Alley Cat Strut Oscar Holden __exclusive__

Oscar Holden (1886-1969) was a man who brought joy and sophisticated jazz to a rapidly evolving city. While his actual recordings are not known to survive, his spirit and musical genius were captured through the literary and musical homage of the "Alley Cat Strut."

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In Jamie Ford's historical novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

The record is played over the loudspeaker at Camp Harmony, the temporary assembly center for interned Japanese Americans, offering a moment of joy and rebellion against their captors. 4. "Fixing" the Record, Fixing the Relationship alley cat strut oscar holden

Locate recordings or performances by the Steve Griggs Ensemble. Share more about the history of the Panama Hotel. What aspect of this story interests you most? Share public link

The story highlights the loss of Japanese family possessions stored in the basement of the Panama Hotel, including this fictional, precious 78-rpm record. "Alley Cat Strut" in Real Life

This performance included esteemed musicians such as trumpeter Jay Thomas, saxophonist Steve Griggs, vibraphonist Susan Pascal, guitarist Milo Petersen, and bassist Phil Sparks, often with Deems Tsutakawa as a guest. Conclusion Oscar Holden (1886-1969) was a man who brought

, is a fictional jazz song performed by the real-life "Patriarch of Seattle Jazz," Oscar Holden

Though often overshadowed by the slicker sounds of East Coast stride, “Alley Cat Strut” endured through oral tradition in the Pacific Northwest, championed by pianists who played for tips, not trophies. It’s been covered, misquoted, and occasionally mistaken for a lost Jelly Roll Morton number. But the swagger? That’s all Holden.

, "Alley Cat Strut" is a fictional jazz composition attributed to the real-life musician Oscar Holden , who was known as the patriarch of Seattle jazz. 🎹 The Fictional Song: "Alley Cat Strut" What aspect of this story interests you most

So, the next time you are walking down a dark street at midnight, put on Keep your shoulders back. Pick up your feet. And walk with the confidence of a tomcat who owns every brick on the block. That is the Oscar Holden way.

Oscar Holden passed away in 1969, just as Seattle’s music scene was pivoting toward rock and psychedelia. He died in relative obscurity, but his music never did.

“My grandfather said he wrote the tune in 1927 after watching a stray tomcat walk down the alley behind the Pink Elephant Club. The cat was limping—he’d been in a fight—but he still held his head high. My grandpa said, ‘That cat has more dignity than the mayor.’ He hummed the bass line that night and never stopped playing it.”

When critics first heard it in the late 1920s, they described it as "the sound Seattle made when the lumberjacks came to town."

Oscar Holden was born on July 16, 1881, in Galveston, Texas, and began his musical career as a pianist in church bands and dance halls. He eventually moved to Seattle, where he became a prominent figure in the city's music scene, leading his own band and performing at popular venues like the Royal Palm Cafe and the Fremont Sunday Market. Holden's music was known for its unique blend of jazz, blues, and ragtime, which captivated audiences and helped to establish him as one of the leading musicians of his time.