Pee Wee Marquette
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| Pee Wee Marquette | |
|---|---|
| Known for | Birdland jazz club |
William Crayton "Pee Wee" Marquette (born in Montgomery, Alabama) is the former master of ceremonies at the Birdland jazz club in New York City. Marquette is under four feet tall, most likely three foot nine. His voice can be heard making the introductions on Art Blakey's 1954 record A Night at Birdland.[1] His announcements are also documented on Blakey's other Birdland albums At the Jazz Corner of the World (1959) and Ugetsu (1963).
He had a reputation for being mean and demanding "tips" to the point of extortion. An explanation of his system was given by Bobby Hutcherson in an interview.[2] He claimed Marquette told him on his first day that he was not needed and that he should "pack your things and get on out of here." This did not occur as he had been asked to play, but Marquette made Hutcherson's first night playing at the club difficult. Marquette intentionally mispronounced his name to embarrass Hutcherson and blew cigar smoke in his face to further the irritation. However once Marquette was paid his "tip" he pronounced Hutcherson's name correctly.[3] This is said to have been a pattern for him: other musicians had similar stories of having to pay him to avoid public humiliation. Perhaps because of this, or because of the era, most musicians who knew him still referred to him as a "midget".[4]
Little has been heard from Marquette since his Birdland days. He appeared on Late Night with David Letterman in 1985, during which he discussed his memories of being at the jazz club.[5]
He can be heard in the introductory sequence and tail of "Birdland" on the Quincy Jones Album "Back on the Block" as well as the introduction on Us3's hit song, "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)."[6]
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