation Center.
- Modern Updates: Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP), “Chick Webb Memorial Recreation Center Grand Reopening,” April 2026.
Hear Chick Webb, Jimmie Lunceford and Cab Calloway on our big band and Swing Era radio stream. Explore more historic jazz scans in our Swing Era Magazine Scan Archive.