Lee L. Blair
Lee L. Blair (October 10, 1903, Savannah, Georgia – October 15, 1966, New York City) was an American jazz banjoist and guitarist. Blair was a left-handed autodidact on banjo, aside from a few lessons taken from Mike Pingitore, the banjoist for Paul Whiteman. He played and recorded in NYC with Thomas Morris's Seven Hot Babies in 1926, played with Charlie Skeete in 1926-28, then played and recorded with Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers in 1928-30. He played with Billy Kato in 1930-31, then played and recorded with Luis Russell (1934–35) and Louis Armstrong (1935-40). He worked part-time in music through the 1940s, then joined Wilbur De Paris's New New Orleans Jazz Band in the 1950s at Jimmy Ryan's Club on West 52nd Street in New York City. In the summer of 1957 he toured in Africa with the DeParis band for the State Department. In the 1960s he played less, concentrating on raising chickens on his farm in Belmore, Long Island, but appeared at the 1964 World's Fair in a trio with Danny Barker and Eddie Gibbs and freelanced around New York with Hank Duncan and others until he died. He never recorded as a leader, but appears on record with Morris, Morton, Russell, Armstrong, and De Paris, as well as with Dick Cary, Pee Wee Erwin, and Leonard Gaskin among others. He is honored in the jazz section of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, GA. |
Birth and Death Data: Born October 10, 1903 (Savannah), Died October 15, 1966 (New York City)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1940
Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, banjo
= 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 | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-35763 | 10-in. | 7/13/1926 | Jackass blues | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-35764 | 10-in. | 7/13/1926 | Charleston stampede | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-36047 | 10-in. | 8/17/1926 | Georgia grind | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-36048 | 10-in. | 8/17/1926 | Ham gravy | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-45619 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Georgia swing | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-45620 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Kansas City stomps | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-45621 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Shoe shiner's drag | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-45622 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Boogaboo | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-45626 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Sidewalk blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-48433 | 10-in. | 12/6/1928 | Everybody loves my honey now | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-48434 | 10-in. | 12/6/1928 | Red hot pepper | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-48435 | 10-in. | 12/6/1928 | Deep creek | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-48436 | 10-in. | 12/6/1928 | You oughter see my gal | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-62182 | 10-in. | 6/2/1930 | Oil well | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-62183 | 10-in. | 6/2/1930 | Load of coal | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-62184 | 10-in. | 6/2/1930 | Crazy chords | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-62185 | 10-in. | 6/2/1930 | Primrose stomp | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Decca | 60021 | 10-in. | 10/3/1935 | I'm in the mood for love | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60022 | 10-in. | 10/3/1935 | You're my lucky star | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60023 | 10-in. | 10/3/1935 | La cucaracha | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60024 | 10-in. | 10/3/1935 | Got a brand new suit | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60155 | 10-in. | 11/21/1935 | I've got my fingers crossed | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60156 | 10-in. | 11/21/1935 | Old man Mose (is dead)-1 | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60157 | 10-in. | 11/21/1935 | I'm shooting high | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60158 | 10-in. | 11/21/1935 | (Was I to blame for) Falling in love with you | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60227 | 10-in. | 12/13/1935 | Red sails in the sunset | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60228 | 10-in. | 12/13/1935 | On Treasure Island | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60249 | 10-in. | 12/19/1935 | Thanks a million | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60250 | 10-in. | 12/19/1935 | Shoe Shine Boy | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60251 | 10-in. | 12/19/1935 | Solitude | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60252 | 10-in. | 12/19/1935 | I hope Gabriel likes my music | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60362 | 10-in. | 1/18/1936 | The music goes 'round and around | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 60363 | 10-in. | 1/18/1936 | Rhythm saved the world | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 61058 | 10-in. | 4/28/1936 | I come from a musical family | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 61059 | 10-in. | 4/29/1936 | If we never meet again | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 61075 | 10-in. | 4/28/1936 | Somebody stole my break | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 61106 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Lyin' to myself | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 61107 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Ev'ntide | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 61108 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Swing that music | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 61109 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Thankful | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 61110 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Red nose | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 61111 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Mahogany Hall stomp | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 62328 | 10-in. | 7/2/1937 | Public melody number one | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 62329 | 10-in. | 7/2/1937 | Yours and mine | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 62330 | 10-in. | 7/2/1937 | Red cap | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 62335 | 10-in. | 7/7/1937 | She's the daughter of a planter from Havana | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 62336 | 10-in. | 7/7/1937 | Alexander's ragtime band | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 62337 | 10-in. | 7/7/1937 | Cuban Pete | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 62338 | 10-in. | 7/7/1937 | I've got a heart full of rhythm | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 62339 | 10-in. | 7/7/1936 | Sun showers | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 63775 | 10-in. | 5/13/1938 | So little time | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 63776 | 10-in. | 5/13/1938 | Mexican swing | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 63777 | 10-in. | 5/13/1938 | As long as you live | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 63778 | 10-in. | 5/13/1938 | When the Saints go marchin' in | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 63809 | 10-in. | 5/18/1938 | on the sentimentccl side | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 63810 | 10-in. | 5/18/1938 | It's wonderful | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 63811 | 10-in. | 5/18/1938 | Something tells me | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 63812 | 10-in. | 5/18/1938 | Love walked in | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 64907 | 10-in. | 1/18/1939 | Jeepers creepers | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 64908 | 10-in. | 1/18/1939 | What is this thing called swing? | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 65344 | 10-in. | 4/5/1939 | Hear me talkin' to ya | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 65345 | 10-in. | 4/5/1939 | Save it pretty Mama | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 65346 | 10-in. | 4/5/1939 | West End blues | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 65347 | 10-in. | 4/5/1939 | Savoy blues | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 65460 | 10-in. | 4/25/1939 | (I'm) Confessin' (that I love you) | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 65461 | 10-in. | 4/25/1939 | Our Monday date | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 65462 | 10-in. | 4/25/1939 | If it's good then I want it | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 65463 | 10-in. | 4/25/1939 | Me and Brother Bill | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 65824 | 10-in. | 6/15/1939 | Baby, won't you please come home? | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 65825 | 10-in. | 6/15/1939 | Poor old Joe | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 65826 | 10-in. | 6/15/1939 | Shanty boat on the Mississippi | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 66984 | 10-in. | 12/18/1939 | Poor old Joe | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 66985 | 10-in. | 12/18/1939 | You're a lucky guy | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 66986 | 10-in. | 12/18/1939 | You're just a no account | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 66987 | 10-in. | 12/18/1939 | Bye and bye | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 67321 | 10-in. | 3/14/1940 | Hep cat's ball | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 67322 | 10-in. | 3/14/1940 | You've got me voodoo'd | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 67323 | 10-in. | 3/14/1940 | Harlem stomp | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 67324 | 10-in. | 3/14/1940 | Wolverine blues | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 67325 | 10-in. | 3/14/1940 | Lazy 'sippi steamer | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 67648 | 10-in. | 5/1/1940 | Sweethearts on parade | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 67649 | 10-in. | 5/1/1940 | You run your mouth, I'll run my business | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 67650 | 10-in. | 5/1/1940 | Cut off my legs and call me Shorty | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | 67651 | 10-in. | 5/1/1940 | Cain and Abel | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | DLA 1084 | 10-in. | 11/15/1937 | Once in a while | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | DLA 1085 | 10-in. | 11/15/1937 | On the sunny side of the street | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | DLA 1132 | 10-in. | 1/12/1938 | Satchel mouth swing | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | DLA 1133 | 10-in. | 1/12/1938 | Jubilee | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | DLA 1134 | 10-in. | 1/12/1938 | Struttin' with some barbecue | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | DLA 1135 | 10-in. | 1/12/1938 | The trumpet player's lament | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | DLA 1136 | 10-in. | 1/13/1938 | I double dare you | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | DLA 1137 | 10-in. | 1/13/1938 | True confession | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | DLA 1138 | 10-in. | 1/13/1938 | Let that be a lesson to you | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
Decca | DLA 1139 | 10-in. | 1/13/1938 | Sweet as a song | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, guitar |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Blair, Lee L.," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/110316.
Blair, Lee L.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/110316.
"Blair, Lee L.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Blair, Lee L., 1903-1966 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no96038661
Wikidata: Lee Blair - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1811724
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/14364526
MusicBrainz: Lee Blair - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/4bde05c3-47a7-4d6d-b702-7a24e0296d80
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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