Nick LaRocca
Dominic James "Nick" LaRocca (April 11, 1889 – February 22, 1961), was an American early jazz cornetist and trumpeter and the leader of the Original Dixieland Jass Band, who is credited by some as being "the father of modern jazz". He is the composer of one of the most recorded jazz classics of all-time, "Tiger Rag". He was part of what is generally regarded as the first recorded jazz band, a band which recorded and released the first jazz recording, "Livery Stable Blues" in 1917. |
Birth and Death Data: Born April 11, 1889 (New Orleans), Died February 22, 1961 (New Orleans)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1917 - 1941
Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, cornet, leader, speaker
Notes: Surname also appears as "La Rocca." Full name is Dominic James "Nick" La Rocca.
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | B-19331 | 10-in. | 2/26/1917 | Livery stable blues | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-19332 | 10-in. | 2/26/1917 | Dixieland jass band one-step | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-21583 | 10-in. | 3/19/1918 | At the jazz band ball | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-21584 | 10-in. | 3/19/1918 | Ostrich walk | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-21700 | 10-in. | 3/25/1918 | Skeleton jangle | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-21701 | 10-in. | 3/25/1918 | Tiger rag | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-22041 | 10-in. | 6/25/1918 | Bluin' the blues | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-22042 | 10-in. | 6/25/1918 | Fidgety feet | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-22043 | 10-in. | 6/25/1918 | Mournin' blues | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-22044 | 10-in. | 6/25/1918 | Sensation rag | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-22066 | 10-in. | 7/17/1918 | Clarinet marmalade blues | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-22067 | 10-in. | 7/17/1918 | Lazy daddy | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-22337 | 10-in. | 12/3/1918 | 'Lasses candy | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet, composer | |
| Victor | B-22338 | 10-in. | 12/3/1918 | The satanic blues | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-24580 | 10-in. | 11/24/1920 | In the dusk | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-24581 | 10-in. | 11/24/1920 | Margie | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-24590 | 10-in. | 12/4/1920 | Palesteena | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-24809 | 10-in. | 12/30/1920 | Broadway Rose | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-24810 | 10-in. | 12/30/1920 | Sweet mamma (Papa's getting mad) | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, cornet, speaker | |
| Victor | B-24825 | 10-in. | 1/28/1921 | Home again blues | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | B-24826 | 10-in. | 1/28/1921 | Crazy blues | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | BVE-37190 | 10-in. | 12/28/1926 | Tiger rag | The Original Memphis Five | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | BVE-37744 | 10-in. | 2/7/1927 | Tiger rag | Phil Napoleon Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | BVE-38011 | 10-in. | 4/27/1927 | Tiger rag | Charles Dornberger Orchestra | Jazz/dance band (takes 4-7); with male vocal chorus (takes 1-3) | composer | |
| Victor | CVE-56045 | 12-in. | 8/27/1929 | Tiger rag (Rag) | Victor Records technical staff (unnamed) | Dubs from records | composer | |
| Victor | BRC-69979 | 10-in. | 6/26/1931 | Tiger rag | Irving Mills Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | BVE-87729 | 10-in. | 1/28/1935 | Tiger rag | The Wanderers | Instrumental ensemble | composer | |
| Victor | BS-0301 | 10-in. | 9/2/1936 | Bluin' the blues | Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band ; Larry Shields | Jazz/dance band, with trumpet and clarinet solos | leader | |
| Victor | BS-0302 | 10-in. | 9/2/1936 | Tiger rag | Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band ; Larry Shields | Jazz/dance band, with clarinet solo | composer, leader | |
| Victor | BS-0303 | 10-in. | 9/2/1936 | Ostrich walk | Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band ; Larry Shields | Jazz/dance band, with clarinet solo | composer, leader | |
| Victor | BS-0304 | 10-in. | 9/2/1936 | Original Dixieland one-step | Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band ; Alex Palocsay ; Larry Shields | Jazz/dance band, with clarinet solo and trombone solo | composer, leader | |
| Victor | BS-0305 | 10-in. | 9/2/1936 | Clarinet marmalade | Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band, with trumpet solo and clarinet solo | leader | |
| Victor | BS-0306 | 10-in. | 9/2/1936 | Satanic blues | Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band ; Larry Shields | Jazz/dance band | composer, leader | |
| Victor | BS-0489 | 10-in. | 9/25/1936 | Toddlin' blues | Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band ; Larry Shields | Jazz/dance band | composer, leader | |
| Victor | BS-0490 | 10-in. | 9/25/1936 | Did you mean it? | Chris Fletcher ; Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | BS-0491 | 10-in. | 9/25/1936 | Who loves you? | Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader | |
| Victor | BS-0492 | 10-in. | 9/25/1936 | Old Joe Blade | Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band ; J. Russel Robinson | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, leader | |
| Victor | BS-0493 | 10-in. | 9/25/1936 | Your ideas are my ideas | Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader | |
| Victor | BS-0494 | 10-in. | 9/25/1936 | Fidgety feet | Nick LaRocca ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer | |
| Victor | BS-0495 | 10-in. | 9/25/1936 | Clarinet marmalade | The Original Dixieland Five | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | BS-0496 | 10-in. | 9/25/1936 | Bluin' the blues | The Original Dixieland Five | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | BS-0497 | 10-in. | 9/25/1936 | Tiger rag | The Original Dixieland Five | Jazz/dance band | composer, leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | BS-0498 | 10-in. | 9/25/1936 | Skeleton jangle | Nick LaRocca ; The Original Dixieland Five | Jazz/dance band | composer, leader, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Victor | BS-02488 | 10-in. | 11/10/1936 | Barnyard blues | The Original Dixieland Five | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, cornet, leader | |
| Victor | BS-02489 | 10-in. | 11/10/1936 | Original Dixieland one step | The Original Dixieland Five | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet, leader | |
| Victor | BS-03064 | 10-in. | 11/18/1936 | Tiger rag | Benny Goodman Trio | Jazz/dance trio | composer | |
| Victor | BS-037819 | 10-in. | 6/29/1939 | Tiger rag | Boston Pops Orchestra ; Arthur Fiedler | Orchestra | composer | |
| Victor | BS-043375 | 10-in. | 11/10/1939 | At the jazz band ball | Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | BS-057651 | 10-in. | 11/18/1940 | Tiger rag | Alvino Rey Orchestra ; Four King Sisters | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal quartet | composer | |
| Victor | BS-067548 | 10-in. | 8/11/1941 | Satanic blues | Dixieland Octet of NBC's Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street ; Dr. Gino Hamilton ; Henry Levine | Jazz/dance band, with speaker | composer | |
| Victor | [Trial 1918-06-25-01] | Not documented | 6/25/1918 | Sweet mamma | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band, with vocal chorus | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 78032 | 10-in. | 8/29/1918 | Jazz band ball | Guido Deiro | Piano accordion solo | composer | |
| Columbia | 78033 | 10-in. | 8/29/1918 | Ostrich walk | Guido Deiro | Piano accordion solo | composer | |
| Columbia | 80765 | 10-in. | 1/5/1923 | Tiger rag | Ted Lewis Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Columbia | 81808 | 10-in. | 6/5/1924 | Barnyard blues | Ted Lewis Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Columbia | 142195 | 10-in. | 5/12/1926 | Tiger rag | University Six | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Columbia | W142444 | 10-in. | 7/16/1926 | Tiger rag | Ted Lewis and his Band | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Columbia | W144764 | 10-in. | 10/14/1927 | Tiger stomp | Dixieland Blue Blowers ; Curtis Mosby | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Columbia | [W]149757 | 10-in. | 1/15/1930 | Tiger rag | Hotel Pennsylvania Music [Lloyd Keating and his Music] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble | composer | |
| Columbia | W150683 | 10-in. | 7/25/1930 | New tiger rag | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Columbia | W151261 | 10-in. | 2/2/1931 | Tiger rag | The Red Devils | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Columbia | 74103 | 12-in. | 5/14/1920 | Sphinx | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 74104 | 12-in. | 5/14/1920 | Alice blue gown | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 74105 | 12-in. | 5/14/1920 | Soudan | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76418 | 12-in. | 4/16/1919 | Barnyard blues | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76419 | 12-in. | 4/16/1919 | At the jazz band ball | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76458 | 12-in. | 5/12/1919 | The ostrich walk | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76459 | 12-in. | 5/12/1919 | Sensation rag, one step | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76467 | 12-in. | 5/19/1919 | Look at 'em doing it | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76468 | 12-in. | 5/19/1919 | Tiger rag | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet, composer | |
| Columbia | 76566 | 12-in. | 8/13/1919 | Satanic blues | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76567 | 12-in. | 8/13/1919 | Lasses candy, one-step | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet, composer | |
| Columbia | 76751 | 12-in. | 1/8/1920 | My baby's arms | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76752 | 12-in. | 1/8/1920 | Tell me | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76753 | 12-in. | 1/8/1920 | I've got my captain working for me now | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76754 | 12-in. | 1/8/1920 | I'm forever blowing bubbles | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76755 | 12-in. | 1/8/1920 | Mammy o' mine | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| Columbia | 76756 | 12-in. | 1/8/1920 | I lost my heart in Dixieland | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, cornet | |
| OKeh | 8778 | 10-in. | Nov. 1924 | Fidgety feet | Arcadian Serenaders | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| OKeh | 9412 | 10-in. | Oct. 1925 | Original Dixieland | Arcadian Serenaders | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| OKeh | 9498 | 10-in. | Nov. 1925 | Tiger rag | Wingy Manone ; San Sue Strutters | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| OKeh | 9612 | 10-in. | 3/13/1926 | Tiger rag | Birmingham Society Serenaders ; Jack Linx | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| OKeh | S-70247 | 10-in. | Oct. 1921 | Rambling blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| OKeh | S-71044 | 10-in. | Nov. 1922 | Toddlin' blues | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| OKeh | S-71429 | 10-in. | April 1923 | Tiger rag | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| OKeh | S-71430 | 10-in. | April 1923 | Barnyard blues | Original Dixieland Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| OKeh | W81071 | 10-in. | 5/9/1927 | Ostrich walk | Frankie Trumbauer’s Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| OKeh | W81518 | 10-in. | 10/5/1927 | At the Jazz Band Ball | Bix Beiderbecke and his Gang | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| OKeh | W401309 | 10-in. | 11/10/1928 | Tiger rag | Tommy Dorsey | Trumpet solo, with guitar, string bass, and drums | composer | |
| OKeh | W404002 | 10-in. | 5/4/1930 | Tiger rag | Louis Armstrong Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| OKeh | W405155 | 10-in. | 3/11/1932 | New tiger rag | Louis Armstrong Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with talk | composer | |
| Brunswick | 14436-14438 | 10-in. | 12/10/1924 | Tiger rag | Mound City Blue Blowers | Jazz/dance quartet | composer | |
| Brunswick | E28680 | 10-in. | approximately Nov. 1928 | Tiger rag | The Home Towners | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Brunswick | E28940 | 10-in. | 1/8/1929 | Tiger rag | Jungle Band | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Brunswick | E28941 | 10-in. | 1/8/1929 | Tiger rag | Jungle Band | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Brunswick | E31912 | 10-in. | 1/27/1930 | Lazy daddy | Louisiana Rhythm Kings | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Brunswick | TE37230 | 10-in. | 9/25/1931 | Tiger rag | Mills Brothers | Male vocal quartet, with guitar | composer | |
| Brunswick | E37289 | 10-in. | 10/9/1931 | Tiger rag | Mills Brothers | Male vocal quartet, with guitar | composer | |
| Brunswick | E16815-E16816 | 10-in. | 10/30/1925 | Tiger rag | Blue Blowers Trio | Jazz/dance trio | composer | |
| Brunswick | E22024-E22026 | 10-in. | 3/19/1927 | Fidgety feet | Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Brunswick | E22219-E22220 | 10-in. | 4/1/1927 | Tiger rag | Bowdoin Instrumental Club | Orchestra | composer | |
| Brunswick | C4745 | 10-in. | 11/25/1929 | Tiger rag | Reuben Reeves ; River Boys | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Brunswick | C4747 | 10-in. | 11/25/1929 | Tiger rag | Reuben Reeves ; River Boys | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Brunswick | C5997 | 10-in. | Aug. 1930 | Tiger rag | Phillips’ Louisville Jug Band | Instrumental ensemble | composer | |
| Brunswick | 471 | 10-in. | Jan. 1928 | Tiger rag | Bobby Davis ; Fred Elizalde Hot Music ; Chelsea Quealey ; Adrian Rollini | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Edison | 11395 | 10-in. | 12/23/1926 | Tiger rag | Phil Napoleon Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Gramophone | 0EA6506 | 10-in. | June 1938 | Tiger rag | Reginald Foresythe ; Arthur Young | Piano duet | composer | |
| Columbia (U.K.) | CA16028 | 10-in. | between October 1936 and February 1937 | Taming the tiger | Orchestre Raymonde ; G. Walter | Instrumental ensemble | composer | |
| Columbia (U.K.) | CL7415 | 10-in. | 2/20/1941 | Tiger-rag | Gus Viseur Orchestre ; Gus Viseur | Accordion solo, with orchestra | composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "LaRocca, Nick," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106826.
LaRocca, Nick. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106826.
"LaRocca, Nick." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Nick LaRocca
Discogs: Nick LaRocca
Allmusic: Nick LaRocca
Grove: Nick LaRocca
IMDb: Nick LaRocca
Britannica: Nick LaRocca
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: LaRocca, Nick - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n93026472
Wikidata: Nick LaRocca - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q737521
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/47557026
MusicBrainz: Nick LaRocca - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/56ccb1ca-96b4-4314-a167-944e7c01bec8
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