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

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103510

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