Chick Webb was a standard bandleader at the Savoy Ballroom, sometimes competing with groups headed by stars such as Benny Goodman and Count Basie in the ballroom’s “Battles of the Bands.” In 1935, he began featuring a teen-age singer named Ella Fitzgerald in his performances.
Chick wrote the music to J.C.’s lyrics for SPINNIN’ THE WEB (used in TRAV’LIN). While only an occasional collaborator with J.C., he performed many of J.C.’s songs as part of his big band repertoire, most famously LOUSIANA.