Eddie Barefield

It's a well know fact that Madrid, Iowa's rather unique location provides close ties to the people in Boone, Dallas and Polk counties. Many folks in the area have strong family or business connections to all three counties.

In this spirit, we would like to introduce a man who became one of the nation's most respected jazz arrangers, composers, teachers and artists. That man was born on the west side of the Des Moines river valley, between Madrid and Woodward.

Emanuel Eddie Barefield (1909-1991), the son of a black coal miner was born in the tiny coal camp town of Scandia, IA. As Mr. Bob Naujoks of KCCK Radio, in Cedar Rapids has said, Scandia was "an obscure place, not located on current Iowa maps." This tiny coal camp was started around 1906 and apparently abandoned in 1917 when the coak vein ran out. Like many of those miners' families, we have little information on Eddie's early life, but it is reported that he learned to play the piano at age 10.

It is quite clear from many articles that his modest beginnings were overshadowed by an important and respected national career.

In the 1920's, Eddie worked and arranged for bands such as Lester Young and Art Tatum. By the 1930's he had studied clarinet at the Chicago Conservatory and later played with Cab Calloway, Fletcher Henderson and many others.

By 1940, Eddie had played with Duke Ellington, The Dukes of Dixieland Band and later his own band. In addition, he arranged music for Broadway shows and worked with the great Ella Fitzgerald.

Eddie Barefield was still active in the 1950's as he toured Europe and South America with the Sammy Price Combo. By the 70's Eddie was appearing in Broadway shows and produced several albums such as the "Indestructible Eddie Barefield".

An interesting note on the writing of this article was that "Roberto's Woodwind Store" in New York was so kind as to additionally confirm Eddie's birthplace as Scandia, Iowa and not Scandia, New York. The store emailed that Eddie had been one of their best customers and the owner could recount many Eddie Barefield stories.

Most of the area's history is tied closely with our families. For that reason, we urge you to provide some means to record your family records for the future. The Madrid Historical Society is beginning to establish such a worthwhile project which could be of great assistance to the whole area.

Should you wish to locate Scandia, Iowa on a map, visit the Madrid Historical Museum or see the coal mine monument at Madrid on Highway 17.

7-27-05 THE MADRID HISTORICAL SOCIETY