Editing Roy Eldridge (section)

==== Early career and traveling bands ====
Eldridge led and played in a number of bands during his early years, moving extensively throughout the American [[Midwest]].<ref>[http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com:80/subscriber/article/grove/music/08689 Eldridge, (David) Roy in Oxford Music Online] Gunther Schuller, ''Oxford Music Online''. Retrieved March 26, 2012.</ref> He absorbed the influence of saxophonists [[Benny Carter]] and [[Coleman Hawkins]], setting himself the task of learning Hawkins's 1926 solo on "The Stampede" (by [[Fletcher Henderson]]'s Orchestra) in developing an equivalent trumpet style.<ref>Lyttelton, p. 410.</ref>

Eldridge left home after being expelled from high school in ninth grade, joining a traveling show at the age of sixteen; the show soon folded, however, and he was left in [[Youngstown, Ohio]].<ref>Chilton, pp. 12–13.</ref> He was then picked up by the "Greater Sheesley Carnival," but returned to Pittsburgh after witnessing acts of racism in [[Cumberland, Maryland]] that significantly disturbed him.<ref>Chilton, pp. 14–16.</ref> Eldridge soon found work leading a small band in the traveling "Rock Dinah" show,<ref>Chilton, p. 16.</ref> his performance therein leading swing-era bandleader [[Count Basie]] to recall young Roy Eldridge as "the greatest trumpet I'd ever heard in my life."<ref>Basie, quoted in Chilton, p. 18.</ref> Eldridge continued playing with similar traveling groups until returning home to Pittsburgh at the age of 17.<ref>Chilton, p. 22.</ref>

At the age of 20, Eldridge led a band in Pittsburgh, billed as "Roy Elliott and his Palais Royal Orchestra",<ref name="Balliett, p. 151">Balliett, p. 151.</ref> the agent intentionally changing Eldridge's name because "he thought it more classy."<ref>Eldridge, quoted in Chilton, p. 22.</ref> Roy left this position to try out for the orchestra of [[Horace Henderson]], younger brother of famed New York City bandleader [[Fletcher Henderson]], and joined the ensemble, generally referred to as The Fletcher Henderson Stompers, Under the Direction of Horace Henderson.<ref>Chilton, p. 25.</ref> Eldridge then played with a number of other territory bands, staying for a short while in Detroit before joining [[Speed Webb]]'s band which, having garnered a degree of movie publicity, began a tour of the Midwest.<ref>Chilton, pp. 32–34, 37.</ref> Many of the members of Webb's band, annoyed by the leader's lack of dedication, left to form a practically identical group with Eldridge as bandleader.<ref>Chilton, pp. 39–40.</ref> The ensemble was short-lived, and Eldridge soon moved to [[Milwaukee]], where he took part in a celebrated [[cutting contest]] with trumpet player [[Jabbo Smith|Cladys "Jabbo" Smith]], with whom he later became good friends.<ref>Chilton, pp. 40–42.</ref>