Mound City Blue Blowers

The Mound City Blue Blowers were an American novelty jazz ensemble, formed in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It was co-founded by Red McKenzie and Jack Bland and performed from 1923 to 1936.

First assembled in 1923, the group's original members were Red McKenzie playing comb and tissue paper, Dick Slevin on kazoo, and Jack Bland on banjo. The band also included, in lieu of a drum kit, a traveler's suitcase played with foot and whisk brooms by Josh Billings. Their debut recording, the 1924 release "Arkansas Blues" b/w "Blue Blues", was a hit in the Midwest. They recorded twelve tunes in 1924 and 1925; Frankie Trumbauer and Eddie Lang played on some of the tracks.

After 1925, McKenzie recorded under his own name as a vocalist, but returned to the Mound City name in 1929 for several sessions with jazz stars including Jack Teagarden, Coleman Hawkins, Glenn Miller, and Pee Wee Russell. In 1931, the group recorded with McKenzie, Hawkins, Muggsy Spanier, and Jimmy Dorsey. The last recordings to bear the Mound City name, 25 songs from 1935–1936, included appearances from Nappy Lamare, Spooky Dickenson, Billy Wilson, Bunny Berigan, Yank Lawson, and Eddie Miller.

In 1929–1931, the group also made at least two short performance films: The Opry House (1929) and Nine O'Clock Folks (1931), which included "I Ain't Got Nobody", "Let Me Call You Sweetheart", "My Gal Sal", and "St. Louis Blues".

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1923, Died Ceased 1936

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1936

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

Notes: Also listed as Red McKenzie's Celestial Beings and Red McKenzie and the Celestial Beings.

See Also: Mystery Orchestra, The

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 58 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick E16305-E16307 9/1/1925 If you never come back Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Brunswick E16795-E16797 10-in. 10/29/1925 If you never come back Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Brunswick E21683-E21685 10-in. 3/1/1927 What do I care what somebody said Mound City Blue Blowers Instrumental quartet, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Brunswick E21686-E21688 10-in. 3/1/1927 Nervous puppies Mound City Blue Blowers Instrumental quartet, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Brunswick Ch75-Ch77 10-in. 2/23/1924 Arkansas blues Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance trio Musical group  
Brunswick Ch78-Ch80 10-in. 2/23/1924 Blue blues Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance trio Musical group  
Brunswick 111Ch-113Ch 10-in. 3/14/1924 San Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Brunswick 103Ch-105Ch; 114Ch 10-in. 3/14/1924 Red hot! Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Brunswick 596W-598W 10-in. 3/24/1925 Wigwam blues McKenzie’s Candy Kids Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Brunswick 611W-613W 10-in. 3/25/1925 Blues in F McKenzie’s Candy Kids Jazz/dance quartet Musical group  
Brunswick 1067W-1069W 10-in. 8/7/1925 The morning after blues Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Brunswick 1070W-1071W 10-in. 8/7/1925 Happy children blues McKenzie’s Candy Kids Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Decca 60137 10-in. 11/8/1935 Red sails in the sunset Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60138 10-in. 12/12/1935 I'm sittin' high on a hilltop Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60139 10-in. 11/8/1935 On Treasure Island Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60140 10-in. 11/8/1935 Thanks a million Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60219 10-in. 12/12/1935 Eeney meeney miney mo Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60220 10-in. 12/12/1935 A little bit independent Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60221 10-in. 12/12/1935 I'm shootin' high Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60222 10-in. 12/12/1935 I've got my fingers crossed Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60223 10-in. 12/12/1935 High society Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60224 10-in. 12/12/1935 Muskrat ramble Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60295 10-in. 1/3/1936 The broken record Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60296 10-in. 1/3/1936 The broken record Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60311 10-in. 1/8/1936 I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
(Results 26-50 of 58 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mound City Blue Blowers," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108435.

Mound City Blue Blowers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108435.

"Mound City Blue Blowers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108435

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