1927: Johnny Sylvester and His Playmates recorded “A Blues Serenade” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 6026, Champion 15203 (Bobby Jones and His Orchestra), Challenge 234 (Memphis Melody Players), and Silvertone 5024 (Johnson’s Plantation Serenaders). The Champion issue sold 997 copies in 1927. The track featured Johnny Sylvester (c), Mike Martini (tb), Andy Sannella, Larry Abbott, and Jimmy Lytell (sax/cl), Henry Vanicelli (p), Joe Tarto (bs), Lou de Fabbia (bjo), and Ted Napoleon (d).