Jeter and Pillars were previously members of
Alphonso Trent's big band. Charles Pillars, Torian, Cannady, Smith, and Tarrant remained at Camp Smalls as players in the Ships Company A Band, which also included players from civilian bands led by
Jimmie Lunceford,
Charlie Spivak,
George Hudson, the Carolina Cotton Pickers,
Don Albert, and
Fats Waller, among others. The Jeter–Pillars Orchestra served as a training ground for up-and-coming jazz players including trumpeters
Harry "Sweets" Edison and
Peanuts Holland, bassist
Jimmy Blanton, drummers
Jo Jones,
Sid Catlett and
Kenny Clarke, guitarist
Floyd Smith, tenor-saxophonist
Jimmy Forrest, and alto saxophonist
Chris Woods. In the late 1940s, the group toured the Far East for the USO, before breaking up. The Jeter-Pillars Orchestra recorded four sides for
Vocalion Records in 1937. The recordings were: • "Lazy Rhythm" (their theme song) • "I Like Pie, I Like Cake" • "
Make Believe" • "I'll Always Be In Love With You" ==References==