Red McKenzie

Red McKenzie

William 'Red' McKenzie (October 14, 1899 – February 7, 1948) was an American jazz vocalist and musician who played a comb as an instrument. He played the comb-and-paper by placing paper, sometimes strips from the Evening World, over the tines and blowing on it, producing a sound like a kazoo.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 14, 1899 (St. Louis), Died February 7, 1948 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1936

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, comb, composer, leader, washboard, director

= 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
Victor	BVE-50517	10-in.	2/23/1929	Arkansas blues	The Mystery Orchestra [i.e., Mound City Blue Blowers]	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BVE-50518	10-in.	2/23/1929	Never had a reason to believe in you	The Mystery Orchestra [i.e., Mound City Blue Blowers]	Instrumental ensemble	composer
Victor	BVE-56151	10-in.	9/25/1929	Tailspin blues	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus	director, composer, instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Victor	BVE-56152	10-in.	9/25/1929	Never had a reason to believe in you	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, composer, instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Victor	BVE-57145	10-in.	11/14/1929	Hello Lola	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band	director, composer, instrumentalist, comb
Victor	BVE-57146	10-in.	11/14/1929	One hour	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band	composer, instrumentalist, comb
Victor	CRC-71905	12-in.	3/1/1932	Dance selections from Face the music	Paul Whiteman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble	vocalist
Victor	CSHQ-71907	12-in.	3/2/1932	Dance selections from Hot-cha	Paul Whiteman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male and female vocal solos	vocalist
Victor	LSHQ-71908	10-in. (33-1/3 rpm)	3/2/1932	Dance music from Hot-cha and Face the music	Paul Whiteman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female and male vocal solos and male vocal trio	vocalist
Victor	BRC-72283	10-in.	4/14/1932	Lawd, you made the night too long	Red McKenzie ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BRC-72285	10-in.	4/14/1932	Daybreak	Red McKenzie ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BSHQ-73192	10-in.	8/10/1932	Three on a match	Red McKenzie ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-73583	10-in.	9/26/1932	I'll follow you	Red McKenzie ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	CS-74633	12-in.	12/2/1932	A night with Paul Whiteman at the Biltmore	Paul Whiteman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with vocal and instrumental solos	vocalist
Victor	LCS-74634	12-in. (33-1/3 rpm)	12/3/1932	Whiteman medley	Paul Whiteman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with vocal and instrumental solos	vocalist
Columbia	W148895	10-in.	8/19/1929	Indiana	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W148896	10-in.	8/19/1929	Fire house blues	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band	composer
Columbia	W149002	10-in.	9/13/1929	Swanee shuffle	The Midnight Airdales	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W149003	10-in.	9/13/1929	I gotta have you	The Midnight Airdales	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W151843	10-in.	10/15/1931	Time on my hands (You in my arms)	Red McKenzie	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist
Columbia	W151844	10-in.	10/15/1931	Just friends	Red McKenzie	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist
Columbia	W152044	10-in.	12/14/1931	I found you	Red McKenzie	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist
Columbia	W152045	10-in.	12/14/1931	I'm sorry, dear	Red McKenzie	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist
Columbia	W152108	10-in.	2/10/1932	There's something in your eyes	Red McKenzie	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist
Columbia	W152109	10-in.	2/10/1932	Can't we talk it over?	Red McKenzie	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist
Columbia	W152171	10-in.	4/12/1932	Lovable	Red McKenzie	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W152172	10-in.	4/12/1932	Dream sweetheart	Red McKenzie	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W351049	10-in.	6/30/1931	I can't believe that you're in love with me	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	leader, vocalist
Columbia	W351051	10-in.	6/30/1931	Georgia on my mind	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Columbia	W351052	10-in.	6/30/1931	Darktown Strutters' Ball	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	leader, instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Columbia	W365050	10-in.	6/30/1931	You rascal you	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet	vocalist, instrumentalist, comb, leader
OKeh	W81037	10-in.	6/21/1927	There'll be some changes made	Eddie Lang ; Red McKenzie ; Music Box ; Joe Venuti	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	leader, vocalist
OKeh	W81038	10-in.	6/21/1927	My syncopated melody man	Eddie Lang ; Red McKenzie ; Music Box ; Joe Venuti	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	leader, vocalist
OKeh	W82083	10-in.	12/16/1927	Liza	McKenzie and Condon's Chicagoans	Jazz/dance band	composer
OKeh	W400720	10-in.	5/29/1928	My baby came home	Red McKenzie ; Music Box	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, leader
OKeh	W400721	10-in.	5/29/1928	From Monday on	Red McKenzie ; Music Box	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, leader
OKeh	W402152	10-in.	12/3/1928	Can't help lovin' dat man	Bud Freeman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
OKeh	W402221	10-in.	12/12/1928	Baby, won't you please come home?	Earl Hines	Piano solo, with male vocal solo	vocalist
OKeh	W402222	10-in.	12/3/1928	I ain't gonna give nobody none o' this jelly roll	Bud Freeman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Brunswick	E16817	10-in.	10/30/1925	Morning after blues	Blue Blowers Trio	Jazz/dance trio	composer
Brunswick	E30056	10-in.	6/12/1929	Who cares?	Five Pennies ; Red Nichols	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G)	vocalist
Brunswick	E36830	10-in.	5/26/1931	Just a crazy song (Hi-hi-hi)	Five Pennies ; Red Nichols	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Brunswick	E36831	10-in.	5/26/1931	You rascal you	Five Pennies ; Red Nichols	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Brunswick	E36832	10-in.	5/26/1931	Moan, you moaners	Five Pennies ; Red Nichols	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Brunswick	E36877	10-in.	6/24/1931	How long, how long blues	Five Pennies ; Red Nichols	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Brunswick	E36878	10-in.	6/24/1931	Fan it	Five Pennies ; Red Nichols	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Brunswick	E16302-E16304	10-in.	9/1/1925	Hot honey	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band	composer
Brunswick	E16305-E16307		9/1/1925	If you never come back	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band	composer
Brunswick	E16795-E16797	10-in.	10/29/1925	If you never come back	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band	composer
Brunswick	E30504-E30505	10-in.	8/20/1929	The New Yorkers	Five Pennies ; Red Nichols	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G)	vocalist
Brunswick	C1885	10-in.	4/6/1928	There’ll be some changes made	Chicago Rhythm Kings	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Brunswick	C1886	10-in.	4/6/1928	I’ve found a new baby	Chicago Rhythm Kings	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Brunswick	1067W-1069W	10-in.	8/7/1925	The morning after blues	Mound City Blue Blowers	Jazz/dance band	composer
Brunswick	1070W-1071W	10-in.	8/7/1925	Happy children blues	McKenzie’s Candy Kids	Jazz/dance band	composer
Decca	38633	10-in.	9/11/1934	'Way down yonder in New Orleans	Red McKenzie		vocalist
Decca	38634	10-in.	9/11/1934	I've got the world on a string	Red McKenzie		vocalist
Decca	38635	10-in.	9/11/1934	From Monday on	Red McKenzie		vocalist
Decca	38636	10-in.	9/11/1934	As long as I live	Red McKenzie		vocalist
Decca	38799	10-in.	10/5/1934	It's all forgotten now	Red McKenzie with the Spirits of Rhythm		vocalist
Decca	38804	10-in.	10/5/1934	What's the use of getting used to you?	Red McKenzie with the Spirits of Rhythm		vocalist
Decca	39378	10-in.	2/20/1935	Baby brown	New Orleans Rhythm Kings		vocalist
Decca	39379	10-in.	2/20/1935	No lovers allowed	New Orleans Rhythm Kings		vocalist
Decca	39380	10-in.	2/20/1935	(Oh! Susanna) Dust off that old piano	New Orleans Rhythm Kings		vocalist
Decca	39381	10-in.	2/20/1935	Since we fell out of love	New Orleans Rhythm Kings		vocalist
Decca	39721	10-in.	7/12/1935	Murder in the moonlight	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	39722	10-in.	7/15/1935	Let's swing it	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	39805	10-in.	8/2/1935	Double trouble	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	39807	10-in.	8/5/1935	That's what you think	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60096	10-in.	10/22/1935	Georgia rockin' chair	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60097	10-in.	10/22/1935	Monday in Manhattan	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60098	10-in.	10/22/1935	Every now and then	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60099	10-in.	10/22/1935	Wouldn't I be a wonder	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60137	10-in.	11/8/1935	Red sails in the sunset	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, comb
Decca	60139	10-in.	11/8/1935	On Treasure Island	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, comb
Decca	60140	10-in.	11/8/1935	Thanks a million	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, comb
Decca	60219	10-in.	12/12/1935	Eeney meeney miney mo	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, comb
Decca	60295	10-in.	1/3/1936	The broken record	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, comb
Decca	60296	10-in.	1/3/1936	The broken record	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, comb
Decca	60311	10-in.	1/8/1936	I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, comb
Decca	60312	10-in.	1/8/1936	Mama don't allow it	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, comb
Decca	60313	10-in.	1/8/1936	(If I had) Rhythm in my nursery rhymes	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, comb
Decca	60314	10-in.	1/8/1936	I hope Gabriel likes my music	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, comb
Decca	60365	10-in.	1/20/1936	Sing an old-fashioned song	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60368	10-in.	1/20/1936	I'm building up an awful letdown	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60444	10-in.	2/5/1936	Don't count your kisses	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60445	10-in.	2/5/1936	When love has gone	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60446	10-in.	2/5/1936	I don't know your name	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60447	10-in.	2/5/1936	Moon rose	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60481	10-in.	2/17/1936	You hit the spot	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, washboard
Decca	60482	10-in.	2/17/1936	Spreadin' rhythm around	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, washboard
Decca	60483	10-in.	2/17/1936	Saddle your blues to a wild mustang	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, washboard
Decca	60484	10-in.	2/17/1936	Wah-hoo!	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, washboard
Decca	60485	10-in.	2/17/1936	I'm gonna clap my hands	Mound City Blue Blowers		instrumentalist, washboard
Decca	60977	10-in.	4/3/1936	I can't get started with you	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist
Decca	60978	10-in.	4/3/1936	I can pull a rabbit out of my hat	Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings		instrumentalist, comb, vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "McKenzie, Red," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109742.

McKenzie, Red. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109742.

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