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Harlan Leonard

Harlan Leonard (July 2, 1905 – November 10, 1983) was an American jazz bandleader and clarinetist from Kansas City, Missouri, United States.

Leonard was born in Kansas City in 1905. A professional musician from the age of 17, he joined Bennie Moten's orchestra in 1923, where he led the reed section until 1931. In 1931, he and Thamon Hayes formed the Kansas City Skyrockets, which included trumpeters Ed Lewis and James Ross, trombonist Vic Dickenson, and pianist Jesse Stone. After disputes with the Chicago local of the American Federation of Musicians the band broke up.

In 1939, Leonard formed Harlan Leonard and his Rockets, which featured a young Myra Taylor. This band quickly became a leading band in Kansas City and toured nationally. Charlie Parker played in this band for five weeks, but he was fired by Leonard for lack of discipline. The band featured arrangements by its piano player Tadd Dameron that bore suggestions of the transition between swing and bebop. The band broke up during the Second World War, and Leonard left professional music. He worked in banking and for the Internal Revenue Service and died in Los Angeles in 1983.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 2, 1905 (Kansas City), Died November 10, 1983 (Kansas City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: clarinet, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, leader, saxophone, composer, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 76-92 of 92 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-047798 10-in. 3/11/1940 I'm in a weary mood Darwin Jones ; Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, songwriter, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-047799 10-in. 3/11/1940 Parade of the stompers Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, saxophone, composer  
Victor BS-053206 10-in. 7/15/1940 Rock and ride Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, saxophone, composer  
Victor BS-053207 10-in. 7/15/1940 400 swing Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, composer, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053208 10-in. 7/15/1940 My dream Darwin Jones ; Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, songwriter, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053209 10-in. 7/15/1940 My pop gave me a nickel Harlan Leonard ; Rockets ; Myra Taylor Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053210 10-in. 7/15/1940 Please don't squabble Harlan Leonard ; Rockets ; Ernie Williams Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, songwriter, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053211 10-in. 7/15/1940 A-la-bridges Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, composer, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053638 10-in. 11/13/1940 Dameron stomp Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, composer, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053639 10-in. 11/13/1940 Rachmaninoff jumps Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, composer, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053640 10-in. 11/13/1940 Mistreated Harlan Leonard ; Rockets ; Ernie Williams Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, composer, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053641 10-in. 11/13/1940 Too much Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, composer, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053642 10-in. 11/13/1940 It couldn't be Darwin Jones ; Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, songwriter, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053643 10-in. 11/13/1940 Keep rockin' Harlan Leonard ; Rockets ; William H. Smith Jazz/dance band, with trumpet solo leader, composer, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053644 10-in. 11/13/1940 Take 'um Henry Bridges ; Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band, with saxophone solo leader, composer, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-053645 10-in. 11/13/1940 Dig it Harlan Leonard ; Rockets ; Myra Taylor Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader, songwriter, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-056129 10-in. 9/17/1940 Southern fried Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
(Results 76-92 of 92 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Leonard, Harlan," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109661.

Leonard, Harlan. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109661.

"Leonard, Harlan." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109661

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