Coon-sanders' Original Nighthawk Orchestra

The Coon–Sanders Original Nighthawk Orchestra, founded in 1918 by drummer Carleton Coon and pianist Joe Sanders, was a pioneering jazz band from Kansas City. They began broadcasting nationally on WDAF radio station in 1922, gaining popularity with their late-night broadcasts from the Muehlebach Hotel. The orchestra moved to Chicago in 1924, performing at the Blackhawk and undertaking successful road tours. In 1931, they relocated to New York City for an extended broadcast engagement at the Hotel New Yorker. Carleton Coon's death in May 1932 led to the band's disbandment. Joe Sanders continued as a part-time orchestra leader until his death in 1965.