Claude Hopkins & His Orchestra - Brunswick 6750 (1933)

This appears to be the Hopkins outfit's first record for the Brunswick label.

An added bonus (for me) was the discovery of trombonist, Fernando Arbello.

From wikipedia...

Fernando Arbello (May 30, 1907 – July 26, 1970) was a Puerto Rican jazz trombonist and composer who spent most of his career in America.

Arbello first started on trombone at the age of 12. He played locally in high-school bands and symphony orchestras, then moved to New York City in the middle of the 1920s. There he played with Earle Howard, Wilbur De Paris, June Clark, and Bingie Madison before the close of the decade. Early in the 1930s he played intermittently with Claude Hopkins for several years, then worked with Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson, Lucky Millinder, Billy Hicks, and Fats Waller, before returning to play under Hopkins again near the end of the 1930s.

In 1940 Arbello worked for a few months with Zutty Singleton, then led his own, unsuccessful, band briefly in 1940-41. Later in 1941 he played again in Henderson's ensemble, then with Marty Marsala (1941) and Jimmie Lunceford (1942–46). He led his own band again late in the 1940s, maintaining it for several years, though he never recorded with this outfit. In 1953 he played with Rex Stewart and played in a reunion band with Henderson once more; in 1960 he was a sideman for Machito.

Late in his life Arbello returned to Puerto Rico, playing at the Hotel San Juan up until his death.

Claude Hopkins p, a, dir / Albert Snaer, Sylvester Lewis, Ovie Alston t / Fernando Arbello, Fred Norman tb / Edmond Hall cl, as, bar / Gene Johnson as, bar / Bobby Sands ts / Walter Jones bj, g / Henry Turner sb / Edmond Jones d.

Recorded in New York on December 11, 1933.

Jubilee (Program 102) - Armed Forces Radio Service 16" Transcription (1944)

The Jubilee shows were produced by the Armed Forces Radio Service and featured entertainment directed towards African American servicemen overseas during the mid to late 40s.

I recently found a batch of 78s and included were about a hundred 16 inch transcription discs (they are heavy!). There are a handful of shows such as Jubilee, Mail Call, At Ease, Yarns for Yanks, Service Digest, Music From America as well as discs of specific bands and orchestras.

This episode of Jubilee has a great lineup. Emcee'd by Ralph Cooper (The Duke Is Tops), Claude Hopkins & His Orchestra, Stuff Smith & His Trio, pianist Dorothy Donegan, comedian Pigmeat Markham (a fellow Tarheel), Dan Burley and Colonel Stoopnagle (F. Chase Taylor). Una Mae Carlisle is mentioned in the introduction but I did not hear a performance by her in the show.

Each side is about 15 minutes so sit back and enjoy!

From October 16, 1944.

Claude Hopkins & His Orchestra - Decca 1153 (1937)

Claude Hopkins p, a, dir / Shirley Clay, Jabbo Smith, Lincoln Mills, t / Floyd Brady, Fred Norman, Vic Dickenson tb / Gene Johnson, Chauncey Haughton, Ben Smith as / Bobby Sands ts / Walter Jones g / Abe Bolar sb / Pete Jacobs d / Beverley 'Baby' White v.

Recorded in New York on Feruary 2, 1937.