Thomas Morris

Thomas Morris (August 30, 1897 – 1945) was an American jazz cornetist. Jazz critic Scott Yanow noted that Morris's primitive style was "an excellent example of how New York brass players sounded before the rise of Louis Armstrong."

Morris was born in New York City. His many recordings include dates with Clarence Williams, Charlie Johnson, Fats Waller and many jazz and blues singers, including Mamie Smith, Eva Taylor and Sippie Wallace. His most notable dates were with his band, the Seven Hot Babies, producing eight songs in 1923 and ten in 1926. For a time, Morris served as a porter at Grand Central Terminal. In the last few years of his life, he was associated with Father Divine's strict religious movement, changing his name to Brother Pierre. Sidney Bechet recalled an encounter with Morris in a radio interview with Wynne Paris, stating, "I happened to be walking down 132nd Street near Seventh Avenue when I saw Thomas Morris, and I was tickled to death to see him. I say, 'Hello Thomas.' He said, 'Not no more. I'm St. Peter.' I said, 'You might be St. Peter to Father Divine, but you're Thomas Morris to me.'"

Morris died in 1945 in California. He was the uncle of pianist Marlowe Morris.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 30, 1897, Died 1945 (California)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: cornet, leader, composer, director, speaker, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 68 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-38116 10-in. 2/25/1927 Birmingham black bottom Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, cornet, composer  
Victor BVE-38117 10-in. 2/25/1927 Don't you leave me here Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-39372 10-in. 10/27/1927 Solid ground Happy Holmes Monologue, with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-39373 10-in. 10/27/1927 When folks stop talkin' and walkin' Happy Holmes Monologue, with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-40093 10-in. 12/1/1927 He's gone away Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor BVE-40096 10-in. 12/1/1927 Red hot Dan Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller Jazz/dance ensemble, with scat vocal chorus instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor BVE-40097 10-in. 12/1/1927 Geechee Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor BVE-40098 10-in. 12/1/1927 Please take me out of jail Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, cornet, leader, composer  
OKeh S-71306 10-in. February 1923 E flat blues no. 2 Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet, composer, leader  
OKeh S-71307 10-in. February 1923 Original Charleston strut Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet, composer, leader  
OKeh S-71465 10-in. April 1923 Yodeling blues Sara Martin ; Thomas Morris ; Eva Taylor ; Clarence Williams Female vocal duet, with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
OKeh S-71531 10-in. May 1923 Lonesome journey blues Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet, composer, leader  
OKeh S-71532 10-in. May 1923 When the jazz band starts to play Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet, composer, leader  
OKeh S-71582 10-in. June 1923 Just blues that's all Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet, composer, leader  
OKeh S-71583 10-in. June 1923 The bull blues (E flat no. 1 blues) Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet, composer, leader  
OKeh S-71640 10-in. June 1923 That free and easy papa Sara Martin ; Thomas Morris ; Eva Taylor ; Clarence Williams Female vocal duet, with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
OKeh S-71641 10-in. June 1923 Hesitation blues Sara Martin ; Thomas Morris ; Eva Taylor ; Clarence Williams Female vocal duet, with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
OKeh S-71739 10-in. August 1923 Those blues Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
OKeh S-71740 10-in. August 1923 Beaucoup de jazz Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet, composer, leader  
OKeh S-71803 10-in. September 1923 Original Charleston strut Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Eva Taylor Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
OKeh S-71924 10-in. October 1923 I've got the blues, that's all Fannie May Goosby ; Thomas Morris ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
OKeh S-71925 10-in. October 1923 Grievious blues Fannie May Goosby ; Thomas Morris ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
OKeh S-71928 10-in. October 1923 Tain't nobody's business if I do Clarence Williams’ Blue Five Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet  
OKeh S-71929 10-in. October 1923 New Orleans hop scop blues Clarence Williams’ Blue Five Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet  
OKeh S-71930 10-in. October 1923 Oh daddy! blues Clarence Williams’ Blue Five Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet  
(Results 26-50 of 68 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Morris, Thomas," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103510.

Morris, Thomas. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103510.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103510

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