Wendell Culley

Wendell Philips Culley (January 8, 1906 in Worcester, Massachusetts – May 8, 1983 in Los Angeles, CA) was an American jazz trumpeter and occasional multi instrumentalist.

Growing up in Worcester, Culley played regularly at the AME Zion Church, in the Commerce High School band, and occasionally with Mamie Moffitt and Her Five Jazz Hounds. He also played in Boots Ward's Nite Hawks, and in working groups with his brother Ray, a drummer and singer. His older sister is actress, Zara Cully, best known for her role as Olivia 'Mother Jefferson' Jefferson on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons.

In 1931, he moved to New York City, where he found early work playing with Horace Henderson and Cab Calloway. He then spent 11 years in the employ of Noble Sissle, recording with him extensively. Following this, he played French horn with Harry James and His Orchestra on a 1942 recording, then tenor saxophone on a 1943-1951 Dinah Washington recording, Lionel Hampton (1944–49) and then worked again briefly with Sissle before playing in the Count Basie Orchestra from 1951 to 1959. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he doubled on trombone with a Billy Eckstine recording.

After working with Basie, Culley retired from music and pursued a career in insurance.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 8, 1906 (Worcester), Died May 8, 1983 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1963

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, composer

= 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
Columbia [W]149795 10-in. 1/22/1930 Cotton pickers' shuffle Georgia Cotton Pickers [George Tynes] Jazz/dance band composer  
Decca 60888 10-in. 3/11/1936 That's what love did co me Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60889 10-in. 3/11/1936 You can't live in Harlem Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60890 10-in. 3/11/1936 I wonder who made rhythm Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60891 10-in. 3/11/1936 'Tain't a fit night out for man or beast Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60892 10-in. 3/11/1936 I take to you Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60893 10-in. 3/11/1936 Rhythm of the Broadway moon Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72871 10-in. 5/21/1945 Doublin' with Dublin Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72872 10-in. 5/21/1945 Ribs and hot sauce Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72873 10-in. 5/21/1945 Blow top blues Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72874 10-in. 5/21/1945 Two fingers boogie Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72875 10-in. 5/21/1945 Someday Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72876 10-in. 5/21/1945 Beulah's boogie Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72881 10-in. 5/21/1945 Playboy Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72882 10-in. 5/21/1945 Punch and Judy Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73287 1/21/1946 Pinetop's boogie woogie-1 Bing Crosby instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73288 1/21/1946 On the sunny side of the street-2 Bing Crosby instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73324 1/29/1946 Rockin' in rhythm, part 1 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73325 1/29/1946 Rockin' in rhythm, part 2 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73326 1/29/1946 Gay notes Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73327 1/29/1946 Tempo's birthday Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73332 1/31/1946 Cobb's idea Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73333 1/31/1946 Air mail special, part 1 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73334 1/31/1946 Air Mail special, part 2 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 74730 1/28/1949 Hamp's boogie woogie No.2 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 74731 1/28/1949 Hamp's gumbo Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 74732 1/28/1949 Beulah's sister's boogie Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 74733 1/28/1949 Wee Albert Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 74853 4/26/1949 What's happening baby? Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 74854 4/26/1949 Drinking wine spo-dee-o-dee Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 74897 5/10/1949 The hucklebuck Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 74898 5/10/1949 Baby, you're great Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 74899 5/10/1949 Lavender coffin Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 113017 1/30/1963 Air mail special Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3644 10-in. 10/16/1944 Million dollar smile Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3645 10-in. 10/16/1944 The lamplighter Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3646 10-in. 10/16/1944 Overtime Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3647 10-in. 10/16/1944 Tempo's boogie Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4008 10-in. 12/1/1945 Slide Hamp, slide Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4009 10-in. 12/1/1945 Hey-ba-ba-re-bop Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4287 9/9/1946 Playboy Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4288 9/9/1946 Cobb's idea Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4289 9/9/1946 Tempo's birthday Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4290 9/9/1946 Adam blew his hat Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4297 9/17/1946 The pencil broke Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4298 9/17/1946 Empty glass (Normania) Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4299 9/17/1946 Hamp's walkin' boogie Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4300 9/23/1946 Don't let the landlord gyp you Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4301 9/23/1946 I'm mindin' my business Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4302 9/23/1946 Dig those vibes Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4303 9/23/1946 Reminiscing mood Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4481 8/6/1947 You better be satisfied Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4482 8/6/1947 Hamp's got a Duke Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4483 8/6/1947 Gone again Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4484 8/6/1947 3 minutes on 52nd Street Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4528 11/3/1947 Goldwyn stomp Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4529 11/3/1947 Red top Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4530 11/3/1947 Giddy up Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4543 11/10/1947 Hawk's nest Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4544 11/10/1947 Mingus fingers Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4545 11/10/1947 Muchacho azul Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 4546 11/10/1947 Midnight sun Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9295 10-in. 8/15/1934 Under the Creole moon Noble Sissle and his International Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9296 10-in. 8/15/1934 The old ark is moverin' Noble Sissle and his International Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9297 10-in. 8/15/1934 Loveless love Noble Sissle and his International Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9298 10-in. 8/15/1934 Polka dot rag Noble Sissle and his International Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Culley, Wendell," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107317.

Culley, Wendell. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107317.

"Culley, Wendell." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107317

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