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Herman Chittison

Herman "Ivory" Chittison (October 15, 1908 – March 8, 1967) was an American jazz pianist.

He was born in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, United States. Chittison began his career in Zack Whyte's territory band in Ohio in 1928. In the early 1930s, he moved to New York and found work as an accompanist to Ethel Waters, Adelaide Hall, and Clarence Williams. He also visited Boston for the first time with a traveling show headlined by comic actor Stepin Fetchit. In late 1933, he went to Europe with the Willie Lewis Orchestra and toured Europe with them; the following year he recorded with Louis Armstrong in Paris. He and Bill Coleman led the Harlem Rhythm Makers. Herman Chittison and trumpeter Bill Coleman left Lewis in 1938 and formed a band that worked extensively in Cairo, Egypt, and traveled as far east as India. In October 1959, Chittison arrived in Boston and was employed as the resident pianist at the Red Garter bar in the Lenox Hotel. He then moved to the Mayfair Lounge in Bay Village. His stay in Boston lasted two years. Chittison had a reoccurring role as the piano player in the Blue Note Bar on the radio series, Casey, Crime Photographer.

Herman Chittison died in March 1967, at the age of 58.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 15, 1908 (Flemingsburg), Died March 8, 1967 (Cleveland)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, leader, celeste

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 45 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-067905 10-in. 9/17/1941 Flamingo Herman Chittison Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-067906 10-in. 9/17/1941 The man I love Herman Chittison Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7VB-0079 10-in. 1/21/1947 Blues in my heart Herman Chittison Trio ; Ethel Waters Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7VB-0257 10-in. 4/14/1947 Where is Sam? Bob Smith Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and bass instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Victor D7VB-0258 10-in. 4/14/1947 You must have been a beautiful baby Bob Smith Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and bass leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W152463 10-in. 8/7/1933 The shim sham shimmy dance Lowland Singers ; Williams' Jug Band Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W152464 10-in. 8/7/1933 Organ grinder Williams' Jug Band Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal trio instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W152465 10-in. 8/7/1933 Chizzlin' Sam Williams' Jug Band Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal duet instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W152466 10-in. 8/7/1933 High society Lowland Singers ; Williams' Jug Band Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia W152467 10-in. 8/7/1933 Mister, will you serenade? Williams' Jug Band Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14718 10-in. 1/22/1929 Mandy Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14787 10-in. 2/11/1929 Shake it and break it Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14788 10-in. 2/11/1929 Hum all your troubles away Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14836 10-in. 2/26/1929 It's tight like that Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14837 10-in. 2/26/1929 West End blues Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16005 10-in. 12/19/1929 Good feelin' blues Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, celeste, piano  
Gennett 16006 10-in. 12/19/1929 Wailin' blues Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, celeste, piano  
Gennett 16007 10-in. 12/19/1929 When you're smiling Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, celeste, piano  
Gennett 16008 10-in. 12/19/1929 Sophomore prom Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, celeste, piano  
Decca 68708 10-in. 2/14/1941 Stardust Delta Rhythm Boys instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 68709 10-in. 2/14/1941 My imaginary love Delta Rhythm Boys instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 68710 10-in. 2/14/1941 My blue heaven Delta Rhythm Boys instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 68711 10-in. 2/14/1941 would it be asking too much Delta Rhythm Boys instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 68712 10-in. 2/14/1941 When that man is dead and gone Mildred Bailey ; Delta Rhythm Boys instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 68713 10-in. 2/14/1941 Jenny Mildred Bailey ; Delta Rhythm Boys instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 1-25 of 45 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Chittison, Herman," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106794.

Chittison, Herman. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106794.

"Chittison, Herman." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106794

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