Original Indiana Five

The Original Indiana Five is so-named after the example set by the Memphis Five and other Dixieland-styled groups of the early '20s. Neither the band nor its members were from the state of Indiana; it appears that the group was initially formed in Pennsylvania sometime before 1923. After that time, the Original Indiana Five were based in New York City. Their first recording session was held in Long Island City for the tiny Olympic label in April 1923 under the name the Original Indiana Syncopators. At this point the leader of the band was pianist Newman Fier, with trumpeter Johnny Sylvester, trombonist Vincent Grande, clarinetist Johnny Costello, and drummer Tom Morton rounding out the "OI5." By their second session in May, clarinetist Nick Vitalo was added; he would become a mainstay of the group. Banjoist Tony Colucci also was present for the second session. While never officially a member of the OI5, Colucci would appear on many of their recordings. By September 1923, when the group began to record for Pathé, Newman Fier was out of the band and Sylvester had assumed the helm as leader, with pianist Harry Ford replacing Fier. Costello was likewise gone, leaving the sax and clarinet duties in the OI5 to Vitalo, and he would fulfill this role in the band until its end. At this point, trombonist Grande was replaced by Charlie Panelli. This configuration of the OI5 proved short-lived -- by their first session for Gennett they had ousted Sylvester and replaced him with trumpeter James Christie, and drummer Tom Morton would take over leadership of the band. Morton would continue to lead the band until its demise in 1929. By September 1925 and the OI5's first sessions for OKeh, Panelli was out and trombonist Pete Pellezzi came in -- this would prove to be the beginning of...