Brown Buddies – Dance Band. As an amalgam of former members of the Patent Leather Kids (notably saxophonist Henry Woods) and a group of young players from Crispus Attucks, the Brown Buddies formed around 1930. The group was name after Mr. Harold Brown, a well-respected music teacher at Crispus Attucks. In 1932, the band spent several months in Cincinnati and fell under the spell of Fats Waller and the Lunceford Band. With a reputation of holding its own in playing competitions, the members of the Brown Buddies eventually went their own separate ways. Alto saxophonist Beryl Steiner went to New York and played with the Wisdom Brothers at the Cotton Club before hitting the road with Lucky Millinder, Jimmy Rachell, and Tiny Bradshaw. He also recorded as a sideman to Ethel Waters. While trumpet player Roger Jones joined the bands of Cab Calloway and Don Redman, fellow trumpeter Reunald Jones played with Redman, Chick Webb, Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, Lucky Millinder, and Duke Ellington. Pianist and arranger James “Step” Wharton also found success contributing some arrangements to Benny Goodman before returning to Indianapolis as a popular lounge entertainer in the 1950s and 1960s. One of Wharton’s regular spots was the Sherwood Pub downtown.