Saxophonist Billy Tolles (1924-2005) began studying music at age 10 beginning with piano, and later played trumpet in the Garfield High School marching band. In 1941, then a saxophone player, Tolles formed the teenaged swing band Savoy Boys (also known as the Men of Jive) with Sonny Booker and Gerald Brashear. In college, Tolles continued gigging, performing with established jazz bands, including groups led by Louis Jordan, Billy Eckstein and other well-known bandleaders. Tolles later formed his own ensembles under various names: the Four Question Marks, Billy Tolles and the Four Tolls, and the rock band Billy Tolles and His Vibrators. In the early 1950s, Tolles began producing concerts and dances in venues around Seattle, and in 1956 he hosted the television show “Rock ‘N’ Roll party," featuring local bands and broadcast live from Parker’s Ballroom in Seattle.

This image shows Billy Tolles' band playing at the Trianon Ballroom, with music stands bearing Tolles' initials. Billy Tolles stands at right, playing saxophone; next to him, playing tenor sax, is George Francis. Second row, center, is Major Pigford on trombone.

Caption information source: Northwest Music Archives website, retrieved at https://nwmusicarchives.com/artist/tolles-billy/