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 126-150 of 174 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decca | 62596 | 10-in. | 9/15/1937 | Honeymoonin' on a dime | Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 63189 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | Wild man blues | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 63190 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | Melancholy | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 63191 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | 29th and Dearborn | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 63192 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | Blues galore | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 63193 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | Stack O'Lee blues | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 63194 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | Shake your can | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 64608 | 10-in. | 9/9/1938 | The numbers man | Jack Sneed and his Sneezers | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 64609 | 10-in. | 9/9/1938 | Sly mongoose | Jack Sneed and his Sneezers | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 64610 | 10-in. | 9/9/1938 | West Indian blues | Jack Sneed and his Sneezers | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 64611 | 10-in. | 9/9/1938 | West Indian blues | Jack Sneed and his Sneezers | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 64708 | 10-in. | 10/28/1938 | Rehearsin' for a nervous breakdown | John Kirby and his Onyx Club Boys | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 64709 | 10-in. | 10/28/1938 | From A flat to C | John Kirby and his Onyx Club Boys | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 64710 | 10-in. | 10/28/1938 | Pastel blue (Blue dilemma) | John Kirby and his Onyx Club Boys | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 64711 | 10-in. | 10/28/1938 | Undecided | John Kirby and his Onyx Club Boys | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 64712 | 10-in. | 10/28/1938 | By the waters of Minnetonka | John Kirby and his Onyx Club Boys | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 64909 | 1/20/1939 | You must have been a beautiful baby | Nat Gonella | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 64910 | 1/20/1939 | Just a kid named Joe | Nat Gonella | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 64911 | 1/20/1939 | Jeepers creepers | Nat Gonella | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 64912 | 1/20/1939 | I must see Annie tonight | Nat Gonella | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 69016 | 10-in. | 4/17/1941 | If it's true | Mills Brothers | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 69017 | 10-in. | 4/17/1941 | The very thought of you | Mills Brothers | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 69018 | 10-in. | 4/17/1941 | Rig a jig jig | Mills Brothers | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 69364 | 10-in. | 6/17/1941 | Loch Lomond | Maxine Sullivan | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 69369 | 10-in. | 6/17/1941 | Just like a gypsy | Maxine Sullivan | instrumentalist, string bass |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kirby, John," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105538.
Kirby, John. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105538.
"Kirby, John." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 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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