Old Missoula

Tom and Phil Sheridan – Musicians – Local ‘Jazz’ Harmony Kings

The Sheridan brothers, Tom and Phil, had an impact on Missoula’s music scene early in the last century. Arising out of the University of Montana, they were credited with introducing the ‘new jazz’ to Missoula as far back as 1917. Well liked, their lives intertwined with many early Missoula people, but their story, like their lives, was way too short. Missoula pilot Bob Johnson risked his life trying to save Phil’s. We get hints of their broad talent from brief comments about them in a few publications. For many years they followed the ‘gypsy’ life of full time musicians that never quite made it into the big leagues, but nevertheless found a definite niche in the Northwest music scene. At least one of their early followers, band leader Harry Owens, did make it big time, but his relationship with them is not clear. Unlike as in Harry Owens’ musical career, no recording of their music seems to have survived. To describe them tragically does not seem entirely appropriate – they did capture the local spotlight for several years. Still, their mournful story has an arresting quality, especially when viewed with the notion of what more could have been had their luck been different.

 

Brothers’ Reunion Arouses Lovers of Syncopation —

They can’t stay away.

One of the first former students to arrive for Homecoming celebration was Tom Sheridan. Sheridan, after leaving the University here, enrolled at Washington University. Homecoming advertisements got in a body blow, and Tom decided to make his home coming permanent. He dropped his studies at the University of Washington and came back to Missoula to stay. At least he is going to stay for a while. He says he will not register here this year. If he stays in town, as he plans, it may be that some of the lovers of the old Sheridan orchestra will have a chance to hear Tom and Phil play for a dance again. Tom is known to have the ability to make a piano get up on its hind legs and beg for mercy, while Phil can get more music out of a snare drum and a set of traps than most people can resist.

From Montana Kaimin – 12/9/1919

https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1556&context=studentnewspaper

Missoulian Photo & caption – December 20, 1925

 

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DEATH WINS RACE WITH PLANE HERE

SHERIDAN DIES AS CARBOGEN TANKS ARRIVE

Orchestra Leader Succumbs To Attack of Pneumonia. Artificial Respiration Was Only Hope to Save Life.

JOHNSON DASHES TO WALLACE AND BACK

The modern miracle of the airplane ran a race with the age-old miracle of death last night, and death won.

Thomas Sheridan, jazz harmony king of Western Montana, died last night at his home at 502 West Spruce street, as his air pilot friend, Robert Johnson, nosed down at the Missoula airport the airplane that carried carbogen tanks that might have saved his life. Mr. Sheridan, critically ill with pneumonia since Wednesday, had one fleeting chance, that of carbogen through an inhalator, and it was for that equipment that Robert Johnson raced his plane to Wallace last night in a vain attempt to realize on that last slim hope for a friend.

Fight for Life.

Attendants had been giving Mr. Sheridan carbogen since Sunday noon, and his life had been sustained for six hours before his death with its use. The supply of carbogen was running low, and a new supply was needed quickly. Johnson volunteered his large Travelair plane, and with J. T. Cranney, fire chief, took off from Missoula last night at :10 (sic) o’clock, in a stiff wind. They fought a strong head wind nearly all the way to Wallace, making the trip to Wallace in one hour and 10 minutes.

Mr. Sheridan, who was 34 years old, and had lived in Missoula for 15 years, was born in Paola, Kan., October 25, 1895. He came to Missoula in 1914, where he finished high school. He attended the State University here for several years and was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.

Musical Career.

Mr. Sheridan began his musical career while attending high school as a means of working his way through school and college. He became interested in music, taking it up as a vocation. For many years he, with his brother, Phil, conducted orchestras in Missoula and in other Montana cities, their orchestras becoming well known throughout the Northwest.

In the spring of 1917 the brothers organized the first jazz band in the state, and toured the state for the first time.

Mr. Sheridan is survived by his wife, Adine, who was born and reared in Missoula. They were married July 31, 1923. He also is survived by two brothers, Phil, now of Great Falls, and B. L. Sheridan, an attorney at Paola, Kan.

Mr. Sheridan of Kansas is expected to leave his home today to come to Missoula. The body is at the Lucy undertaking place and funeral services will be held at the home Saturday morning.

Short Wait at Wallace.

When they arrived at Wallace, the flyers were met by K. T. Sparks, safety engineer of the Central Rescue station of the mines there, and by John Boyd, Wallace fire chief. They were forced to wait about 15 minutes so that two more cans of carbogen could be obtained. None of the precious time was used for refueling. Except for the wind that they had to face going on the trip, air conditions were fair, the flyers said.

In only one hour and five minutes they made the return to Missoula. At Superior it was dark, and it was necessary for the men to land at the Missoula airport in the dark.

This makes the second trip these two men have made to Wallace in a vain effort to save a human life. On the afternoon of last July 28, they flew to the Idaho city to procure carbogen tanks in an attempt to save the life of the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Caras of Orchard Homes. On this flight the flyers were hindered by wind and rain.

The trip yesterday was described by the flyers as a much easier trip than the previous one taken in the smaller ship.

“Although we bucked a strong wind going over, the plane rode easily and the round trip was made in very good time,” said Mr. Johnson.

“It was a wonderful trip,” said Fire Chief Cranney. “The plane certainly rides smoothly, and although we were facing a strong wind, one would never know it.

“No unnecessary time was lost in Wallace, as telephone communication had been had from Missoula before hand, and the men with two of the carbogen tanks were there to meet us,” he said.

Richard Johnson, a brother of Robert, accompanied the men on the flight.

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on May 15, 1929

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A tear for Tom Sheridan. He was a mild, quiet, lovable, industrious, talented chap, with a sense of humor and a gift for friendship. A good citizen, too, was Tom and his passing leaves a vacancy in life here.

Words above were from The Oracle Column in The Daily Missoulian on May 16, 1929 – French Ferguson editor.

 

Thomas Sheridan’s Funeral to Be at Missoula Saturday

Funeral services for Thomas Sheridan, brother of Phil Sheridan of this city, who died Tuesday evening at Missoula from pneumonia, will be held Saturday afternoon at the Cyr residence in Missoula. Interment will be in the Missoula cemetery.

Mr. Sheridan, who was 34 years old, was widely known throughout the northwest for the orchestras conducted by him and his brother. His death occurred Tuesday night just after an airplane, piloted by Robert Johnson of Missoula, landed there from Wallace, Ida., with oxygen for the lungmotor with which it had been hoped to prolong Mr. Sheridan’s life. James Craney, fire chief at Missoula, flew with Johnson to get the oxygen. Mr. and Mrs. Phil Sheridan and Mrs. G. L. Flaherty of Great Falls were with Mr. Sheridan at the time of his death.

Mr. Sheridan was born in Paola, Kan., and had lived in Missoula for the last 15 years. He was graduated from high school there and attended the State university, where he began his music career. For the last 10 years he and his brother, Phil, led orchestras at Missoula, Anaconda and Great Falls. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Adine [Cyr] Sheridan of Missoula and by brothers, Phil Sheridan of Great Falls and B. L. Sheridan of Paola, Kan.

The above notice is from the Great Falls Tribune on May, 16, 1929.

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Phil Sheridan on Extended Tour

Glacier Park, Mont., July 20 –

Phil Sheridan and his Montanans are making their 14^th annual tour of Glacier National Park. Following this trip, the band will tour Yellowstone National Park, as well as the states of Idaho, Washington and Montana before going on fall location in Missoula, Mont. Personnel comprises Lee Black, Hank Shinkowsky, Harry Walden, Stan Black, Milt Smith, Wall Smith and Phil Sheridan.

Above notice is from The Billboard – July 25, 1931

 

Phil Sheridan Jumps to Death Was Despondent

Former Resident Leaps From Hospital Window Was Well-Known Here.

Spokane, Dec. 1 – (AP) – Phil Sheridan, 47, well-known Pacific Northwest orchestra leader, fell to his death today from a fourth-story window of a Spokane hospital. Coroner I. S. Collins said it was unmistakably a suicide.

Dr. Collins said Sheridan was in the hospital after a previous attempt. Sheridan came to Spokane from Missoula and Great Falls, Mont., several years ago. His widow, Luetta, and two children survive.

LIVED HERE FOR YEARS.

For many years Phil Sheridan was a well-known resident of Missoula. As a student at the State University he was a fine athlete, a football player, a track-team member and a basketball star. At the University he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.

While still in school, Phil Sheridan, with his brother, the late Tom Sheridan, organized an orchestra that brought the then new jazz to Missoula and Western Montana. This orchestra still exists after more than twenty years of furnishing dance music for this part of the country and for the Spokane district, where Mr. Sheridan has lived for a number of years. Even during this time, however, Sheridan’s orchestra has appeared frequently in Missoula and elsewhere in Montana. His orchestra played several long engagements at the Davenport hotel.

About three years ago Mr. Sheridan’s health failed and since then he had spent much time in sanitariums and hospitals, although he continued his business intermittently.

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on December 2, 1937.

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