Harry White

Harry Alexander "Father" White (June 1, 1898 – August 14, 1962) was an American jazz trombonist.

As a teenager, White played drums, then switched to trombone after moving to Washington, D.C. around 1919. In the 1920s he played with Duke Ellington, Elmer Snowden, and Claude Hopkins, then started a family band called the White Brothers Orchestra in 1925. This ensemble played the mid-Atlantic states for several years.

Late in the 1920s, White played with Luis Russell, then joined the Mills Blue Rhythm Band in 1931. The following year he joined the orchestra of Cab Calloway, working as an arranger and composer in addition to duties on trombone. One of Calloway's trumpeters, Edwin Swayze, overheard White use the term "jitterbug", and wrote a tune called "The Jitterbug" because of it; Calloway's 1934 recording of it brought the term into widespread currency. He returned to play under Russell in 1935 while Russell's band backed Louis Armstrong. He quit playing for part of the 1930s, then later played with Manzie Johnson, Hot Lips Page, Edgar Hayes, and Bud Freeman.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 1, 1898 (Bethlehem), Died August 14, 1962 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1922 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: trombone, songwriter, lyricist, 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
Victor B-26486 10-in. 5/24/1922 I wish that there was a wireless to heaven (Then Mama would not seem so far away) Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with celeste, oboe, flute, and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-26732 10-in. 8/23/1922 Ji-ji-boo Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-28520 10-in. 8/30/1923 Oh! Sister, ain't that hot! Charles Dornberger Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-28817 10-in. 10/31/1923 Oh! How she lied to me Billy Murray ; Ed Smalle Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-30572 10-in. 8/13/1924 Mrs. Murphy's chowder Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BRC-69683 10-in. 6/3/1931 Thumpin' 'n' bumpin' Eubie Blake’s Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BRC-69963 10-in. 6/18/1931 Moanin' Mills Blue Rhythm Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BRC-70109 10-in. 7/1/1931 When I can't be with you Carolina Dandies Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-77684 10-in. 9/18/1933 Evenin' Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-78504 10-in. 11/2/1933 Harlem camp meeting Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal chorus lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-78505 10-in. 11/2/1933 Zaz zuh zaz Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal chorus songwriter  
Victor BS-92908 10-in. 8/1/1935 Voice of Old Man River Willie Bryant Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-022923 10-in. 4/27/1938 Jumpin' Hot Lips Page Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-022924 10-in. 4/27/1938 Feelin' high and happy Hot Lips Page Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-022925 10-in. 4/27/1938 At your beck and call Hot Lips Page Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-022926 10-in. 4/27/1938 Rock it for me Hot Lips Page Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-022927 10-in. 4/27/1938 Skull duggery Hot Lips Page Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter, instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-022928 10-in. 4/27/1938 I let a song go out of my heart Hot Lips Page Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-023733 10-in. 6/24/1938 (A sky of blue, with you) And so forth Hot Lips Page Orchestra ; Delores Payne Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-023734 10-in. 6/24/1938 The pied piper Hot Lips Page Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-023735 10-in. 6/24/1938 If I were you Hot Lips Page Orchestra ; Delores Payne Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-023736 10-in. 6/24/1938 I'm gonna lock my heart (And throw away the key) Hot Lips Page Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-023737 10-in. 6/24/1938 Will you remember tonight tomorrow? Ben Bowers ; Hot Lips Page Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-032735 10-in. 6/24/1938 Small fry Hot Lips Page Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Columbia 80300 10-in. 4/18/1922 When those finale hoppers start hopping around Furman and Nash Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 80408 10-in. 6/16/1922 I wish there was a wireless to heaven (then Mama would not seem so far away) Billy Jones Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 81083 10-in. 6/15/1923 Oh! How she lied to me Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 81139 10-in. 7/16/1923 Oh! Sister, ain't that hot! Dolly Kay ; Phil Phillips Female vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
Columbia 81308 10-in. 10/16/1923 Oh! Sister, ain't that hot! Frank Westphal Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia W151638 10-in. 6/25/1931 Moanin' King Carter and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh S-71615 10-in. June 1923 Oh! How she lied to me Aileen Stanley Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
OKeh S-71703 10-in. July 1923 Oh! Sister, ain't that hot? Billy Jones ; Rega Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh S-72376 10-in. Mar. 1924 Sing me a song of Hawaii Frank Ferera ; Anthony J. Franchini Guitar duet (Hawaiian) composer  
OKeh S-72765 10-in. Aug. 1924 Mrs. Murphy's chowder Johnny Marvin Male vocal solo, with ukulele lyricist  
OKeh 73739 10-in. 10/26/1925 You can't shush Katie (The gabbiest girl in town) Eva Taylor Female vocal solo, with instrumental sextet lyricist  
Brunswick 8640 10-in. approximately Aug. 1922 Ji-ji-boo Carl Fenton’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 10890-10893 10-in. 6/20/1923 Oh! Sister, ain’t that hot! Gene Rodemich’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E35987 10-in. 3/30/1931 Moanin’ Mills Blue Rhythm Band Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Brunswick E36212 10-in. 3/3/1931 Minnie the moocher Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick E36993 10-in. 7/30/1931 I’m sorry I made you blue Blue Rhythm Boys [Mills Blue Rhythm Band] Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Brunswick C2112 10-in. 7/23/1928 Oh, sister, ain’t that hot Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick C2266 10-in. 8/23/1928 Oh! Sister ain’t that hot! Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Brunswick 1164W-1166W 10-in. 8/14/1925 You can't shush Katy Rube Bloom ; Peggy English Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Edison 1583 10-in. 9/22/1922 Ji-ji-boo Ernest L. Stevens Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Edison 9094 10-in. 7/25/1923 Oh! Sister, ain't that hot! Robert J. White Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Edison 9115 10-in. 8/2/1923 Oh! How he lied to me Florence Brady Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Edison 9759 10-in. 10/1/1924 Mrs. Murphy's chowder Vernon Dalhart ; Ed Smalle Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Arto [Arto Cat 9157B] 10-in. 6/29/1922 I wish there was a wireless to heaven Arthur Fields Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Decca 60021 10-in. 10/3/1935 I'm in the mood for love Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60022 10-in. 10/3/1935 You're my lucky star Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60023 10-in. 10/3/1935 La cucaracha Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60024 10-in. 10/3/1935 Got a brand new suit Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60155 10-in. 11/21/1935 I've got my fingers crossed Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60156 10-in. 11/21/1935 Old man Mose (is dead)-1 Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60157 10-in. 11/21/1935 I'm shooting high Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60158 10-in. 11/21/1935 (Was I to blame for) Falling in love with you Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60227 10-in. 12/13/1935 Red sails in the sunset Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60228 10-in. 12/13/1935 On Treasure Island Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60249 10-in. 12/19/1935 Thanks a million Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60250 10-in. 12/19/1935 Shoe Shine Boy Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60251 10-in. 12/19/1935 Solitude Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60252 10-in. 12/19/1935 I hope Gabriel likes my music Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60362 10-in. 1/18/1936 The music goes 'round and around Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 60363 10-in. 1/18/1936 Rhythm saved the world Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 61058 10-in. 4/28/1936 I come from a musical family Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 61059 10-in. 4/29/1936 If we never meet again Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 61075 10-in. 4/28/1936 Somebody stole my break Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "White, Harry," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108261.

White, Harry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108261.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108261

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