April 1 in Gennett History…

1895: Happy 128th Birthday, Alberta Hunter (4/1/1895). She recorded as Josephine Beatty for Gennett with the Red Onion Jazz Babies. “Texas Moaner Blues” appeared on Gennett 5594 and Silvertone 4033. The track featured Alberta Hunter (vox), Louis Armstrong (c), Aaron Thompson (tb), Buster Bailey (sax), Lil Hardin Armstrong (p), Buddy Christian (bjo). 

1927: Wendell Hall recorded “Down Kentucky Way” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 6084, Gennett (AUS) 6102, Champion 15256 (759 copies sold), Gaiety P-121, and Vocalion XA-18014 and featured Hall (v).  This is from his Brunswick side of the same year.  

1929: The Southern Blues Singers recorded “Light House Blues” in Richmond. It appeared on Champion 15734, Gennett 6828, Supertone 9441, Varsity 6043, and AFCDJ A-043. The pianist on this track was Cow Cow Davenport. A royalty accounting to Harry Charles and Jack Freeman from Champion noted approx. 2,500 sales between 1929 and 1931 

1929: Cow Cow Davenport recorded “Chimes Blues” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 6838, Champion 15726 (~1300 sold) & 50033, Paramount 12800, Broadway 5046, Century 3019, Jazz Collector L-34, Tempo R-14, and Vocalion 0-2792 and featured Davenport (pn). 

1929: Ivy Smith recorded “Shadow Blues” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 6829, Champion 15736 (~3000 sold), Supertone 9509, and Varsity 6040 and featured Smith (v) and Cow Cow Davenport (pn). 

March 31 in Gennett History…

1923: Smilin’ Sam’s Dixie Strutters recorded “Blue Hoosier Blues” in NYC. The recording appeared on Gennett 5124, Starr-Gennett 9397, and Apex 410. 

1923: Nathan Glantz and his Orchestra recorded “Marcheta (A Love Song of Old Mexico)” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5117, Starr-Gennett 9383, Edison Bell Winner 3870, and Hitch 75010. 

1924: Harry Frankel p/k/a/ Singin’ Sam recorded “Weepin’ Blues” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 5426 and Champion 15033 (as Frank Henderson). Frankel passed away on June 12, 1948, and is buried in Richmond, Indiana. 

1927: Harry Pollock’s Blue Diamonds recorded “(What Do I Care What) Somebody Said” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 6083, Champion 15239 (976 copies sold), Silvertone 5049, Aco GA-20002, Coliseum 2039, Guardsman 2075, and Vocalion B-207, and featured Al Shayne (v) and Harry Pollock (vn). 

1932: Fadwa Kurban recorded four sides in NYC.  Two were issued on Maloof 38 and featured Kurban (v).  Here is an excellent article about this vocalist and the Maloof label.  

http://syrianlebanesediasporasound.blogspot.com/2019/09/fedora-fadwa-kurban-defiant-daughter.html

March 30 in Gennett History…

1923: Albert Katz’s Hotel Sinton Dance Orchestra of Cincinnati, Ohio recorded “Rose of the Rio Grande” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 5131 and 5140.

1926: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra recorded “If You Can’t Hold the Man You Love” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 3291 and Buddy 8010. The track featured Duke Ellington (p), Jimmy Harrison (v), LeRoy Rutledge and Harry Cooper (c), Jimmy Harrison (tb), Prince Robinson, Otto Hardwick, and George Thomas (cl/sax), Bass Edwards (bs), Fred Guy (bjo), and Sonny Greer (d). 

1927: Vernon Dalhart and Carson Robison recorded “My Blue Ridge Mountain Home” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 6076, Champion 15246 (16,048 copies sold), Supertone 9230, Black Patti 8028, Challenge 271 & 730, Herwin 75544, and Silvertone 5087 & 8143 and featured Dalhart (v) and Robison (v & g). 

1933: Archie Lewis recorded “Miss Handy Hanks” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion 16677 and Varsity 6069 and featured Lewis (v & g). 

March 29 in Gennett History…

1927: Trixie Williams recorded “Save My Jelly” in Chicago. It appeared on Gennett 6107, Champion 15265 (~400 copies sold), and Black Patti 8008 and featured Lillian Brown (v) and Will Brown (pn). 

1927: The Vicksburg Blowers recorded “Monte Carlo Joys” in Chicago.  It appeared on Gennett 6089, Champion 15285 (~300 sold), Gennett Rayo 40108, Black Patti 8010, and Paramount 12783 and featured King Brady (as/cl).

1933: The Walter Family recorded “That’s My Rabbit, My Dog Caught It” in Richmond.  The recording appeared on the black labelled Champion S-16653.  The track featured Mary Walter (p), Charlie Estes (g), Welburn Walter (wb), Charlie Burdette (jug), and Draper Walter (f). A Champion ledger sheet to Draper Walter noted sales of 108 copies in 1933 and 1934.

1953: Arthur Fields passed away. Fields recorded many sides for Gennett, including a 1921 advertisement for Moxie soft drinks. 

March 28 in Gennett History…

1923: The Green Brothers Xylophone Orchestra recorded “Who’s Sorry Now” in NYC.  It appeared in Gennett 5122, Starr-Gennett 9382, and Edison Bell Winner 3874.  The recording featured Joe Green on xylophone.  

1928: The Hutchens Brothers recorded “Climbing Up the Golden Stairs” in Richmond. The brothers were really John McGhee (vox/g/har) and Frank Welling (vox/uke). This recording appeared on Champion 15567. 

1935: Brian Lawrence and his Quartet recorded “Somebody Stole My Gal” in London, England.   Decca licensed the master and released it on Champion 40034 and featured vocalist Brian Lawrence. 

March 27 in Gennett History…

1923: Charles Hart and Mrs Bates recorded “River Shannon Moon” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5121 and Starr-Gennett 9384.  

1923: Billy Jones and Ernest Hare recorded “No One Loves You Better Than Your M-A Double M-Y” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5121 and Starr-Gennett 9384. 

1926: The Jardin Royal Dance Orchestra recorded “In the Sweet Bye and Bye” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 6425, Silvertone 8070, Superior 357, and Bell 608 and featured the Starr Trio (v).  Most likely this is the Paul Specht Band.  

March 26 in Gennett History…

1923: Justin Huber’s Hotel Gibson Dance Orch. of Cincinnati, Ohio recorded “Japanese Lullaby” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 5129, 5131, 5140, and Edison Bell Winner 3876.

1926: Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra recorded “When Spring Comes Peepin’ Through” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 3285. The recording featured Russell Smith and Joe Smith (c), Charlie Green (tb), Buster Bailey (cl,as), Don Redman (cl/as), Coleman Hawkins (cl/ts), Fletcher Henderson (p), Charlie Dixon (bj), and Kaiser Marshall (d). 

1932: The Vaughan Trio recorded “Death Is Only A Dream” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett Chapel Transcription 510.  Gennett created this label series for the following reason: “Realizing the need for suitable Mortuary Music, The Gennett Record Company offers these recordings – made especially for the services they are intended to render.”  

March 25 in Gennett History…

1893: Happy 130th Birthday to Ezra Wickemeyer! (3/25/1893). Wickemeyer became the recording engineer in the Richmond studio and recorded thousands of sides for the Gennett labels and clients, including many of the early jazz greats.  Here is his page from the recording pioneers website.

http://www.recordingpioneers.com/RP_WICKEMEYER1.html

March 24 in Gennett History…

1922: Ray Miller and his Orchestra recorded “Canary Isle” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 4859, Starr-Gennett 9234, and Cardinal 508. 

1927: Hattie Garland recorded “Strange Woman’s Dream” in Chicago.” The recording appeared on Black Patti 8005. It featured Hattie Garland (vox), Maynard King (as), and William Pearson (p). 

1928: Ruby Green’s Manhattan Madcaps recorded “Sentimental Baby” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 6428, Champion 15475 (657 copies sold), Bell 597, and Silvertone 8061 and featured Al Lynch (v). Carl Fenton and his Orchestra used “Ruby Green’s Manhattan Madcaps” as a pseudonym.  

1930: Dick Coy and his Racketeers recorded “Eleven-Thirty Saturday Night” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 7175 and Champion 15977 (3,064 copies sold) and featured Jimmy McPoland (v). 

1934: Alphonse Trent and his Orchestra recorded “Clementine” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion 16587 (53 copies sold) and featured Peanuts Holland (v & tp), Chester Clark and Harry Edison (tp), Snub Moseley and Gus Wilson (tb), James Jeter and either Chester or Charles Pillars (as/cl), Hayes Pillars and Lee Hilliard (ts), Eugene Crooke (g), Robert ‘Eppie’ Jackson (bs), Eugene Crooke (bjo), Anderson Lacy (f), and A. G. Godley (d). 

1936: Jimmie Gordon recorded “Little Red Dress (Mary Usta Wear)” in Chicago.  It appeared on Champion 50075 and Decca 7301 and featured Gordon (v) and Chuck Segar (pn). 

1957: Carson Robison passed away. He recorded dozens of sides for Gennett including “Oh Dem Golden Slippers” with Vernon Dalhart on 5/17/1928 in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 6512, Champion 15567 and 33005, Silvertone 8143, & Supertone 9230. William Carlino played banjo. 

March 23 in Gennett History…

1922: Ladd’s Black Aces recorded “Satanic Blues” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 4856, Starr-Gennett 9230, Apex 478, Connorized 3077, and Rich-Tone 7034 and featured Phil Napoleon (tp), Moe Gappell? (tb), Doc Behrendson (cl), Frank Signorelli (pn), and Jack Roth (d). 

1927: Lillian Brown recorded “You Had It and Didn’t Want it” in Chicago.  It appeared on Gennett 6091, Black Patti 8007, and Champion 15265 (~400 sold) and featured Brown (v) and Will Brown (pn). 

1928: W. E. “Buddy” Burton recorded “Time Enough Blues” in Chicago. It appeared on Gennett 6453, Champion 15489 (Washington Thomas), and Superior 388 (unknown). The Champion side sold ~400 copies in 1928 and ’29. Burton was the singer and pianist.