Bennie Moten was an American jazz pianist and bandleader who was a central figure in the development of Kansas City jazz. Born in 1893 in Kansas City, Missouri, he studied piano with his mother and later performed as a stride pianist in local clubs. In 1918, he founded the B.B. & D. Orchestra, a ragtime trio. Moten established his first band under his own name in 1922 and began recording for OKeh Records in 1923. His early recordings included the tracks “Crawdad Blues” and “Elephant's Wobble”. In 1924, he began managing Paseo Hall in Kansas City. His orchestra grew in prominence and recruited musicians including Count Basie, Walter Page and vocalist Jimmy Rushing in 1929. In 1932, the ensemble recorded several pieces that became jazz standards, including “Moten Swing”, “Toby” and “Lafayette”. Moten died in 1935 in Kansas City following a failed medical procedure.
