Don Redman & His Orchestra - Brunswick 6211 (1931)

Here we have a side, Song Of The Weeds, from Don Redman's first recording session under his own name. The flipside, Shakin' The Africann, is from his second trip to the studio three weeks later.

Don Redman as, v, a, dir / Leonard Davis, Bill Coleman (Weeds only), Henry Red Allen, Langston Curl (Africann only) t / Claude Jones, Fred Robinson, Benny Morton tb / Edward Inge, Rupert Cole cl, as / Robert Carroll ts / Horace Henderson p / Talcott Reeves bj, g / Bob Ysaguirre bb, sb / Manzie Johnson d, vib.

Recorded in New York on September 24 / October 15, 1931.


Chas. A. Matson's Creole Serenaders - Edison 51222 / 51224 (1923)

Found 51224 while rummaging through the garage of a collector in the middle of Wisconsin a few years back. Completed the Edison output when I found 51222 the easy way...eBay.

Still on the lookout for his lone Paramount/Claxtonola/Puritan release, Lawdy Lawdy Blues / Jail House Blues.

Personnel unknown other than Matson on piano.

Recorded on July 30, 1923.


La Veeda Dance Orchestra - Columbia 1549 (1925)

A recent addition for the crate labeled Recorded in New Orleans.

Tony Parenti cl, as, bar, dir / Leon Prima, Henry Knecht c / Charles Hartman tb / Tony Papalia ts / Vic Lubowski p / Mike Holloway bj / Mario Finazzo bb / George Triay d.

Recorded in New Orleans on January 22, 1925.


Monk Hazel & His Beinville (sic) Roof Orchestra - Brunswick 4181 / 4182 (1928)

Here we have both Brunswicks recorded in New Orleans by Monk Hazel and His Beinville Roof Orchestra in the order they were waxed.

Sharkey Bonano t, dir / Sidney Arodin cl, tin whistle / Hal Jordy as, bar / Freddy Newman p / Joe Capraro g / Luther Lamar bb / Monk Hazel d, mel, v.

Recorded in New Orleans in December, 1928.




Blind Lemon Jefferson - Paramount 12739 / 12872 (1929)

Always listen to your wife...


Both records recorded in Chicago.

Recorded on September 24, 1929.




Recorded in January, 1929.


Jimmie Gunn & His Orchestra - Bluebird 6469 / 6500 / 6508 / 6578 (1936)

After executing my first ever trade a few years back, I was introduced to two, largely forgotten, North Carolina territory bands that recorded just months apart at the Southern Radio Corporation's second floor warehouse in Charlotte. The spacious warehouse gave a large empty ballroom echo that can be heard on these recordings.

I have finally completed the run of Jimmie Gunn and find myself just one shy of the Locke Brothers Rhythm Orchestra.

Here are the Gunns in recording order from that summer day in Carolina...

Here's the official website for J.H. Gunn Elementary school in Charlotte named after the bandleader.

One discography has the personnel listed as:

Jimmie Gunn p, dir / 'Slats' tb / Skeets Tolbert as / Otis Hicks ts / g / Harry Prather b / d / David Pugh, Sam Jennings v.

while another has:

Jimmie Gunn dir / Dave Pugh t, v / Charles Daniels, Herman Franklin t / John Orange tb / Robert Griffin, James Berry as / Otis Hicks ts / William Shavers p / Alton Harrington  g / Sam Hinton bb / Harry Prather sh / Raymond Mason d / Sam Jennings v.

Recorded in Charlotte, on June 18, 1936.







Robesonian Newspaper Lumberton, NC March 12, 1934

Statesville Record & Landmark NC April 7, 1933

Fitchburg Sentinel MA July 13. 1936