Wysinger's Tom Cats

Wysinger’s Tom Cats appeared at the Mission Inn in San Pablo in March and April 1933.  I have found no other references to the band.  James Walter “Buster” Wysinger, a drummer,  was born in Oakland on 25 September 1909.  His father, also James Walter, was a Pullman porter who was killed in a railroad accident at Coram on 1 November 1920 (Sacramento Bee 4 November 1920 p. 7).  He is recorded as a Musician in the Oakland City Directory of 1927 and 1935 and in the Voter Registration lists for 1932/6/8/40/2/4.  In the San Francisco Spokesman of 31 August 1933 he is said to be a member of Wade Whaley's band and in the Spokesman of 5 April 1935 it is reported that 'Al Pierie, Wesley Peoples, Jake Porter and Buster Wysinger form the ork for the "Gay 90" Club which just went entirely sepia.'  However in the 1940 Census and the Oakland City Directory of 1943 he is described as a Laborer and in the 1950 Census as a House Painter.  He died on 9 July 1976.