James Forman aka Hen Gates

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   I am researching the various budget LP releases that came out during the 1950s on labels such as Plymouth, Palace, Masterseal etc that were supposedly by Hen Gates and His Gaters. The material was R & B, jump blues, jazz  and Rock and Roll. Some of the material was by Freddie Mitchell from his days at Derby Records in the late 40s and early 50s. Other tunes were by Eddie 'LockJaw ' Davis from Lenox ... however most of the artists are unidentified. Davis and Mitchell were unidentified, and often the original names of the tunes were changed from LP to LPThe Philadelphia pianist James Forman used the pseudonym Hen Gates on some sessions with Charlie Parker, Gillespie and James Moody, as did Gillespie himslf on some Parker sessions. I believe it was Gillespie who passed on the nickname to Forman. 
As far as i can tell, Forman has NOTHING to do with material issued under the name Hen Gates on these budget records.
I am trying to find out WHY this name was used, and if Forman had ANYTHING AT ALL to do with the releases. I did hear an unsubstantiated rumor that he might have owned the masters. I do know that Eli Oberstein bought the Derby catalog in late 1954, and subsequently Don Gabor issued many of these masters on his Plymouth, Paris, Masterseal  and Palace labels.
Any info on Mr Forman and/or Hen Gates will be very welcome!
Thanks in advance for the flood of suggestions!

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Bob Bell Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Newbie Joined: 26 Sep 2024 Location: Oakland, CA Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bob Bell Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: James Forman aka Hen Gates Posted: 26 Sep 2024 at 4:10pm
	I am researching the various budget LP releases that came out during the 1950s on labels such as Plymouth, Palace, Masterseal etc that were supposedly by Hen Gates and His Gaters. The material was R & B, jump blues, jazz and Rock and Roll. Some of the material was by Freddie Mitchell from his days at Derby Records in the late 40s and early 50s. Other tunes were by Eddie 'LockJaw ' Davis from Lenox ... however most of the artists are unidentified. Davis and Mitchell were unidentified, and often the original names of the tunes were changed from LP to LP The Philadelphia pianist James Forman used the pseudonym Hen Gates on some sessions with Charlie Parker, Gillespie and James Moody, as did Gillespie himslf on some Parker sessions. I believe it was Gillespie who passed on the nickname to Forman. As far as i can tell, Forman has NOTHING to do with material issued under the name Hen Gates on these budget records. I am trying to find out WHY this name was used, and if Forman had ANYTHING AT ALL to do with the releases. I did hear an unsubstantiated rumor that he might have owned the masters. I do know that Eli Oberstein bought the Derby catalog in late 1954, and subsequently Don Gabor issued many of these masters on his Plymouth, Paris, Masterseal and Palace labels. Any info on Mr Forman and/or Hen Gates will be very welcome! Thanks in advance for the flood of suggestions!

js Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 35204	Post Options Post Reply Quote js Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Sep 2024 at 6:04pm
	Interesting, I will have some time to look into this tomorrow. I guess you know about Charlie Parker being last name Chan, and I think first name Charlie?

Bob Bell Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Newbie Joined: 26 Sep 2024 Location: Oakland, CA Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bob Bell Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Oct 2024 at 5:42pm
	Yes, I do know about 'Charlie Chan', but not enough about James Forman! Any help will be much appreciated!