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 (Results 26-50 of 66 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 26-50 of 66 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Culley, Wendell," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107317.

Culley, Wendell. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107317.

"Culley, Wendell." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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