The Salty Dogs play standards and original pieces influenced by the Dixieland artists of the 1910s and 1920s, as well as the 1940s and 1950s "revivalists" such as Lu Watters and Turk Murphy.
By the late 1950s, there were two "Salty Dogs" jazz bands: the one in Chicago and the one on the Purdue campus which was still being replenished by newer students.
[1][2] During the late 1950s, the campus band made a few limited-edition recordings which sold quickly at bookstores and the student union.
[3][4] The Original Salty Dogs sometimes performed with The Kingston Trio, George Shearing, The Four Freshmen and other notable artists.
For the next numerous years, he performed with the band on Purdue's campus and at Chicago nightclub venues such as The Blue Note, Hunt Club and the Sabre Room.