Dodo and Buddy Get Mugged

[Randy Twizzle]

[Dan Gould]

So how did you find that, Randy? Did you hear of such a story or did you search by Dodo's name?

[ghost of miles]

I've come across mention of this story before, but I've never read the original article--thanks for posting, Randy. Poor Dodo... in addition to this, he evidently received pretty horrific treatment when he was institutionalized sometime in the late 1940s (during his Army spell?). Somewhat reminiscent of Bud Powell's downfall IMO--brilliant bebop pianist who never quite recovered from early beatings and abuse.

[Randy Twizzle]

I found the article while doing a search of 'zoot suit' stories in the Times. On June 10, 1943 the day before the Philadelphia beating story appeard there were several stories about zoot suit beatings around the country, the most prominent of course being the zoot suit riots in LA.

[Larry Kart]

For DeFranco's account of the incident, see p. 209 of Ira Gitler's "Swing To Bop." According to DeFranco, Dodo was in a coma "for almost 24 hours.... I don't want to cop out for Dodo, but he has never been the same since."

[ghost of miles]

I think that's where I'd come across the story before. The story about his hospitalization came, I'm pretty sure, from the booklet that accompanies the Uptown CD. Lots of background info there, plus an actualy latter-day interview with Dodo done by Sunenblick.

[brownie]

There is a slightly different clipping (from the Camden Courier-Post) on the mugging in the Buddy de Franco biography that was published in 2002 by Parkside Publications. The book was written by Fabrice Zammarchi and Sylvie Mas with the full cooperation of De Franco. A splendid book!

De Franco gives an account of the mugging. The band 'uniforms' were in fact the zootsuits that were the fashion trend in those days! He says five sailors - not two- attacked him and Marmarosa. Dodo was in the middle of writing a letter on the subway station when the musicians were attacked by the sailors!

De Franco also recounts that Charlie Ventura and some Italian friends heard about the incident and started a demonstration the next dayat the gates of the Philadelphia Navy Yard.