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 51-58 of 58 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 60312 10-in. 1/8/1936 Mama don't allow it Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60313 10-in. 1/8/1936 (If I had) Rhythm in my nursery rhymes Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60314 10-in. 1/8/1936 I hope Gabriel likes my music Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60481 10-in. 2/17/1936 You hit the spot Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60482 10-in. 2/17/1936 Spreadin' rhythm around Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60483 10-in. 2/17/1936 Saddle your blues to a wild mustang Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60484 10-in. 2/17/1936 Wah-hoo! Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
Decca 60485 10-in. 2/17/1936 I'm gonna clap my hands Mound City Blue Blowers Musical group  
(Results 51-58 of 58 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mound City Blue Blowers," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108435.

Mound City Blue Blowers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108435.

"Mound City Blue Blowers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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