McRae, Teddy, 1908-1999

Theodore "Teddy" McRae (1908-1999), nicknamed "Mr. Bear", was a tenor saxophone player, arranger, and composer. He worked with numerous bandleaders througout his career, including Chick Webb, Charlie Johnson, Elmer Snowden, Stuff Smith, Lil Armstrong, Benny Morton, Artie Shaw, and Louis Armstrong. He composed two successful tunes, "Back Bay Shuffle" (1938) and "Traffic Jam" (1939). In the late 1950s, McRae formed Enrica Records and the production company Rae-Cox Records with Eddie Wilcox.

From the description of Teddy McRae papers, 1940-1981 (1954-1979). (University of Maryland Libraries). WorldCat record id: 233824772

Theodore "Teddy" McRae, nicknamed Mr. Bear, was born in Waycross, Georgia on January 22, 1908 and raised in Philadelphia. He began studying medicine, but in 1928 switched to music and organized a family band to perform locally with his brothers. McRae played the tenor saxophone, was an arranger and a composer.

In the early 1930's, McRae worked with bandleaders Chick Webb, Charlie Johnson, Elmer Snowden, Stuff Smith, and Lil Armstrong and in 1934, recorded with Benny Morton. Between 1936 and 1939, McRae was a part of Chick Webb's band. When Webb died in 1939, McRae became music director while Ella Fitzgerald led the band. During that time, he also composed two successful tunes, "Back Bay Shuffle" in 1938 and "Traffic Jam" in 1939.

In 1943, McRae worked as staff arranger for Artie Shaw and then as music director of Louis Armstrong's big band from 1944-1945. After his work with Louis Armstrong's band, McRae played with small jazz groups and primarily worked as a freelance arranger.

In the late 1950's, he formed Enrica Records and production company Rae-Cox Records with Eddie Wilcox which produced albums including "Bennie Green Swings the Blues" and Edmund Hall's "Rumpus on Rampart Street."

McRae and his wife, Fredist, raised three sons, Theodore, Jr., Robert, and Howard, and five daughters, Freda Staton, Norma McRae, Mattina Whitehead-Hamilton, Ethel Newbold and Lavonia Reeves-Bailey. Teddy McRae died March 4, 1999 at the age of 91 from natural causes.

From the guide to the Teddy McRae Papers, 1940-1981, 1954-1979, (Special Collections in Performing Arts)