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Dick McDonough

Richard Tobin McDonough (July 30, 1904 – May 25, 1938) was an American jazz guitarist and banjoist. Perhaps best remembered for his duets with fellow guitarist Carl Kress, McDonough appeared on numerous record sessions and radio broadcasts throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

McDonough began playing banjo and mandolin in high school. An athlete, he initially played left-handed because, according to McDonough, that was how he held his hockey stick. At Georgetown University, he performed professionally at weekend dances and two years later started a band. He attended Columbia Law School after college and while there played with bands in New York City. McDonough played with Red Nichols in 1927 as a banjoist, and soon after played with Paul Whiteman. He began studying the guitar and eventually was in demand for session work, recording with The Dorsey Brothers, Red Nichols, and Miff Mole. In the 1930s, he performed in a duo with jazz guitarist Carl Kress and cut several sessions with an orchestra under his own name, in addition to backing many other recording artists.

Other credits include session work with Mildred Bailey, Smith Ballew, The Boswell Sisters, Rube Bloom, Chick Bullock, The Charleston Chasers, Cliff Edwards, Gene Gifford, Benny Goodman, Adelaide Hall, Annette Hanshaw, Billie Holiday, Baby Rose Marie, Glenn Miller, Irving Mills, Red McKenzie, Johnny Mercer, Red Norvo, Fred Rich, Adrian Rollini, Pee Wee Russell, Ben Selvin, Artie Shaw, Frank Signorelli, Jack Teagarden, Claude Thornhill, Frankie Trumbauer, Joe Venuti, Don Voorhees, and Ethel Waters. He played in the Jam Session at Victor with Fats Waller, Bunny Berigan, and George Wettling.

McDonough struggled with alcohol abuse during his adult life and died, aged 34, of pneumonia in May 1938 at the LeRoy Sanitarium after an operation. He was survived by his widow, Dorothy Wiggman.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 30, 1904 (New York City), Died May 25, 1938 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, banjo, songwriter, leader

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

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 103 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh W403228 10-in. 11/4/1929 Through (How can you say we're through?) Virginia Willrich and her Texas Rangers Jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick E36117 10-in. 2/20/1931 When I take my sugar to tea Sunshine Boys Male vocal duet, with trombone and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick E36468 10-in. 4/14/1931 Mary Jane The Melotone Boys Male vocal duet, with trombone and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick E36469 10-in. 4/14/1931 Boy! Oh! Boy! Oh! Boy! I've got it bad The Melotone Boys Male vocal duet, with trombone and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Edison 18697 10-in. 8/31/1928 Hallelujah, I'm a bum Bob Pierce Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Edison 18698 10-in. 8/31/1928 The bum song Bob Pierce Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Edison N-403 12-in. 8/31/1928 Hallelujah! I'm a bum Bob Pierce Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Edison N-404 12-in. 8/31/1928 The bum song Bob Pierce Male vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Vocalion 19535 10-in. 7/10/1936 Did I remember? Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Vocalion 19536 10-in. 7/10/1936 No regrets Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Vocalion 19537 10-in. 7/10/1936 Summertime Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Vocalion 19538 10-in. 7/10/1936 Billie's blues (I love my man) Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Vocalion 19971 10-in. 9/29/1936 A fine romance Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Vocalion 19972 10-in. 9/29/1936 I can't pretend Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Vocalion 19973 10-in. 9/29/1936 One, two, button your shoe Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Vocalion 19974 10-in. 9/29/1936 Let's call a heart a heart Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 38301 10-in. 8/14/1934 Heat wave The Dorsey Brothers instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 38302 10-in. 8/14/1934 By heck The Dorsey Brothers instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 38303 10-in. 8/15/1934 Stop, look and listen The Dorsey Brothers instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 38304 10-in. 8/15/1934 I'm gettin' sentimental over you The Dorsey Brothers instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 38307 10-in. 8/15/1934 Long may we love The Dorsey Brothers instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 38308 10-in. 8/15/1934 Annie's Cousin Fanny The Dorsey Brothers instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 38309 10-in. 8/15/1934 Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jibe The Dorsey Brothers instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 38417 10-in. 8/24/1934 Lord, I give you my children Johnny Mercer instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 38418 10-in. 8/24/1934 If I could only read your mind Johnny Mercer instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 51-75 of 103 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "McDonough, Dick," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103520.

McDonough, Dick. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103520.

"McDonough, Dick." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103520

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