Rodney Sturgis (Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five's Debut Recording) - Decca 7550 (1938)

Here we have Louis Jordan's first recording leading what will, within a year, become his Tympany Five. Apparently Jordan was so new to headlining that his name on the label was printed as Lovie Jordon's Elks Rendezvous Band.

Courtney Williams t / Louis Jordan as / Lem Johnson ts / Clarence Johnson p / Charlie Drayton sb / Walter Martin d / Rodney Sturgis v.

Recorded in New York on December 20, 1938.

On the flip side, Rust asks if the backing band could possibly be the Andy Kirk band (or members from it) who had been in the studios cutting 3 sides on the same day.

Rodney Sturgis v / and possibly (or any combination thereof): Harry Lawson, Clarence Trice, Earl Thomson t / Ted Donnelly, Henry Wells tb / John Harringtoncl, as, bar / John Williams as, bar / Earl Miller as / Dick Wilson ts / Mary Lou Williams p / Ted Robinson g / Booker Collins sb / Ben Thigpen d.

Recorded in New York on September 9, 1938.