Finding the Groove: Pioneers of Jazz in India — Micky Correa
A series of exhibitions of early jazz musicians in India.
American Institute of Indian Studies
The exhibitions are based on archival materials collected by Naresh Fernandes at the Archives and Research Center for Ethnomusicology, AIIS
Micky Correa first came to the stage as part of his brother Alex’s band, Correa’s Optimists – Karachi’s leading dance orchestra.
The Correa Optimists in Karachi with Alec and Micky
Micky Correa was a highly skilled musician and played the saxophone, clarinet, piano-accordion and the violin.
Micky Correa: Early years in Bombay, 1937-1939
Micky Correa played at the Eros and Majestic in Bombay with various bands.
He also played with Teddy Weatherford's band at the Taj in the '30s.
Autographed programme of Micky Correa and his bandOriginal Source: Jehangir Dalal
Micky Correa and his Swing Band
Micky Correa band at the TajOriginal Source: Christine Correa and the Correa Family
Micky Correa's band at the Taj
In 1939, Micky started his own band at the Taj, where he continued to perform for twenty-one years before retiring in 1961.
Programme for the concert held on 14th August 1947Original Source: Christine Correa and the Correa Family
Independence Day At The Taj - 1947
On the eve of India's independence, on 14 August 1947 at the Taj in Bombay, the combined bands of Chic Chocolate and Micky Correa brought in Independence day to an elite audience with a jaunty rendition of Jana Gana Mana, the national song.
Micky Correa and his band perform at the Taj Mahal Hotel, BombayOriginal Source: Christine Correa and the Correa Family
Independence Day Celebrations at the Taj
Correa's orchestra at the Taj was a hothouse for Bombay swing. The men and women who would go on to lead the city's most popular groups found early encouragement on his bandstand: saxophonist Johnny Baptist, Norman Mobsby, George Pacheco and the Gomes brothers, Johnny and Joe; trumpet players Peter Monsorate, Pete D'Mello and Chic Chocolate; and pianists Manuel Nunes, Dorothy Clarke and Lucilla Pacheco, among others.
Micky Correa and his bandOriginal Source: Christine Correa and the Correa Family
Seen here is Micky Correa with his band.
Micky Correa brochureOriginal Source: Christine Correa and the Correa Family
Micky at Green's
As Green's was a part of the Taj hotel group, Micky Correa and his band played there regularly from 1939.
The Micky Correa BandOriginal Source: Larissa and Max Fernand
"My Prayer" by Micky Correa and his band.
Micky Correa performing at the Glenn Miller tribute concertOriginal Source: Christine Correa and the Correa Family
Glenn Miller Tribute Concert
Micky Correa's band performed at a Glenn Miller tribute concert at the Regal cinema in Bombay in 1956.
Jazz singer, Christine Correa reminiscing about her father Micky Correa - from the film Finding Carlton by Susheel Kurien
Curation and content: Naresh Fernandes
Content editors - Ayesha Sheth, Ronit Ghosh, Ishita Mehta
Project Director: Shubha Chaudhuri
Based on the Taj Mahal Foxtrot and materials from the Naresh Fernandes Collection at the Archives and Research Center for Ethnomusicology, American Institute of Indian Studies
Acknowledgements
Credits for images and materials: Christine Correa and the Correa family
Susheel Kurien, Christine Correa and the Correa family for recordings
Susheel Kurien for the extract from "Finding Carlton"
