January 28 in Gennett History…

1924: Thomas Barry Hannom recorded “The Old Fenian Gun” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5387, O’Byrne De Witt / Sein Fein Music House 39003 and featured Hannom (vox).

1927: Jelly James and his Fewsicians recorded “Georgia Bo Bo” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 6045, Champion 15216 (2.023 copies sold), Silvertone 5023, Keith Prowse K-101, Paradox 4, and VJR 19 and featured George Temple (tpt), David ‘Jelly’ James (tb), Perry Smith (ss/cl), Henry Duncan (pn), Ollie Blackwell (bjo), and Ralph Bedell (d). 

1929: Bradley Kincaid recorded “Wreck on the C&O Road” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 6823, Champion 15710 & 45098, and Melotone 45057 and featured Kincaid (v & g).

1952: Gennett family matriarch and Starr Piano board member Alice Lumsden Gennett passed away. She was Henry Gennett’s wife and mother of Fred, Clarence, Rose, and Harry Gennett. She recorded a Christmas Greeting for Gennett’s Christmas series on December 7, 1922. It was un-numbered. The Criterion Quartet’s “Silent Night” appeared on the reverse side.

January 27 in Gennett History…

1888: Happy 134th Birthday, Harry Frankel. (1/27/1888). Better known as ‘Singing Sam, the Barbasol Man,’ Frankel recorded “How Are You Going To Wet Your Whistle” in 1919 in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 4521. Frankel was also one of the first artists to record in the newly opened studio in Richmond.  Frankel passed away in 1948 in his home in Richmond, Indiana.  

1931: Bob Cranford and AP Thompson recorded “Otto Wood” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion 16261 (1,420 copies sold) and featured Cranford (v & h) and Thompson (v & g). 

1931: Ernie Golden recorded “Dirty Hot” in NYC.  It appeared on  Champion 16661 and Superior 2830 and featured Tommy Weir (vox).

1936: Dick Robertson and his Orchestra recorded “Alone” in NYC.  It appeared on Champion 40088, Decca 5900, and Montgomery Ward 4922.

January 26 in Gennett History…

1924: Ladd’s Black Aces recorded “Nine O’Clock Sal” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5366, Starr-Gennett 9514, and Silvertone 4047 and featured Harry Gluck (tpt), Miff Mole (tb), Ken ‘Goof’ Moyer (as/cl), Vernon Dalhart (v), and others.

1925: Bix Beiderbecke and his Rhythm Jugglers recorded “Davenport Blues” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 5654, Brunswick 02206, HRS 22, and Session 6. The track featured Bix Beiderbecke (c), Tommy Dorsey (tb), Don Murray (cl), Paul Mertz (p), Howdy Quicksell (bjo), and Tom Gargano (d).  

1928: Milan G. Pancevac recorded twelve sides in Richmond.  These recordings appeared on six Personal Series funded by Z. Pellich Music Company in Detroit, MI and featured Pancevac (v & acc).  I have never seen or heard any of these records but – Here is a side he recorded for Victor later that year.

1931: Bob Cranford and AP Thompson recorded “Katy Cline” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion S-16676 (1,420 sold) & 45061, and Superior 2594 and featured Cranford (v & h) and Thompson (v & g).

1932: Earl Wright and The Arkansas Corndodgers recorded “My Ozark Mountain Home” in Richmond. It appeared on Champion 16382, and Superior 2822 (Sam Weber). The Champion royalty ledgers noted to George W. Edgin sales of 104 copies in 1932 (and 1 copy in 1933).

January 25 in Gennett History…

1929: Pie Plant Pete recorded “Boston Burglar” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 6748, Champion 15752 (~7,200 sales), and Supertone 9351 and featured Claude Moye (v, h, & g).

1947: Albert Campbell of the Sterling Trio passed away. Along with Henry Burr and John Meyer, he recorded “Just Like the Rose” in 1917 in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 1504. 

1950: Jaybird Coleman passed away. He recorded “Ah`m Sick And Tired Of Tellin`You” on 7/8/1927 in Birmingham, Alabama. It appeared on Gennett 6276, Conqueror 7268 (George Alexander), and Champion 15379 (Rabbits Foot Williams). A Champion royalty statement sent to B. C. Coleman, noted sales of 1,455 copies in 1927 and 1928.

January 24 in Gennett History…

1922: The Specialty Orchestra under the direction of Pietro Capodiferro recorded “Moon River” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 4828, Starr-Gennett 9212, Challenge 180 (Hanley’s Specialty Orchestra), Velvet Face 1049 (Joe Richardson’s Orchestra), and Connorized 3062 (Special Orchestra).

1927: Lou Gold with the 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 Master (vox).

1930: Nicholson’s Players recorded “Turkey in the Straw, Old Folks Home, Big Eared Mule” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 7125, Champion 16137 (~1,000 copies sold), Superior 2738, and Supertone 9644 and featured Glen Spurgeon (gtr), Will J. Nicholson (bjo), Mr Floyd (f), Mr. Ashabraner (har).

1931: the Deep River Plantation Singers recorded “Joshua Fit De Battle of Jericho” in Richmond. It appeared on Champion 16378 (134 copies sold) and Superior 2814.

1933: Kenneth Houchins recorded “Wander’s Warning” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion 16553 (110 copies sold) and Melotone 45006 and featured Houchins (v & g).

January 23 in Gennett History…

1923: Tom Ennis’ Irish Band recorded “Connaughtman’s Rambles: Frost is All Over” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5040, Starr-Gennett 9364, and O’Byrne DeWitt 39039 and featured John Muller (pn), Tom Quigley (f), Johnson (acc), and Ennis (pipes).

1993: Georgia Tom Dorsey (Thomas A. Dorsey) passed away. He recorded “Maybe It’s The Blues” in Richmond on 2/5/1930. It appeared on Champion 15994, Champion 50045, and Gennett 7190. A royalty statement sent to Dorsey noted sales of approx. 1,400 copies between 1930 and 1932.

January 22 in Gennett History…

1923: Glantz’s Metropolitan Players recorded “Saw Mill River Road” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5039 and Starr-Gennett 9348.

1925: Bailey’s Lucky Seven recorded “Alabamy Bound” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 3039 and 5648 and featured Vic d’Ippolito and Red Nichols (tpt), Miff Mole (tb), and Dick Johnson (cl).

1929: Zack Whyte’s Chocolate Beau Brummels recorded “Mandy” in Richmond. It was released on Gennett 6781 and Supertone 9486. The band featured Sy Oliver, Bubber Whyte, and Henry Savage (c), Floyd Brady (tb), Earl Tribble, Snake Richardson, Al Sears, and Clarence Page (sax), Herman Chittison (p), Montgomery Morrison (bs), Zach Whyte (bjo), and William Benton (d).

1929: Elmer Grosso and his Royal Mount Orchestra recorded “My Inspiration in You” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 6739, Champion 15657 (566 copies sold), and Supertone 9343 and featured Harold Arlock (vox) and Grosso (vn).   

1935: Jimmie Gordon recorded “Graveyard Blues (Dead and Gone Blues) in Chicago.  It appeared on Champion 50075 and Decca 7301 and featured Gordon (vox). 

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).