Moved to Chicago in c. 1913, where he held long-term engagements with own quartet and 15-piece band. After working in Europe with Will Marion Cook, he led own big band in Milwaukee 1925-1928 and Chicago 1926-1930. In the 1930s he spent most of his time teaching.
He recorded only four titles, as the leader of Elgar's Creole Orchestra in 1926.