Thomas Morris
Thomas Morris (August 30, 1897 – 1945) was an American jazz cornetist. Jazz critic Scott Yanow noted that Morris's primitive style was "an excellent example of how New York brass players sounded before the rise of Louis Armstrong." Morris was born in New York City. His many recordings include dates with Clarence Williams, Charlie Johnson, Fats Waller and many jazz and blues singers, including Mamie Smith, Eva Taylor and Sippie Wallace. His most notable dates were with his band, the Seven Hot Babies, producing eight songs in 1923 and ten in 1926. For a time, Morris served as a porter at Grand Central Terminal. In the last few years of his life, he was associated with Father Divine's strict religious movement, changing his name to Brother Pierre. Sidney Bechet recalled an encounter with Morris in a radio interview with Wynne Paris, stating, "I happened to be walking down 132nd Street near Seventh Avenue when I saw Thomas Morris, and I was tickled to death to see him. I say, 'Hello Thomas.' He said, 'Not no more. I'm St. Peter.' I said, 'You might be St. Peter to Father Divine, but you're Thomas Morris to me.'" Morris died in 1945 in California. He was the uncle of pianist Marlowe Morris. |
Birth and Death Data: Born August 30, 1897, Died 1945 (California)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1927
Roles Represented in DAHR: cornet, leader, composer, director, speaker, songwriter
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BVE-35762 | 10-in. | 7/13/1926 | Lazy drag | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-35763 | 10-in. | 7/13/1926 | Jackass blues | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-35764 | 10-in. | 7/13/1926 | Charleston stampede | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36047 | 10-in. | 8/17/1926 | Georgia grind | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36048 | 10-in. | 8/17/1926 | Ham gravy | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | composer, leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36069 | 10-in. | 8/27/1926 | Goin' crazy with the blues | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble | instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36071 | 10-in. | 8/27/1926 | Who's dis heah stranger | Thomas Morris Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with dialogue | leader, instrumentalist, cornet, speaker | |
Victor | BVE-36081 | 10-in. | 8/31/1926 | What have you done to make me feel this way | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble | instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36846 | 10-in. | 10/20/1926 | When a 'gator holler, folks say it's a sign of rain | Margaret Johnson | Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio | instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36847 | 10-in. | 10/20/1926 | Graysom Street blues | Margaret Johnson | Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio | instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36895 | 10-in. | 11/2/1926 | My baby doesn't squawk | New Orleans Blue Five | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36896 | 10-in. | 11/2/1926 | The king of the Zulus | New Orleans Blue Five | Jazz/dance band | composer, speaker, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36897 | 10-in. | 11/2/1926 | South Rampart Street blues | New Orleans Blue Five | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36925 | 10-in. | 11/12/1926 | Blues from the Everglades | Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36926 | 10-in. | 11/12/1926 | P. D. Q. blues | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36958 | 10-in. | 11/23/1926 | I got a mule to ride | Edna Winston | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | composer, director | |
Victor | BVE-36959 | 10-in. | 11/23/1926 | Mamma's gonna drop your curtain | Edna Winston | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | director | |
Victor | BVE-36960 | 10-in. | 11/23/1926 | Pail in my hand | Edna Winston | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | director | |
Victor | BVE-36961 | 10-in. | 11/23/1926 | Peepin' Jim | Edna Winston | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | director | |
Victor | BVE-36962 | 10-in. | 11/24/1926 | The mess | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-36963 | 10-in. | 11/24/1926 | The chinch | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-38050 | 10-in. | 5/20/1927 | Fats Waller stomp | Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller | Jazz/dance ensemble | instrumentalist, cornet, leader | |
Victor | BVE-38051 | 10-in. | 5/20/1927 | Savannah blues | Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller | Jazz/dance ensemble | instrumentalist, cornet, leader, composer | |
Victor | BVE-38052 | 10-in. | 5/20/1927 | Won't you take me home? | Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller | Jazz/dance ensemble | instrumentalist, cornet, composer, leader | |
Victor | BVE-38115 | 10-in. | 2/25/1927 | Paradise wobble | Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-38116 | 10-in. | 2/25/1927 | Birmingham black bottom | Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-38117 | 10-in. | 2/25/1927 | Don't you leave me here | Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-39372 | 10-in. | 10/27/1927 | Solid ground | Happy Holmes | Monologue, with cornet and piano | instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-39373 | 10-in. | 10/27/1927 | When folks stop talkin' and walkin' | Happy Holmes | Monologue, with cornet and piano | instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-40093 | 10-in. | 12/1/1927 | He's gone away | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller | Jazz/dance ensemble | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-40096 | 10-in. | 12/1/1927 | Red hot Dan | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller | Jazz/dance ensemble, with scat vocal chorus | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-40097 | 10-in. | 12/1/1927 | Geechee | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller | Jazz/dance ensemble | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
Victor | BVE-40098 | 10-in. | 12/1/1927 | Please take me out of jail | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller | Jazz/dance ensemble | composer, leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71306 | 10-in. | February 1923 | E flat blues no. 2 | Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71307 | 10-in. | February 1923 | Original Charleston strut | Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71465 | 10-in. | April 1923 | Yodeling blues | Sara Martin ; Thomas Morris ; Eva Taylor ; Clarence Williams | Female vocal duet, with cornet and piano | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71531 | 10-in. | May 1923 | Lonesome journey blues | Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71532 | 10-in. | May 1923 | When the jazz band starts to play | Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71582 | 10-in. | June 1923 | Just blues that's all | Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71583 | 10-in. | June 1923 | The bull blues (E flat no. 1 blues) | Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71640 | 10-in. | June 1923 | That free and easy papa | Sara Martin ; Thomas Morris ; Eva Taylor ; Clarence Williams | Female vocal duet, with cornet and piano | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71641 | 10-in. | June 1923 | Hesitation blues | Sara Martin ; Thomas Morris ; Eva Taylor ; Clarence Williams | Female vocal duet, with cornet and piano | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71739 | 10-in. | August 1923 | Those blues | Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71740 | 10-in. | August 1923 | Beaucoup de jazz | Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71803 | 10-in. | September 1923 | Original Charleston strut | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Eva Taylor | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
OKeh | S-71924 | 10-in. | October 1923 | I've got the blues, that's all | Fannie May Goosby ; Thomas Morris ; Clarence Williams | Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71925 | 10-in. | October 1923 | Grievious blues | Fannie May Goosby ; Thomas Morris ; Clarence Williams | Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71928 | 10-in. | October 1923 | Tain't nobody's business if I do | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71929 | 10-in. | October 1923 | New Orleans hop scop blues | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71930 | 10-in. | October 1923 | Oh daddy! blues | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71961 | 10-in. | 10/11/1923 | Graveyard dream blues | Clarence Williams' Harmonizing Four ; Sara Martin | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71962 | 10-in. | 10/11/1923 | A green gal can't catch on | Clarence Williams' Harmonizing Four ; Sara Martin | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71972 | 10-in. | 10/19/1923 | If I let you get away with it once, you'll do it all of the time | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Margaret Johnson | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-71973 | 10-in. | 10/19/1923 | E flat blues | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Margaret Johnson | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, cornet, composer | |
OKeh | S-72028 | 10-in. | November 1923 | Old fashioned love | Lawrence Lomax ; Eva Taylor | Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-72029 | 10-in. | November 1923 | Open your heart | Lawrence Lomax ; Eva Taylor | Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-72531 | 10-in. | May 1924 | When you're tired of me (Just let me know) | Eva Taylor | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quartet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-72532 | 10-in. | May 1924 | Ghost of the blues | Clarence Williams’ Harmonizers ; Eva Taylor | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quartet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-72912 | 10-in. | Oct. 1924 | Terrible blues | Eva Taylor ; Clarence Williams | Female-male vocal duet, with cornet and banjo | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | S-72913 | 10-in. | Oct. 1924 | Arkansaw blues | Eva Taylor ; Clarence Williams | Female-male vocal duet, with cornet and banjo | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | 74066 | 10-in. | 3/24/1926 | What's the matter now? | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Sara Martin | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | 74067 | 10-in. | 3/24/1926 | I want every bit of it—I don't like it second hand | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Sara Martin | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | 74072 | 10-in. | 3/25/1926 | Brother Ben | Sara Martin | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | 74073 | 10-in. | 3/25/1926 | The prisoner's blues | Sara Martin | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | 74074 | 10-in. | 3/25/1926 | Careless man blues | Sara Martin | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
OKeh | 74075 | 10-in. | 3/25/1926 | How could I be blue | Sara Martin | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
Brunswick | E2713-E2715 | 10-in. | 3/31/1926 | Do it Mr. So-So | Rosa Henderson | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, cornet | |
Brunswick | E2716-E2718 | 10-in. | 3/31/1926 | Fulton Street blues | Rosa Henderson | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, cornet |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Morris, Thomas," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103510.
Morris, Thomas. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103510.
"Morris, Thomas." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Morris, Thomas, 1898- - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82026853
Wikidata: Thomas Morris - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2426184
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/94179033
MusicBrainz: Thomas Morris - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/1944c70e-c2d9-4702-930f-d25ae64bc777
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
Feedback
Send the Editors a message about this record.