Jack Bland

Jack Bland (May 8, 1899 – August 1968) was an American jazz banjoist and guitarist.

Born in Sedalia, Missouri, Bland co-founded the Mound City Blue Blowers with Red McKenzie in 1924 in St. Louis. Their first hit record was "Arkansas Blues", a success in Chicago and the American midwest. After Eddie Lang joined the group late in 1924, the group booked a tour in England.

Later in the 1920s, Bland began playing more cello and guitar. In 1929, Lang left the group, and Gene Krupa joined; Muggsy Spanier, Coleman Hawkins, and Eddie Condon would all play in the ensemble in the 1930s, which moved to more of a Dixieland sound. Also in 1929, the Blue Blowers appeared in a 1929 short film, The Opry House.

In 1932 Bland did session work in New York City with the Rhythmakers, a recording ensemble featuring singer Billy Banks, with Pee Wee Russell, Red Allen, and Zutty Singleton. Musicians Pops Foster and Fats Waller also played with the group at times.

In the 1940s Bland played on 52nd Street at Jimmy Ryan's Club, playing with Allen and Singleton as well as Edmond Hall, Vic Dickenson, Ike Quebec, and Hot Lips Page; some of their sessions were recorded by Milt Gabler and released on Commodore Records. From 1942 to 1944 he played with Art Hodes and also with Muggsy Spanier; he led his own band from 1944 to 1950.

In the 1950s, Bland moved to Los Angeles and retired from performing, taking work as a taxicab driver. He died there on October 18, 1968.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 8, 1899 (Sedalia), Died October 31, 1968 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, composer, banjo, vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-56151 10-in. 9/25/1929 Tailspin blues Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-56152 10-in. 9/25/1929 Never had a reason to believe in you Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-57145 10-in. 11/14/1929 Hello Lola Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-57146 10-in. 11/14/1929 One hour Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W351052 10-in. 6/30/1931 Darktown Strutters' Ball Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W365050 10-in. 6/30/1931 You rascal you Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick E16305-E16307 9/1/1925 If you never come back Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E16795-E16797 10-in. 10/29/1925 If you never come back Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 596W-598W 10-in. 3/24/1925 Wigwam blues McKenzie’s Candy Kids Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 1070W-1071W 10-in. 8/7/1925 Happy children blues McKenzie’s Candy Kids Jazz/dance band composer  
Decca 67059 10-in. 1/16/1940 I've found a new baby George Wettling's Chicago Rhythm Kings instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 67060 10-in. 1/16/1940 Bugle call rag George Wettling's Chicago Rhythm Kings instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 67061 10-in. 1/16/1940 I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate George Wettling's Chicago Rhythm Kings instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 67062 10-in. 1/16/1940 Darktown Strutters' Ball George Wettling's Chicago Rhythm Kings instrumentalist, guitar  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bland, Jack," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110439.

Bland, Jack. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110439.

"Bland, Jack." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110439

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