Author Archives: Charlie Dahan

1920: the Putnam Theatre in Brooklyn ran a newspaper ad for Mamie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds, proclaiming her an “Attraction Extraordinary.” A few weeks earlier Okeh released Mamie Smith’s “Crazy Blues” and it sold extremely well. Thanks in part … Continue reading →

1923: The Stellar Trio recorded “Dear Heart” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5316 and Starr-Gennett 9505.  Also on this session, the Stellar Trio accompanied Vernon Dalhart on two sides “Can’t Yo’ Hear Me Calling Caroline” and “When the Swallows … Continue reading →

1925: Fess Williams and His Royal Flush Orchestra recorded “Caroline” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 3210. The recording featured Fess Williams and Perry Smith on (v & sax/cl), George Temple on (c), David “Jelly” James (tb), Ollie Blackwell (bjo), … Continue reading →

1924: Red Onion Jazz Babies recorded “Santa Claus Blues” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5607, Silvertone 4032, Brunswick 80062, and several foreign and bootleg reissues.  The recording featured Louis Armstrong (tpt), Aaron Thompson (tb), Buster Bailey (cl), Lil Hardin … Continue reading →

1925: Pinkie’s Birmingham Five recorded “Headin’ For Louisville” in NYC. This recoding appeared on Gennett 3208 and in England on Scala 761. Brian Rust supposed Pinkie was Pinky Gerbrecht on cornet. 1931: Jess Hillard recorded “Doggone Them Blues” in Richmond. … Continue reading →

1930: Gene Autry recorded “Yodeling Hobo” in NYC. It appeared on Champion 16166, Champion, 45172, Decca 5527, Melotone 45172, Melotone 45254, Montgomery Ward 4932, Montgomery Ward 8013. Champion 45172 sold 439 copies for the period ending 9/30/36. Champion 16166 sold … Continue reading →

1922: Cal. Smith’s American Orchestra recorded “Pack Up You Sins and Go to the Devil” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5011, Starr-Gennett 9326, and Edison Bell Winner 3864. 1924: Perley Breed’s Shepard Colonial Orchestra recorded “Tell Me Dreamy Eyes” … Continue reading →

1899: Happy 122nd Birthday, Hoagy Carmichael! Carmichael, a Gennett Walk of Fame inductee, was born on 11/22/1899. Hitch’s Happy Harmonists, one of his first recordings, recorded ‘Boneyard Shuffle’ in Richmond on May 19, 1925. It featured Carmichael (p), Fred Rollison … Continue reading →

1904: Happy 117th Birthday Coleman Hawkins! Coleman Hawkins, a Gennett Walk of Fame inductee, was born on 11/21/1904. He recorded ‘When Spring Comes Peeping Through’ with Fletcher Henderson’s Orchestra in NYC on March 26, 1926. It appeared on Gennett 3285. … Continue reading →

1925: Vernon Dalhart recorded “The Death of Floyd Collins” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 3197, Champion 15048, Challenge 318, and Herwin 75502. Dalhart is on vocals & harmonica and maybe Carson Robison on guitar. 1929: Joe Linthecome recorded “Humming … Continue reading →