January 21 in Gennett History…

1924: Doc Cook’s Dreamland Orchestra recorded “So This Is Venice” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 5360. The recording featured Freddie Keppard and Elwood Graham (c), Fred Garland (tb), Joe Poston (as), Jerome Pasquall (ts), Jimmy Noone & Clifford King (cl), Antonia Spaulding (p), Bill Newton (bs), Stan Wilson (bjo), Jimmy Bell (f), and Bert Greene (d).

1925: The Tremaine Brothers recorded “In Shadowland” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 3040 and 5646.

1927: Lou Gold and his Melody Men recorded “Ain’t She Sweet” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 6068, Champion 15238 (2,349 copies sold), Challenge 253 & 352, Silvertone 5033 & 25033, and Vocalion XA-18001 and featured Murray Amster (v).

January 20 in Gennett History…

1922: Irving Kaufman recorded “Eddie Leonard Blues” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 4827 and Starr-Gennett 9207 and featured Kaufman (v).

1922: Vernon Dalhart recorded “Dear Old Southland” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 4827, Starr-Gennett 9207, and Connorized 3060. This earlier version is from Edison Blue Amberol 4508.

1926: Mariani Tango Orchestra recorded “Es Un Golfo” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett S-3274.

January 19 in Gennett History…

1923: Bailey’s Lucky Seven recorded “Apple Sauce” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 5030. The track featured Phil Napoleon (?) (c), Charlie Panelli (tb), Benny Krueger & and unknown (sax), Jimmy Lytell (cl), Nick Lucas (bjo), and Jack Roth (d).

1925: Hitch’s Happy Harmonists recorded “Cataract Rag Blues” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 5633 and featured Fred Roll-on (tpt), Jerry Bump (tb), Dewey Neal (bs), Harry Wright (cl), Curtis Hitch (pn), Maurice Mays (bjo), and Earl McDonell (d).

1929: Freeman Stowers recorded “Railroad Blues” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 6814, Champion 15837 (~4,200 copies sold), Supertone 9393 & 9430 and featured Stowers (v & h). 

1929: Virginia Lee recorded “I’d Rather Be Blue Over You” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 6743, Champion 15663 (~700 copies sold), and Supertone 9348 and featured Lee (vox) with Andy Mansfield and his Orchestra. 

1933: Jess Hillard recorded “Mississippi Moon” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion 16564 and featured Hillard (v & g). 

January 18 in Gennett History

1922: Joe Kayser and His Novelty Orchestra recorded “Everybody Step” in Richmond. The release was an un-numbered Personal Recording.

1922: Lanin’s Famous Players recorded “The Sheik of Araby” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 4820, Starr-Gennett 9202, Connorized 3041, and Rich-Tone 7022.

January 17 in Gennett History…

1922: Nathan Glantz and his Orchestra recorded “Thrills” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 4824, Starr-Gennett 9208, Edison Bell Winner 3734, and Connorized 3051.

1923: Ladd’s Black Aces recorded “Runnin’ Wild” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 5035, Starr-Gennett 9343, and Cardinal 557 and featured Arthur Fields (v), Phil Napoleon (tpt), Charlie Panelli (tb), Jimmy Lyell (cl), Frank Signorelli (pn), and Jack Roth (d).

1924: Josie Miles recorded “You Don’t Know My Mind Blues” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5359 and Silvertone 4048 and featured Miles (vox), Fletcher Henderson (pn), and Joseph Smith (tpt).  

1928: Otto Gray’s Oklahoma Cowboy Band recorded “Adam & Eve” in Richmond. This was a re-record. It appeared on Gennett 6376 (Owen Gray), Champion 15482 (McGinty’s Oklahoma Cowboy Band), Challenge 396 (Art Coffee), Silvertone 8157, and Supertone 9242 (Otis Stewart). The band featured Owen Gray (v and g), poss. Lee ‘Zeke’ Allen (v), ‘Chief’ Sanders (f), and Wade ‘Hy’ Allen (bjo). Here is a video of them performing in 1929.

January 16 in Gennett History…

1924: Bailey’s Lucky Seven recorded “Lovey Come Back” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5363 and Starr-Gennett 9502 and featured Phil Napoleon & Earl Oliver (tpt), Miff Mole (tb), Frank Signorelli (pn), and Jack Roth (d).

1931: Asa Martin recorded “My Cabin Home Among the Hills” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion S-16769 and 45067 and featured Martin (g & v) and Ed M. Lewis (aharp). 

1932: Tommie Bradley recorded “Window Pane Blues” in Richmond. It appeared on Champion S – 16696 and Varsity 6054. The recording features Tommie Bradley (v and g), James Cole (f), Eddie Dimmit (md), and an unknown washboard player.

1932: Buster Johnson recorded “Undertaker Blues” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion S-16718 and Varsity 6031 and featured Johnson (v & g), Tommie Johnson (g), James Cole (f), Eddie Dimmitt (?) (md).

January 15 in Gennett History…

1882: Happy 140th Birthday, Henry Burr! (1/15/1882) The vocalist recorded several sides for Gennett with the Sterling Trio. He recorded “Just Like the Rose” (Gennett 1504) in 1919 with Albert Campbell and John H. Meyers. 

1923: Lanin’s Famous Players recorded “Ivy (Cling to Me)” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5039 and Starr-Gennett 9343. 

1924: Edna Johnson recorded “A Woman Gets Tired of One Man All the Time” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5367 and Silvertone 4046 and featured Johnson (vox) and Charles Booker (pn). 

1925: The Tweedy Brothers recorded “Cripple Creek” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 5635, Champion 15148 (Jennings Brothers), Silvertone 4008, and Buddy 8016. Champion reported sales of 1,532 copies in 1926 and 1927. The Tweedy Brothers were Charles W. Tweedy (piano) & Harry Tweedy (fiddle).

1932: Asa Martin recorded “The Contented Hobo” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion 16299 (358 copies sold) and Superior 2607 and featured Martin (v & g).

1936: Bob Terry and his Orchestra recorded “It’s Been So Long” in NYC.  It appeared on Champion 40094.

1964: Jack Teagarden passed away. He recorded “Happy Days Are Here Again” with The University Orchestra (Under The Direction of Sam Lanin) in NYC on 2/10/1930. It appeared on Gennett 7117, Champion 15930, and Supertone 9615.

January 14 in Gennett History…

1920: Judge Martin Thomas Manton wrote the Circuit Court of Appeals, Second District’s Opinion, which reconfirmed the denial of Victor’s temporary injunction request. He agreed with the District Judge’s earlier doubt regarding Johnson’s prior victory decided by Judge Ray. It became “incumbent upon Johnson, in order to succeed, to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was, in fact, the inventor.” This decision allowed not only Gennett to continue releasing lateral cut pressing, but sent a clear message to other companies that the courts possessed serious reservations about Johnson’s patent claims.

Judge Martin Thomas Manton

1929: Leonard Rutherford and John Foster recorded “Six Months Ain’t Long” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 6807, Champion 15750 (~28,500 copies sold), and Supertone 9352 and featured Leonard Rutherford (v & f) and John Foster (v & g). 

1930: Fiddlin’ Doc Roberts recorded “The Drunken Man’s Dream” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion 16208 (~1,500 copies sold) and 45135 and featured Roberts (f) and Asa Martin (g).

January 13 in Gennett History…

1930: Fiddlin’ Doc Roberts recorded “Hawk’s Got a Chicken” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 7110, Champion 16026 (~1,900 copies sold), Superior 2762, and Supertone 9659 and featured Roberts (f) and Asa Martin (g).

1932: Howard Thomas Orchestra recorded “In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion 16387 & 40080 and Superior 2801. 

1933: Turner Parrish recorded “Ain’t Gonna Be Your Dog No More” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion S-16629 and 50027 and featured Parrish (v & p). 

1953: Clarence Gennett passed away at 73. He was the Starr Piano Company’s treasurer, the son of Henry and Alice, and brother of Fred, Harry, and Rose Gennett. This image is from the 1940 census, which noted he worked as a refrigerator manufacturer for Gennett Refrigeration.

Clarence Gennett circa 1905

January 12 in Gennett History…

1923: Starr Piano Treasurer Clarence Gennett recorded a series of nursery rhymes under the pseudonym “Charles Gordon.” These recitations appeared on Gennett 5029 and 4932.

1928: Sam Ku West recorded “Strange Isles Medley” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 6392, Gennett Rayo 40120, Champion 15450 (~1300 copies sold), Challenge 410, and Supertone 9328 and featured West and Joseph Ikeole. 

1932: Howard Thomas and his Orchestra recorded “Rose of Washington Square” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion 16656.