February 12th in Gennett History…

1929: King Mutt and His Tennessee Thumpers recorded “Maxwell Street Stomp” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 6796, Champion 15696, Champion 40043, Creole 5, Supertone 9431, Vocalion V-1035, and XX 2. The track featured Punch Miller (c), George James (as), King Mutt ? (cl), Jimmy Blythe ? (p), Willie Baker ? (g), Tommy Taylor (d).  

 

1967: Muggsy Spanier passed away. He recorded “Hot Mittens” with The Bucktown Five in Richmond on 2/25/1924. It appeared on Gennett 5518, Claxtonola 40353, Tempo R-1, and Temple 544. The recording featured Muggsy Spanier (c), Guy Carey (tb), Volly de Faut (cl), Mel Stitzel (p), and Marvin Saxbe (gtr/bjo). 

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February 11th in Gennett History…

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

February 5th in Gennett History…

Ernest and Hattie Stoneman’s Gennett Walk of Fame Medallion

February 5th in Gennett History, 1927: Ernest Stoneman recorded “Kenney Wagner’s Surrender” in NYC. It appeared on Silvertone 5004, Silvertone 25004, Gennett 6044, Champion 15222, and Herwin 75535. The Champion royalty ledger noted to Ernest Stoneman sales of 12,368 copies between 1927 and 1931. 

 

Georgia Tom Dorsey Gennett Walk of Fame Medallion

1930: Georgia Tom Dorsey recorded six sides in Richmond, most of them released under the pseudonym ‘Smokehouse Charlie.’ In addition to Dorsey’s vocals and guitar, these tracks feature Scrapper Blackwell on guitar. The recording of “Maybe It’s the Blues” was released on Champion 15994 and Champion 50054. Performer royalties sent to Thomas Dorsey, noted sales of approx. 1,400 copies between 1930 and 1932 of Champion 15994 and 207 copies of Champion 50054 for the period ending 9/30/36. 

February 4th in Gennett History…

1930: Robinson’s Knights of Rest recorded “Mean Baby Blues” in Richmond. It appeared on Champion 16607. The track featured Bob Robinson (cl), Jimmy Blythe (p), and Scrapper Blackwell (g). 

January 30th in Gennett History…

1923: Ted Claire Snappy Bits Band under the direction of Chas. Watson recorded “Laughin’ Cryin’ Blues” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 5060 and Starr-Gennett 9350. The only known player was Charles A. Matson on piano. 

January 29th in Gennett History…

Jimmy Durante Gennett Walk of Fame Medallion

1980: Jimmy Durante passed away. He recorded “Why Cry Blues” with the Jimmy Durante Jazz Band in NYC in May of 1920. It appeared on Gennett 9045 and Starr-Gennett 9042. In addition to Durante (p), the track featured Frank Christian (c), Frank Lhotak (tb), Achille Baquet (cl), and John Hountha Stein (d). The Starr-Gennett Foundation inducted Durante into its Walk of Fame in September 2016.   

January 28th in Gennett History…

1952: 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. From the Linda Gennett Irmscher collection.