Violinist and bandleader Erskine Tate helped pioneer Chicago jazz and big band music with his Vendome Orchestra, playing at the Vendome Theater at East 31st and State streets. The band featured a young Louis Armstrong, and played live music during and between silent films in movie theaters. Tate played through the mid-'30s before retiring to teach music. His band also featured Freddie Keppard on cornet, Buster Bailey on saxophone, Jimmy Bertrand on drums, Ed Atkins on trombone, and Teddy Weatherford on piano. ~ Ron DePasquale, Rovi