Original Indiana Five

New York-based band of the 1920s playing jazz music in the style of the The Original Memphis Five or the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Under the name "Original Indiana Syncopators" the band made its first recordings for John Fletcher's Olympic (11) label in April and May 1923. At that point, it comprised leader Newman Fier on piano, Johnny Sylvester on trumpet, Vincent Grande on trombone, Johnny Costello on clarinet, and Tommy Morton on drums. For the May session, they added Nick Vitalo on sax and clarinet (Costello soon left) and Tony Colucci on banjo. In September 1923, Sylvester took over the band, which then recorded for Pathé, and Harry Ford replaced Fier on piano. In 1925, when the band recorded with Gennett, Morton became its leader. Trumpeter James Christie (6) and trombonist Charles Panelli replaced Sylvester and Grande. For the band's first OKeh sessions in September 1925, Pete Pellezzi took over from Panelli. In October 1926, Christie also left. His replacement, trumpeter Tony Tortomas, joined the band for some of its best recordings until it disbanded in 1929.