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Jazz, Dance, Territory, and Commercial Bands

Oklahoma City Blue Devils

Also documented as: Blue Devils · Walter Page’s Blue Devils

Oklahoma City and regional touring1925–1933African American territory jazz orchestra
Verified history
Master record248

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Documented overview

The Blue Devils developed in Oklahoma City after Billy King’s Road Show disbanded there in 1925. Walter Page reorganized and renamed the group, which operated through 1933 from the Ritz Ballroom and toured widely.

Verified history. Core identity and history are supported by durable sources.

History

Identity and chronology

The ensemble developed in Oklahoma City after Billy King’s Road Show disbanded there in 1925. Walter Page reorganized and renamed the group, which operated through 1933 from the Ritz Ballroom and toured widely as an African American territory band.

Leadership

Walter Page was the musical leader; Ermir “Bucket” Coleman had nominal control of the predecessor troupe. The OHS history identifies a substantial roster that included musicians such as Count Basie and Lester Young during parts of the band’s history.

Sponsorship and participation

Oklahoma City business support helped establish the reorganized band. It operated professionally through dances, touring, and recording rather than as a municipal concert band.

Professional adult ensemble.

Activity

The Blue Devils toured the Southwest and Midwest and made one Vocalion recording session in 1929. The ensemble was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2000.

Why this band matters

Foundational Black territory band with national influence and documented Oklahoma City institutional support.

Identity controls

Relationships

Names are typed so a related ensemble is not silently converted into an alias.

Predecessor circumstance

Billy King’s Road Show

Its Oklahoma City breakup preceded Walter Page’s reorganization.

Evidence timeline

What the sources establish

  1. Blue Devils formed in Oklahoma City

    Walter Page reorganized musicians from the disbanded Billy King road show.

    Source 1

  2. Vocalion recording session

    The band made its documented commercial recordings.

    Source 1

  3. Operating era ends

    The documented Blue Devils organization ceased operating.

    Source 1

  4. Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame induction

    The ensemble’s influence received formal state recognition.

    Source 1

Current research decision

What the wording does—and does not—claim

The Billy King Road Show is treated as the predecessor circumstance, not simply as an earlier Blue Devils name. Individual star associations must be tied to documented periods rather than implied for the entire 1925–1933 span.

What remains unknown

A date-by-date itinerary and personnel matrix would enrich the history but are not required for the verified overview.

Evidence

Sources

The Oklahoma Historical Society encyclopedia entry and its chronology were checked on 2026-09-03.

  1. Oklahoma Historical Society, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, “Blue Devils”

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