Leonard Davis
Leonard "Ham" Davis (July 4, 1905 in St. Louis, Missouri – 1957) was an American jazz trumpeter. Davis began his career in St. Louis, playing with the Odd Fellows Boys' Band as a teenager and landing a spot in Charlie Creath's band. Late in the 1920s, he relocated to New York City, where he played in the bands of Edgar Hayes and Arthur Gibbs. He recorded for the first time with Eddie Condon's ensemble in 1929, and sat in with McKinney's Cotton Pickers that same year. In the 1930s he played with Benny Carter, Don Redman, and Elmer Snowden, and did a two-year stint in Louis Armstrong's orchestra starting in 1935. Toward the end of the decade he toured Europe with Edgar Hayes and played in the Blackbirds revue in New York City. Davis joined Sidney Bechet's revival group in 1940, and also played in bands led by Maurice Hubbard, Albert Socarras, and George James. He continued performing in small-time settings in New York through the mid-1950s. |
Birth and Death Data: Born July 4, 1905 (St. Louis), Died 1957
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1938
Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet
= 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-38115 | 10-in. | 2/25/1927 | Paradise wobble | Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
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 | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
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, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-47530 | 10-in. | 9/19/1928 | Gettin' away from me | Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-47531 | 10-in. | 9/19/1928 | The boy in the boat | Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-47532 | 10-in. | 9/19/1928 | Walk that thing | Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-48345 | 10-in. | 2/8/1929 | I'm gonna stomp Mr. Henry Lee | Eddie's Hot Shots | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-48346 | 10-in. | 2/8/1929 | That's a serious thing | Eddie's Hot Shots | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-51298 | 10-in. | 5/8/1929 | Harlem drag | Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-51299 | 10-in. | 5/8/1929 | Hot bones and rice | Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-53600 | 10-in. | 5/8/1929 | Mo'lasses | Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-57064 | 10-in. | 11/5/1929 | Plain dirt | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-57065 | 10-in. | 11/5/1929 | Gee, ain't I good to you | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-57066 | 10-in. | 11/6/1929 | I'd love it | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-57067 | 10-in. | 11/6/1929 | The way I feel today | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-57068 | 10-in. | 11/6/1929 | Miss Hannah | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-57139 | 10-in. | 11/7/1929 | Peggy | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-57140 | 10-in. | 11/7/1929 | Wherever there's a will, baby | McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Don Redman | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-57926 | 10-in. | 12/18/1929 | Lookin' for another sweetie | Fats Waller’s Buddies | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-57927 | 10-in. | 12/18/1929 | Ridin' but walkin' | Fats Waller’s Buddies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-57928 | 10-in. | 12/18/1929 | Won't you get off it please | Fats Waller’s Buddies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BVE-57929 | 10-in. | 12/18/1929 | When I'm alone | Fats Waller’s Buddies | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
OKeh | 9036 | 10-in. | Mar. 1925 | Discouraged blues | Bertha Henderson | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
OKeh | 9037 | 10-in. | Mar. 1925 | Jamboree blues | Bertha Henderson | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Decca | 60021 | 10-in. | 10/3/1935 | I'm in the mood for love | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60022 | 10-in. | 10/3/1935 | You're my lucky star | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60023 | 10-in. | 10/3/1935 | La cucaracha | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60024 | 10-in. | 10/3/1935 | Got a brand new suit | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60155 | 10-in. | 11/21/1935 | I've got my fingers crossed | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60156 | 10-in. | 11/21/1935 | Old man Mose (is dead)-1 | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60157 | 10-in. | 11/21/1935 | I'm shooting high | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60158 | 10-in. | 11/21/1935 | (Was I to blame for) Falling in love with you | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60227 | 10-in. | 12/13/1935 | Red sails in the sunset | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60228 | 10-in. | 12/13/1935 | On Treasure Island | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60249 | 10-in. | 12/19/1935 | Thanks a million | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60250 | 10-in. | 12/19/1935 | Shoe Shine Boy | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60251 | 10-in. | 12/19/1935 | Solitude | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60252 | 10-in. | 12/19/1935 | I hope Gabriel likes my music | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60362 | 10-in. | 1/18/1936 | The music goes 'round and around | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 60363 | 10-in. | 1/18/1936 | Rhythm saved the world | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 61058 | 10-in. | 4/28/1936 | I come from a musical family | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 61059 | 10-in. | 4/29/1936 | If we never meet again | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 61075 | 10-in. | 4/28/1936 | Somebody stole my break | Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 61106 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Lyin' to myself | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 61107 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Ev'ntide | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 61108 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Swing that music | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 61109 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Thankful | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 61110 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Red nose | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 61111 | 10-in. | 5/18/1936 | Mahogany Hall stomp | Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 62217 | 10-in. | 5/25/1937 | Caravan | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 62218 | 10-in. | 5/25/1937 | Edgar steps out | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 62219 | 10-in. | 5/25/1937 | Laughing at life | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 62220 | 10-in. | 5/25/1937 | Stomping at the Renny | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 62450 | 10-in. | 7/27/1937 | Laughing at life | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 62451 | 10-in. | 7/27/1937 | High, wide and handsome | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 62452 | 10-in. | 7/27/1937 | Satan takes a holiday | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 62675 | 10-in. | 10/11/1937 | Queen Isabella | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 62676 | 10-in. | 10/11/1937 | Old King Cole | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 62677 | 10-in. | 10/11/1937 | Shindig | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 62678 | 10-in. | 10/11/1937 | Let's love | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 63157 | 10-in. | 1/14/1938 | Meet the band | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 63158 | 10-in. | 1/14/1938 | Fugitive from a harem | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 63159 | 10-in. | 1/14/1938 | Swingin' in the promised land | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 63160 | 10-in. | 1/14/1938 | Barbary Coast blues | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 63294 | 10-in. | 2/17/1938 | Help me | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 63295 | 10-in. | 2/17/1938 | Without you | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 63296 | 10-in. | 2/17/1938 | You're my first thought every morning | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 63297 | 10-in. | 2/17/1938 | In the mood | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 63298 | 10-in. | 2/17/1938 | Star dust | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
Decca | 63299 | 10-in. | 2/17/1938 | Sophisticated swing | Edgar Hayes Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Davis, Leonard," accessed October 5, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/112286.
Davis, Leonard. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 5, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/112286.
"Davis, Leonard." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 October 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Davis, Leonard, 1905-1957 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2004004422
Wikidata: Leonard "Ham" Davis - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q16960369
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/61749269
MusicBrainz: Leonard "Ham" Davis - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/c4edc877-f1d8-4803-8141-cae1d3ab4c97
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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