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 51-66 of 66 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 51-66 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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