Dear Ms. Crawford:
My father's name was Jack McVea. His father's name was Isaac McVea, born in Texas
in 1869. Both of them were musicians here in Los Angeles, California. In speaking with my father over the years about his band on the road, he mentioned some very interesting information with the family. He often wondered if he had any aunts or uncles. His
father mentioned that he did have a sibling(s). He said that his father did tell him of
a possible uncle that was lynched, and a possible uncle or cousin that was a heavy eight boxer named Samuel McVea. I did research on Samuel McVea and found that he did exist, but we could not find the actual family connection. We do, however, believe that he is connected to us some kind of way. What encouraged me to write was another factor that my father did mention to me. You mentioned the football player, Warren McVea.
My father told us that while on the road one season with his band, he found a McVea family group. In his visit with this family, it was established that they were indeed of the same blood lineage. In this family visit , he was introduced to a lot of family members which included a two year old baby boy named Warren McVea. Many years later, he was watching a football game one day, and my father told us to come to the TV quickly, that Warren was on TV playing football. As we gathered, Warren took his helmet off, and our mouths dropped open. My father, Jack, was identical to Warren McVea.
In the late 1970's I was working at Brotman Memorial Hospital in Culver City, California, where I worked as a lab assistant, a very nice girl had become ill while on vacationing (from Texas) in Los Angeles. I was still single at that time and had my maiden name(McVea) in full force.
We had a brief conversation trying to make a family connection and I mentioned Warren's name to her. She said that he was her cousin or her uncle. It's been over twenty-five years and I can not remember her exact relationship she said she was to Warren. I asked her if she had ever heard of a jazz/R & B pioneer Jack McVea or his father, a musician, Isaac McVea. Her response was that there had been discussions about them both. We were both delighted to make such a connection.

I must say that my father, Jack (born John Vivian McVea, Jack was his stage name), died on December 27, 2000. He was 86 years old and
was one great musician that played music all over this country and has been recognized by the Untied States Congress for his contributions to African American music. Isaac "Satchel" McVea was the first black man to host his own radio show in Los Angeles
from 1922-1931 and was considered to be an agent for black musicians in Los Angeles. Dad and Little Grand-Dad as we called him, did work together in music in L.A. on and during the Central Avenue era. Dad worked with his father until just before working in the Lionel Hampton Band and then his own orchestra. This information is documented for researchers. If any one would like more information on the McVeas in Los Angeles, please feel free to contact me at mcab@mediaone.net.

Sincerely,
Lyta C. McVea-Abdullah