Bob Pope & His Orchestra - Bluebird (1936)

Here's another 78 by ex Coon-Sanders trumpeter recorded in Charlotte, NC.

Bob Pope ldr, t / Howard Gaffney, Tommy Hatcher t / Howard Gibeling tb / Sonny Thorpe, Vic Christenson as / J.V. Johnson, Nolan Canova ts / Mac McGowan p / Fowler Hays sb / Johnny Blowers d.

Recorded in Charlotte on June 21, 1936.

Jimmie Gunn & His Orchestra - Bluebird 6500 (1936)

I am this close to completing the Jimmie Gunn run. This record is the missing piece. Although I have it in my possession, it's not mine...yet. Still trying to work out a deal.

Here are the others.

Bob Pope & His Orchestra - Bluebird 6471 (1936)

Here is Bob Pope's HOT North Carolina territory band that recorded a scant few times, but thankfully they were mostly marathon sessions, resulting in over 35 released sides.

From what I've researched, there are no cd compilations of this deserving band. This should definitely be remedied.

Rust has the entire band unidentified other than vocalists and Pope himself but drummer, Johnny Blowers' autobiography Back Beats and Rim Shots: The Johnny Blowers Story, solves the mystery on page 19.

Would anyone, who happens to stumble upon this post, have any information they could share regarding sax man, Sonny Thorpe? It would be gratefully appreciated.

Bob Pope ldr, t / Howard Gaffney, Tommy Hatcher t / Howard Gibeling tb / Sonny Thorpe, Vic Christenson as / J.V. Johnson, Nolan Canova ts / Mac McGowan p / Fowler Hays sb / Johnny Blowers d.

Recorded in Charlotte on June 21, 1936.

Locke Brothers Rhythm Orchestra - Bluebird 6316 (1936)

Over half way to a complete run of this basically unknown North Carolina territory band.

Recorded in Charlotte, NC on February 15, 1936.

Pine State Playboys - Bluebird 7535 (1938)

Here's a thorough write-up on Claude Casey of the Pine State Playboys.

Claude Casey g, v-1 / Lawrence Boling g, v-2 / Carl Boling tnr g / James “Jimmy” Rouse fiddle / William “Willie” Coates p.

Recorded at the Hotel Charlotte in Charlotte,NC on January 26, 1938.

Jimmie Gunn & His Orchestra / Bob Pope & His Orchestra - Bluebird 6508 (1936)

With this acquisition today, I am just one record shy from completing Jimmie Gunn's run.

It's all about the hunt, isn't it?

Here are the conflicting lineups for Gunn's band:

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

or 

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 sb / Raymond Mason d / Sam Jennings v.

Recorded at the Southern Radio Corporation's 2nd floor warehouse in Charlotte on June 18, 1936.

The flipside is from former Coon-Sanders' trumpeter, Bob Pope.

Bob Pope ldr, t / Howard Gaffney, Tommy Hatcher t / Howard Gibeling tb / Sonny Thorpe, Vic Christenson as / J.V. Johnson, Nolan Canova ts / Mac McGowan p / Fowler Hays sb / Johnny Blowers d.

Recorded in Charlotte on June 21, 1936.