The name was used by different bands, and was taken from the title of an extremely successful 1924 show co-written by
Eubie Blake and
Noble Sissle. The earliest ensemble using it was directed by
Don Redman, and recorded for OKeh in 1928 and 1929. Recordings that
Redman supervised for
McKinney's Cotton Pickers also were issued under that name. During the early '30s, several groups under
Benny Carter's leadership were called
Chocolate Dandies.
Coleman Hawkins was featured in editions of the group in both the '30s and '40s; others who were featured in subsequent editions included
Max Kaminsky,
Floyd O'Brien,
Buck Clayton, plus members of both
Carter's and
Fletcher Henderson's bands. ~ Ron Wynn