John Kirby

John Kirby

John Kirby (December 31, 1908 – June 14, 1952), was an American jazz double-bassist and bandleader. In addition to sideman work (prominently with Benny Goodman), Kirby is remembered for leading a successful chamber jazz sextet in the late 1930s and early 1940s, which scored several hit songs including "Loch Lomond" and the debut recording of "Undecided", a jazz standard. He is perhaps the first musician in the chamber jazz genre. Earlier in his career he also played trombone and tuba.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 31, 1908 (Winchester), Died June 14, 1952 (Hollywood)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1946

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass, tuba, director, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 176 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Columbia	W265150	10-in.	10/3/1933	Happy feet	Horace Henderson Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Columbia	W265151	10-in.	10/3/1933	I'm rhythm crazy now-1	Horace Henderson Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Columbia	W265152	10-in.	10/3/1933	Old man river	Horace Henderson Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Columbia	W265153	10-in.	10/3/1933	Minnie the moocher's wedding day-1	Horace Henderson Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Columbia	W265154	10-in.	10/3/1933	Ain't cha glad?-1	Horace Henderson Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Columbia	W265155	10-in.	10/3/1933	I've got to sing a torch song	Horace Henderson Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
OKeh	W404566	10-in.	12/3/1930	Goodbye blues	Chocolate Dandies	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
OKeh	W404596	10-in.	12/30/1930	Cloudy skies	Chocolate Dandies	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, tuba
OKeh	W404597	10-in.	12/30/1930	Got another sweetie now	Chocolate Dandies ; Jimmy Harrison	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, tuba
OKeh	W404598	10-in.	12/30/1930	Bugle call rag	Chocolate Dandies	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, tuba
OKeh	W404599	10-in.	12/30/1930	Dee blues	Chocolate Dandies	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, tuba
Brunswick	B17766	10-in.	7/02/1935	I wished on the moon	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B17767	10-in.	7/02/1935	What a little moonlight can do	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B17768	10-in.	7/02/1935	Miss Brown to you	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B17769	10-in.	7/02/1935	A sunbonnet blue (and a yellow straw hat)	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B17913	10-in.	7/31/1935	What a night, what a moon, what a girl	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B17914	10-in.	7/31/1935	I'm painting the town red	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B17915	10-in.	7/31/1935	It's too hot for words	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B18196	10-in.	10/25/1935	Twenty-four hours a day	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B18197	10-in.	10/25/1935	Yankee Doodle never went to town	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B18199	10-in.	10/25/1935	Eeny meeny miney mo	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B18209	10-in.	10/31/1935	If you were mine	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B19495	10-in.	6/30/1936	It's like reaching for the moon	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B19496	10-in.	6/30/1936	These foolish things	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass
Brunswick	B19498	10-in.	6/30/1936	I cried for you	Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, string bass

(Results 51-75 of 176 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kirby, John," accessed November 19, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105538.

Kirby, John. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 19, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105538.

"Kirby, John." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 November 2024.