Julian Dash

St. Julian Bennett Dash (April 9, 1916 – February 25, 1974) was an American swing music jazz tenor saxophonist born in Charleston, South Carolina, United States, probably better known for his work with Erskine Hawkins and Buck Clayton.

Dash was a member of the Bama State Collegians, which later became the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra. He is recognised, with Hawkins and fellow sax player Bill Johnson, in composing the swing tune "Tuxedo Junction", which became an immense hit when recorded by other (mainly white) bands, notably that of Glenn Miller.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Dash recorded for the Sittin' in With label and later was on Vee-Jay Records with his sextets. His renditions of "Devil's Lament" and "Dance of the Mother Bird" on Sittin' In With and his "Zig Zag" on the Vee Jay label were hits in the black community.

Dash can be heard at his best in 1953 on two of the Buck Clayton Jam Sessions, in which extended versions of songs ("The Huckle-Buck" to 63 choruses) were recorded by Vanguard to exploit the newly developed length of LP records. All of the six sessions were later released by Columbia as thematic album LPs and by Lone Hill as CDs, also in complete versions by Mosaic. On 6 March 1972, Dash recorded prominently with fellow tenor saxist Buddy Tate as one of Jay McShann's All-Stars on seven titles of Kansas City-styled tunes.

Birth and Death Data: Born Charleston (largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina), Died February 25, 1974

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1956

Roles Represented in DAHR: saxophone, tenor saxophone, composer, leader, arranger, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 118 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor E0VB-3034 10-in. 1/10/1950 Careless love Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor E0VB-3035 10-in. 1/10/1950 Memphis blues Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor E0VB-3036 10-in. 1/10/1950 Aunt Hagar's children Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor E0VB-3037 10-in. 1/10/1950 Beale Street blues Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor E0VB-3038 10-in. 1/10/1950 John Henry blues Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor E0VB-4745 10-in. 6/1/1950 Tuxedo junction Deep River Boys ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Male vocal group, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor E0FB-5217 10-in. 8/1/1950 Tuxedo junction Tito Puente Orchestra Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor D5VB-0945 10-in. 11/21/1945 Good dip Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D5VB-0946 10-in. 11/21/1945 I guess I'll have to get along without you Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D5VB-0947 10-in. 11/21/1945 Holiday for swing Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D5VB-0948 10-in. 11/21/1945 Let's have fun tonight Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Ace Harris Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D6VB-1955 10-in. 10/7/1946 Feelin' low Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Erskine Hawkins Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D6VB-1956 10-in. 10/7/1946 Hawk's boogie Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D6VB-1957 10-in. 10/7/1946 Sammy's nightmare Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D8VB-4090 10-in. 12/21/1948 Corn bread Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor D8VB-4091 10-in. 12/21/1948 Bewildered Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor D8VB-4092 10-in. 12/21/1948 Cold hearted woman Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor D8VB-4093 10-in. 12/21/1948 Brooklyn bounce Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Victor D9VB-0280 10-in. 3/11/1949 Texas hop Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Mercury 4590 10-in. 10/11/1951 Can't understand it Julian Dash Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader  
Mercury 4591 10-in. 10/11/1951 Blue velvet Julian Dash Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader  
Mercury 4615 10-in. 11/15/1951 All over again Julian Dash Orchestra ; Carmen Taylor instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Mercury 4616 10-in. 11/15/1951 Cry Julian Dash Orchestra ; Carmen Taylor instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 76827 9/11/1950 so long, goodbye blues Erskine Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 76828 9/11/1950 Skippin' and hoppin' Erskine Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
(Results 76-100 of 118 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Dash, Julian," accessed January 6, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106030.

Dash, Julian. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106030.

"Dash, Julian." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 6 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106030

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