ELMER RADD was born April 3, 1909 to Sam and Sallie Radd. He was married twice, first to Vera Mae Johnson, and following her death he married Cordia Mady when he was 51. Elmer’s Cotton Club Band was famous throughout the Midwest, and they were in great demand. Here are a few articles about them:
From St. Louis Post Dispatch; Friday, August 5, 1983
In the years just after the war, Lexington’s many schools and seminaries earned it the nickname Athens of the West. Even up to the years before Prohibition, Lexington must have been rocking. Elmer Radd’s Cotton Club Orchestra held forth in the dance halls while the Goose Pond minstrels performed in the Grand Opera House. The speakeasies and saloons along the town’s notorious “Block 42” gave the men who worked in the town’s mines and factories places to spend their time and money.
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From The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune; Tuesday, May 2,1 1935
TO WINDMOOR GARDENS
Elmer Radd and his Harlem Blue Birds from Lexington will be at the Windmoor Gardens Thursday night, May 23. Speaking from experience this is one of the best colored bands in the state of Missouri. This band has been a sell out at the great Lexington night club for the last two years. This will be the last chance to dance to this band for some time, so don’t miss it.
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From Moberly Monitor-Index; Tuesday, January 25, 1938
ROUND DANCE
Winter Garden Hall
212 N. Clark St.
Moberly, Mo.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26
Music by Elmer Radd’s 10-piece Cotton Club Orchestra
Adm. 50 cents each
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Elmer died December 6, 1976, and is buried at Forest Grove Cemetery.
hello my name is WYTHENA triplett\ Levels of Kansas city Missouri I am elmer radds granddaughter my grandmother was married to my grandfather they lived at 108 south 6th street Lexington Missouri my grandmother is carida radd she raised me and my brother frankie triplett my grandmother had one son who is my father whytha triplett who my grandpaw raised my mother and father where married and im my fathers child I have been looking for a long time for this im 53 years old born 1967may 10th to Julia triplett my mother is 73years old and is still alive we are here my grand mother married ollie morehead and she died I was sick mental health now im better ive been trying to find this now I have I will be going down to Lexington Missouri very soon I was wondering where my grandparents stuff was also I have bi certificates showing im his granddaughter my phone number is 816877-6191 if you have any questons
I am so sorry I just saw this. I am not very good at managing a website! It is wonderful to hear from you. Elmer is buried toward the back of the cemetery. There is a “circle” drive back there. If you think of it as a clock, he is at about 10:00.
thank you so much god bless you