Eddie Durham

Eddie Durham (August 19, 1906 – March 6, 1987) was an American musician, who pioneered the use of the electric guitar in jazz. He was a guitarist, trombonist, composer, and arranger for the orchestras of Bennie Moten, Jimmie Lunceford, and Count Basie.

With Edgar Battle he composed "Topsy", which was recorded by Count Basie and became a hit for Benny Goodman.

In 1938, Durham co-wrote "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire", with Bennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus and Eddie Seiler. During the 1940s, Durham created Eddie Durham's All-Star Girl Orchestra, an African-American all female swing band that toured the United States and Canada.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 19, 1906 (San Marcos), Died March 6, 1987 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, trombone, arranger, composer, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 126-150 of 152 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 65321 10-in. 4/1/1939 And the angels sing Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 65714 10-in. 6/1/1939 When Buddha smiles Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 65715 10-in. 6/1/1939 I'll always be in love with you Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 65716 10-in. 6/1/1939 Get happy Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 65717 10-in. 6/1/1939 That's a plenty Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 65932 10-in. 7/7/1939 You taught me to love again Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 65933 10-in. 7/7/1939 Running through my mind Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 65934 10-in. 7/7/1939 Shabby old Cabby Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 65935 10-in. 7/7/1939 Moonlight serenade Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 66223 10-in. 8/29/1939 Twilight interlude Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 66224 10-in. 8/29/1939 Vol vistu gaily star Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 66225 10-in. 8/29/1939 It's a hundred to one Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 66226 10-in. 8/29/1939 The paper picker Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 67149 10-in. 2/4/1940 Blues in the groove-1 Jan Savitt Orchestra arranger  
Decca 68336 10-in. 11/11/1940 I want a little girl Eddie Durham and his Band instrumentalist, guitar, arranger  
Decca 68337 10-in. 11/11/1940 Moten's swing Eddie Durham and his Band instrumentalist, guitar, arranger  
Decca 68338 10-in. 11/11/1940 Fare Thee honey, fare Thee well Eddie Durham and his Band instrumentalist, guitar, arranger  
Decca 68339 10-in. 11/11/1940 Magic carpet Eddie Durham and his Band instrumentalist, guitar, arranger  
Decca 69557 10-in. 7/23/1941 I don't want to set the world on fire Bon Bon and his Buddies instrumentalist, trombone, guitar  
Decca 69558 10-in. 7/23/1941 Blow, Gabriel, blow Bon Bon and his Buddies instrumentalist, trombone, guitar  
Decca 69559 10-in. 7/23/1941 Sweet Mama, Papa's getting mad Bon Bon and his Buddies instrumentalist, trombone, guitar  
Decca 69560 10-in. 7/23/1941 All that meat and no potatoes Bon Bon and his Buddies instrumentalist, trombone, guitar  
Decca DLA 1010 10-in. 7/24/1936 Pigeon walk-2 Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra arranger  
Decca DLA 1011 10-in. 11/5/1937 Like a ship at sea Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra arranger  
Decca DLA 1012 10-in. 11/5/1937 Teasin' Tessie Brown Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra arranger  
(Results 126-150 of 152 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Durham, Eddie," accessed January 27, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109223.

Durham, Eddie. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109223.

"Durham, Eddie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 27 January 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109223

External Sources

Wikipedia: Eddie Durham

Discogs: Eddie Durham

Allmusic: Eddie Durham

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Durham, Eddie, 1906-1987 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no91030669

Wikidata: Eddie Durham - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q727693

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/74037362

MusicBrainz: Eddie Durham - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/216b558a-3909-4ea5-9364-7c7c1f9e965d

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