WARREN 'BABY' DODDS, DECEMBER 24, 1898 - FEBRUARY 14, 1959 WAS A JAZZ DRUMMER BORN IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.
HE REGARDED AS ONE OF THE VERY BEST JAZZ DRUMMERS OF THE PRE-BIG BAND ERA, AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EARLY JAZZ DRUMMERS. DODDS WAS AMONGST THE FIRST DRUMMER WHO IMPROVISED WHILE PERFORMING TO BE RECORDED. HE VARIED HIS DRUM PATTERNS WITH ACCENTS AND FLOURISHES.
DODDS GAINED HIS REPUTATION AS A TOP YOUNG DRUMMER IN NEW ORLEANS, THEN WORKED ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER STEAMSHIP BANDS WITH YOUNG LOUIS ARMSTRONG. HE MOVED TO CALIFORNIA IN 1921 AND FOLLOWED TO CHICAGO, WHICH WOULD BE HIS BASE OF OPERATIONS.
DODDS IS PERHAPS THE FIRST JAZZ DRUMMER TO RECORD UNACCOMPANIED. DODDS REVOLUTIONIZED THE DRUM KIT BY INVENTING THE FLOOR BASS.
AFTER 1949, BABY DODDS HAD A SERIES OF STROKE THAT LEFT HIM PARTIALLY PARALYZED, BUT STILL MANAGED TO PLAY FROM TIME TO TIME UP UNTIL HIS DEATH, 10 YEARS LATER IN CHICAGO AT THE AGE OF 60.