 Following this he played in numerous territory bands, including those of Walt Farrington, Willie Austin, Art Sims, Norman Mason, Floyd Campbell, Alphonse Trent, and J. Frank Terry.From 1931 to 1933 he was in Kansas City, playing in Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy, and then played briefly with Fletcher Henderson and Benny Carter in 1934.From 1935 to 1939 he played in Cab Calloway's orchestra.