John Kirby
John Kirby (December 31, 1908 – June 14, 1952), was an American jazz double-bassist and bandleader. In addition to sideman work (prominently with Benny Goodman), Kirby is remembered for leading a successful chamber jazz sextet in the late 1930s and early 1940s, which scored several hit songs including "Loch Lomond" and the debut recording of "Undecided", a jazz standard. He is perhaps the first musician in the chamber jazz genre. Earlier in his career he also played trombone and tuba. |
Birth and Death Data: Born December 31, 1908 (Winchester), Died June 14, 1952 (Hollywood)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1944
Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass, tuba, director, composer
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 26-50 of 174 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | BS-066895 | 10-in. | 7/25/1941 | Close shave | John Kirby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer, director | |
| Victor | BS-066896 | 10-in. | 7/25/1941 | Bugler's dilemma | John Kirby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-066897 | 10-in. | 7/25/1941 | It's only a paper moon | John Kirby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-066898 | 10-in. | 7/25/1941 | Fifi's rhapsody | John Kirby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director, composer | |
| Victor | BS-067962 | 10-in. | 10/3/1941 | I'm the one who loves you | Una Mae Carlisle | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-067963 | 10-in. | 10/3/1941 | My wish | Una Mae Carlisle | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-067964 | 10-in. | 10/3/1941 | Coffee and cakes | Una Mae Carlisle | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-067965 | 10-in. | 10/3/1941 | Moonlight masquerade | Una Mae Carlisle | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-067977 | 10-in. | 10/7/1941 | Night whispers | John Kirby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-067978 | 10-in. | 10/7/1941 | Tweed me | John Kirby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-067979 | 10-in. | 10/7/1941 | Move over | John Kirby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-067980 | 10-in. | 10/7/1941 | Wondering where | Buster Bailey ; John Kirby Orchestra ; Russell Procope ; Charlie Shavers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | director, instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-071900 | 10-in. | 2/11/1942 | Keep smilin' (Keep laughin', be happy) | Buster Bailey ; John Kirby Orchestra ; Russell Procope ; Charlie Shavers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | director, instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-071901 | 10-in. | 2/11/1942 | Comin' back | John Kirby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-071902 | 10-in. | 2/11/1942 | No blues at all | John Kirby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-071903 | 10-in. | 2/11/1942 | St. Louis blues | John Kirby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-071908 | 10-in. | 2/13/1942 | Don't tetch it! | Una Mae Carlisle | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-071909 | 10-in. | 2/13/1942 | So long, Shorty (You've got a long way to go) | Una Mae Carlisle | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-071910 | 10-in. | 2/13/1942 | I'm tryin' | Una Mae Carlisle | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Victor | BS-071911 | 10-in. | 2/13/1942 | Sweet talk | Una Mae Carlisle | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet | instrumentalist, string bass | |
| Columbia | W265135 | 10-in. | 9/22/1933 | Queer notions-1 | Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Columbia | W265136 | 10-in. | 9/22/1933 | It's the talk of the town | Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Columbia | W265137 | 10-in. | 9/22/1933 | Night life-3 | Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Columbia | W265138 | 10-in. | 9/22/1933 | Nagasaki-2 | Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Columbia | W265144 | 10-in. | 9/29/1933 | Jamaica shout-1 | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, string bass |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kirby, John," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105538.
Kirby, John. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105538.
"Kirby, John." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Kirby, John, 1908-1952 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n87124969
Wikidata: John Kirby - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q338644
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/17407869
MusicBrainz: John Kirby - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/34866882-9929-4bb4-80ce-125958a6560b
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