In the 1940s, employment opportunities for African Americans were limited, even in the entertainment field. For those who were considered “second tier “performers, the ability to include a great deal of variety in one’s routine is often what brought you bookings! Warren Patterson and Al Jackson, always billed as Patterson and Jackson, brought enough variety to their act that they were popular for well over a decade. The fact that they were both extremely large men, well over 300 pounds each, according to the black press, was noteworthy among stage entertainers. The two danced, did acrobatics, sang, and performed impressions, which led to repeat engagements on stage, film, or television, with new routines spotlighting different aspects of their talents.
While both were active in the 1930s, Patterson and Jackson began working together in Detroit in early 1942. In September of that year, they joined Earl Hines and his Orchestra. Two years later they performed with Duke Ellington at the Hurricane Nightclub in Manhattan. The team was also with Dizzy Gillespie on the ill-conceived Hepsations of 1945 tour of the South. Later in the decade, they would be featured in black-cast films, and they worked together until 1954.
Our Soundie opens with a short eccentric dance, with Patterson and Jackson backed by a small jazz combo, off-screen, that plays a variation of George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm.” Al Patterson then introduces partner Warren Jackson, who does a very accurate and funny version of the huge 1941 Ink Spots hit, “Do I Worry?” Jackson effectively mimics lead vocalist Bill Kenny, and also performs the talking section by Hoppy Jones. Produced during the midst of the recording ban, producer/director William Crouch was forced to use a non-union combo (none of the instrumentalists has been identified), although this hardly matters. The music is well-played, although we focus on Patterson and Jackson. This is a team that deserves greater recognition, and they will return in a few weeks with a new Soundie performance.