Frankie Newton

Frankie Newton ( William Frank Newton; January 4, 1906 – March 11, 1954) was an American jazz trumpeter from Emory, Virginia, United States. He played in several New York City bands in the 1920s and 1930s, including those led by Sam Wooding, Chick Webb, Charlie Barnet, Andy Kirk and Charlie "Fess" Johnson.

In the 1940s, he played with bands led by Lucky Millinder and Pete Brown. He played in clubs in New York and Boston, with musicians such as pianist Art Tatum, pianist James P. Johnson, drummer Sid Catlett and clarinetist Edmond Hall. He accompanied Bessie Smith on her final recordings (November 24, 1933), Maxine Sullivan on 'Loch Lomond', and Billie Holiday on her original "Strange Fruit" session in 1939.

Between March 1937 and August 1939, eight recording sessions issued under Newton's name were produced. Three sessions in 1937 were made for Irving Mills's Variety label. In 1939, Newton recorded a six-song session with Victor, a four-song session for Vocalion, two individual one-song sessions for Blue Note, and finally one two-song session for Vocalion — 14 records in all.

He also played with Art Tatum on extended versions of "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Oh, Lady Be Good!", recorded in Harlem after hours. These finally came out in 1973 as part of Tatum's album God Is in the House, first on LP and later on CD.

Politically, Newton was known to be a communist. In homage, the communist historian Eric Hobsbawn wrote jazz criticism for the New Statesman under the pen name "Francis Newton".

Birth and Death Data: Born January 4, 1906 (Blacksburg), Died March 11, 1954 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, leader, vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 26-40 of 40 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W152580 10-in. 11/24/1933 I'm down in the dumps Buck and his Band ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62372 10-in. 7/14/1937 Get acquainted with yourself Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62373 10-in. 7/14/1937 Knock wood Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62374 10-in. 7/14/1937 Peace, brother, peace Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62375 10-in. 7/14/1937 The old stamping ground Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62593 10-in. 9/15/1937 Blues, why don't you let me alone? Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62594 10-in. 9/15/1937 I've got to think it over Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62595 10-in. 9/15/1937 Achin' hearted blues Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62596 10-in. 9/15/1937 Honeymoonin' on a dime Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65494 10-in. 4/28/1939 Get your mind out of the gutter Jimmie Gordon instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65495 10-in. 4/28/1939 Delhia Jimmie Gordon instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65496 10-in. 4/28/1939 Do that thing Jimmie Gordon instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65497 10-in. 4/28/1939 The Mojo blues Jimmie Gordon instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65498 10-in. 4/28/1939 St. Peter blues Jimmie Gordon instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65499 10-in. 4/28/1939 If the walls could talk Jimmie Gordon instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 26-40 of 40 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Newton, Frankie," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102906.

Newton, Frankie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102906.

"Newton, Frankie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102906

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