Baby Dodds
Warren "Baby" Dodds (December 24, 1898 – February 14, 1959) was an American jazz drummer born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. He is regarded as one of the best jazz drummers of the pre-big band era, and one of the most important early jazz drummers. He varied his drum patterns with accents and flourishes, and he generally kept the beat with the bass drum while playing buzz rolls on the snare. Some of his early influences included Louis Cottrell, Sr., Harry Zeno, Henry Martin, and Tubby Hall. Dodds was among the first drummers to be recorded improvising while performing. |
Birth and Death Data: Born December 24, 1898 (New Orleans), Died February 14, 1959 (Chicago)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1945
Roles Represented in DAHR: drums, washboard, traps
= 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-38627 | 10-in. | 6/4/1927 | Hyena stomp | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band, with laughing | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BVE-38628 | 10-in. | 6/4/1927 | Billy goat stomp | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band, with goat imitations | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BVE-38629 | 10-in. | 6/4/1927 | Wild man blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BVE-38630 | 10-in. | 6/4/1927 | Jungle blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BVE-38661 | 10-in. | 6/10/1927 | Beale Street blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BVE-38662 | 10-in. | 6/10/1927 | The pearls | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BVE-38663 | 10-in. | 6/10/1927 | Wolverine blues | Jelly Roll Morton | Jazz/dance ensemble | instrumentalist, traps | |
| Victor | BVE-38664 | 10-in. | 6/10/1927 | Mr. Jelly Lord | Jelly Roll Morton | Jazz/dance ensemble | instrumentalist, traps | |
| Victor | BVE-46063 | 10-in. | 7/6/1928 | Bucktown stomp | Johnny Dodds' Washboard Band | Instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Victor | BVE-46064 | 10-in. | 7/6/1928 | Weary city | Johnny Dodds' Washboard Band | Instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Victor | BVE-46065 | 10-in. | 7/6/1928 | Bull fiddle blues | Johnny Dodds' Washboard Band | Instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Victor | BVE-46066 | 10-in. | 7/6/1928 | Blue washboard stomp | Johnny Dodds' Washboard Band | Instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Victor | BVE-48797 | 10-in. | 1/16/1929 | Pencil papa | Johnny Dodds’ Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BVE-48798 | 10-in. | 1/16/1929 | Heah' me talkin' | Johnny Dodds’ Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BVE-48799 | 10-in. | 1/16/1929 | Goober dance | Johnny Dodds’ Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BVE-48800 | 10-in. | 1/16/1929 | Too tight | Johnny Dodds’ Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BVE-48841 | 10-in. | 1/30/1929 | Sweet Lorraine | Johnny Dodds’ Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BVE-48842 | 10-in. | 1/30/1929 | My little Isabel | Johnny Dodds’ Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BS-053431 | 10-in. | 9/6/1940 | Blues in thirds | New Orleans Feetwarmers | Jazz/dance trio | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BS-053432 | 10-in. | 9/6/1940 | Blues for you, Johnny | Sidney Bechet ; Herb Jeffries ; New Orleans Feetwarmers | Jazz/dance quintet with male vocal solo (take 2: no vocal) | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BS-053433 | 10-in. | 9/6/1940 | Ain't misbehavin' | Sidney Bechet ; New Orleans Feetwarmers | Jazz/dance quintet | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BS-053434 | 10-in. | 9/6/1940 | Save it, pretty mama | Sidney Bechet ; New Orleans Feetwarmers | Jazz/dance quintet | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Victor | BS-053435 | 10-in. | 9/6/1940 | Stompy Jones | Sidney Bechet ; New Orleans Feetwarmers | Jazz/dance quintet | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Columbia | W142426 | 10-in. | 7/13/1926 | Perdido Street blues | New Orleans Wanderers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| OKeh | 8392 | 10-in. | 6/22/1923 | Sweet lovin' man | King Oliver’s Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| OKeh | W81126 | 10-in. | 5/13/1927 | S.O.L. blues | Louis Armstrong ; Hot Seven | Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, drums | |
| OKeh | W82000 | 10-in. | 12/2/1927 | Ballin' the jack | Chicago Footwarmers | Jazz/dance quartet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| OKeh | W82001 | 10-in. | 12/2/1927 | Grandma's ball | Chicago Footwarmers | Jazz/dance quartet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| OKeh | W82076 | 10-in. | 12/15/1927 | My baby | Chicago Footwarmers | Jazz/dance quartet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| OKeh | W82077 | 10-in. | 12/15/1927 | Oriental man | Chicago Footwarmers | Jazz/dance quartet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| OKeh | W400977 | 10-in. | 7/2/1928 | Get 'em again blues | Chicago Footwarmers ; Johnny Dodds | Jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| OKeh | W400978 | 10-in. | 7/2/1928 | Brush stomp | Chicago Footwarmers | Jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| OKeh | W400979 | 10-in. | 7/2/1928 | My girl | Chicago Footwarmers ; Johnny Dodds | Jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| OKeh | W400986 | 10-in. | 7/3/1928 | Sweep 'em clean | Chicago Footwarmers | Jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| OKeh | W400987 | 10-in. | 7/3/1928 | Lady love | Chicago Footwarmers | Jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| OKeh | W400988 | 10-in. | 7/3/1928 | Brown Bottom Bess | Chicago Footwarmers | Jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Gennett | 11383 | 10-in. | 4/6/1923 | Just gone | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11384 | 10-in. | 4/6/1923 | Canal Street blues | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11385 | 10-in. | 4/6/1923 | Mandy Lee blues | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11386 | 10-in. | 4/6/1923 | I'm going away to wear you off my mind | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11387 | 10-in. | 4/6/1923 | Chimes blues | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11388 | 10-in. | 4/6/1923 | Weather bird rag | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11389 | 10-in. | 4/6/1923 | Sugar foot stomp | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11390 | 10-in. | 4/6/1923 | Froggie Moore | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11391 | 10-in. | 4/6/1923 | Snake rag | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11632 | 10-in. | 10/5/1923 | When you leave me alone to pine | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11633 | 10-in. | 10/5/1923 | Alligator hop | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11634 | 10-in. | 10/5/1923 | That sweet something dear | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11635 | 10-in. | 10/5/1923 | Zulu's Ball | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11636 | 10-in. | 10/5/1923 | Working man blues | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11637 | 10-in. | 10/5/1923 | Someday, sweetheart | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11638 | 10-in. | 10/5/1923 | Krooked blues | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 11639 | 10-in. | 10/5/1923 | If you want my heart (You got to 'low it, babe) | King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, drums | |
| Gennett | 12600 | 10-in. | 2/23/1927 | Dixieland stomp | Melrose Dixieland Thumpers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Gennett | 12611 | 10-in. | 2/28/1927 | Goo goo blues | Melrose Dixieland Thumpers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Gennett | 12612 | 10-in. | 2/28/1927 | Sweetness | Melrose Dixieland Thumpers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Gennett | 12613 | 10-in. | 2/28/1927 | 47th Street stomp | Melrose Dixieland Thumpers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Gennett | 12614 | 10-in. | 2/28/1927 | Cootie stomp | Melrose Dixieland Thumpers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Gennett | 12989 | 10-in. | 8/12/1927 | There'll come a day | Blythe's Blue Boys | Instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Gennett | 12990 | 10-in. | 8/12/1927 | The weary way blues | Blythe's Blue Boys | Instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Gennett | 12991 | 10-in. | 8/12/1927 | Cootie stomp | Blythe's Blue Boys | Instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Gennett | 13529 | 10-in. | 3/8/1928 | My baby | State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] | Instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Gennett | 13530 | 10-in. | 3/8/1928 | Pleasure mad | State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] | Instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Gennett | 13531 | 10-in. | 3/8/1928 | Oriental man | State Street Ramblers | Instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, washboard | |
| Decca | 73149 | 10-in. | 11/21/1945 | Maryland, my Maryland | Bunk Johnson and his New Orleans Band | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 73150 | 10-in. | 11/21/1945 | Alexander's ragtime band | Bunk Johnson and his New Orleans Band | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 73151 | 10-in. | 11/21/1945 | Tishomingo blues | Bunk Johnson and his New Orleans Band | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 73152 | 10-in. | 11/21/1945 | You always hurt the one you love | Bunk Johnson and his New Orleans Band | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 93032 | 10-in. | 6/5/1940 | Red onion blues | Johnny Dodds’ Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 93033 | 10-in. | 6/5/1940 | Gravier Street blues | Johnny Dodds’ Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 20240 | 10-in. | December 1927 | Oriental man | Dixieland Thumpers | instrumentalist, drums, washboard |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Dodds, Baby," accessed April 16, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103281.
Dodds, Baby. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103281.
"Dodds, Baby." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 16 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Warren “Baby” Dodds
Discogs: Baby Dodds
Allmusic: Baby Dodds
Grove: Baby Dodds
IMDb: Baby Dodds
Britannica: Baby Dodds
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Dodds, Baby, 1898-1959 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81097885
Wikidata: Warren “Baby” Dodds - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q374629
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/57417578
MusicBrainz: Warren “Baby” Dodds - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5fae9c18-a94f-424e-99e0-2b4cc7be991e
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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