As a result of the Local 767 election of December 1951, the pro-amalgamation forces won a five to four majority on the Local 767 Board of Directors. We had run William "Buddy" Collette for President, but incumbent President Leo Davis was re-elected.Secretary Florence Cadrez, the incumbent, won over Estelle Edson, by then a Local 767 member. Paul Howard (no opposition) won as Treasurer, and Harvey Brooks was re-elected Trustee. The amalgamation faction elected Bill Douglass Vice President. John Anderson and Russell McDavid as Directors, and Benny Carter and me as Trustees. Both Harvey Brooks and I wanted the Chairpersonship of the Board of Trustees. We agreed to flip a coin and Brooks won (remember this!).

On February 7, 1952, the Local 767 Committee met with the Local 47 Board of Directors. Chairperson Carter read a statement expressing the wishes of Local 767 to establish one Musicians’ Local in the Los Angeles area. In reply, Local 47 President John teGroen, speaking for his Board, stated that in the event Local 767 dissolved, the members of Local 767, under Federation Law, could apply for membership in Local 47 on the same terms as any other member of the Federation. The Local 767 Committee stated that the terms outlined by Local 47 were not acceptable and proposed that the matter of the amalgamation be negotiated by the two locals. Local 47 then suggested that Local 767 come back with concrete proposals to resolve the many, complex and mainly financial problems.

After the inauguration of officers in 1952, the Local 767 membership chose a committee for the purpose of initiating amalgamation discussions with Local 47. The Committee members were Benny Carter, Paul Howard, Bill Douglass, Buddy Collette, Estelle Edson, President Davis and me. We selected Benny Carter as our Chairperson because of the high esteem in which he was held by musicians all over the United States.

An Overture article written by Local 47 Secretary Maury Paul from the Board Room stated the Local 47 Board’s position on the amalgamation. In brief, the Board of Local 47 felt that the matters of life membership and death benefit rights of incoming 767 members were paramount. The Local 47 Board also felt that property rights of Local 767 members in the assets of Local 767 and its corresponding corporation, The Rhythm Club (which owned 767’s real property), must be handled in such a way as to avoid any lawsuit by dissatisfied Local 767 members.