The Mysterious Disappearance of Dupree Bolton and Baby Face Willette

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Every so often, musicians appear seemingly out of nowhere, make an impressive splash in the jazz world, and then seem to disappear into thin air. That's the story of two musicians who had remarkable debuts, and then were never heard from again: the trumpeter Dupree Bolton and B3 organist Baby Face Willette.

Dupree Bolton caused a sensation on the West Coast when he appeared, unknown and out of the blue, at the close of the 1950s. He made a small number of recordings marked by his blistering speed and unbridled creativity, and appeared destined to rise to the top.

The jazz organist Baby Face Willette arrived on the scene in the early '60s with a Blue Note contract. He recorded a few impressive albums, then vanished from the jazz scene and died in obscurity.

In this hour you'll hear their music and their stories.

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