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 (Results 51-67 of 67 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 51-67 of 67 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "White, Harry," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108261.

White, Harry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108261.

"White, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.