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Red McKenzie

William 'Red' McKenzie (October 14, 1899 – February 7, 1948) was an American jazz vocalist and musician who played a comb as an instrument. He played the comb-and-paper by placing paper, sometimes strips from the Evening World, over the tines and blowing on it, producing a sound like a kazoo.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 14, 1899 (St. Louis), Died February 7, 1948 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1936

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, comb, composer, leader, washboard, director

= 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 BVE-50517 10-in. 2/23/1929 Arkansas blues The Mystery Orchestra [i.e., Mound City Blue Blowers] Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-50518 10-in. 2/23/1929 Never had a reason to believe in you The Mystery Orchestra [i.e., Mound City Blue Blowers] Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-56151 10-in. 9/25/1929 Tailspin blues Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus vocalist, instrumentalist, comb, composer, director  
Victor BVE-56152 10-in. 9/25/1929 Never had a reason to believe in you Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, comb, composer, director  
Victor BVE-57145 10-in. 11/14/1929 Hello Lola Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, comb, composer, director  
Victor BVE-57146 10-in. 11/14/1929 One hour Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, comb, composer  
Victor CRC-71905 12-in. 3/1/1932 Dance selections from Face the music Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble vocalist  
Victor CSHQ-71907 12-in. 3/2/1932 Dance selections from Hot-cha Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male and female vocal solos vocalist  
Victor LSHQ-71908 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 3/2/1932 Dance music from Hot-cha and Face the music Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female and male vocal solos and male vocal trio vocalist  
Victor BRC-72283 10-in. 4/14/1932 Lawd, you made the night too long Red McKenzie ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BRC-72285 10-in. 4/14/1932 Daybreak Red McKenzie ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BSHQ-73192 10-in. 8/10/1932 Three on a match Red McKenzie ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-73583 10-in. 9/26/1932 I'll follow you Red McKenzie ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor CS-74633 12-in. 12/2/1932 A night with Paul Whiteman at the Biltmore Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal and instrumental solos vocalist  
Victor LCS-74634 12-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 12/3/1932 Whiteman medley Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal and instrumental solos vocalist  
Columbia W148895 10-in. 8/19/1929 Indiana Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W148896 10-in. 8/19/1929 Fire house blues Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W149002 10-in. 9/13/1929 Swanee shuffle The Midnight Airdales Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W149003 10-in. 9/13/1929 I gotta have you The Midnight Airdales Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W151843 10-in. 10/15/1931 Time on my hands (You in my arms) Red McKenzie Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia W151844 10-in. 10/15/1931 Just friends Red McKenzie Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia W152044 10-in. 12/14/1931 I found you Red McKenzie Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia W152045 10-in. 12/14/1931 I'm sorry, dear Red McKenzie Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia W152108 10-in. 2/10/1932 There's something in your eyes Red McKenzie Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia W152109 10-in. 2/10/1932 Can't we talk it over? Red McKenzie Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia W152171 10-in. 4/12/1932 Lovable Red McKenzie Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W152172 10-in. 4/12/1932 Dream sweetheart Red McKenzie Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W351049 10-in. 6/30/1931 I can't believe that you're in love with me Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia W351051 10-in. 6/30/1931 Georgia on my mind Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia W351052 10-in. 6/30/1931 Darktown Strutters' Ball Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, comb, leader, vocalist  
Columbia W365050 10-in. 6/30/1931 You rascal you Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, comb, leader, vocalist  
OKeh W81037 10-in. 6/21/1927 There'll be some changes made Eddie Lang ; Red McKenzie ; Music Box ; Joe Venuti Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
OKeh W81038 10-in. 6/21/1927 My syncopated melody man Eddie Lang ; Red McKenzie ; Music Box ; Joe Venuti Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
OKeh W82083 10-in. 12/16/1927 Liza McKenzie and Condon's Chicagoans Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W400720 10-in. 5/29/1928 My baby came home Red McKenzie ; Music Box Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
OKeh W400721 10-in. 5/29/1928 From Monday on Red McKenzie ; Music Box Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
OKeh W402152 10-in. 12/3/1928 Can't help lovin' dat man Bud Freeman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W402221 10-in. 12/12/1928 Baby, won't you please come home? Earl Hines Piano solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W402222 10-in. 12/3/1928 I ain't gonna give nobody none o' this jelly roll Bud Freeman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E16817 10-in. 10/30/1925 Morning after blues Blue Blowers Trio Jazz/dance trio composer  
Brunswick E30056 10-in. 6/12/1929 Who cares? Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E36830 10-in. 5/26/1931 Just a crazy song (Hi-hi-hi) Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E36831 10-in. 5/26/1931 You rascal you Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E36832 10-in. 5/26/1931 Moan, you moaners Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E36877 10-in. 6/24/1931 How long, how long blues Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E36878 10-in. 6/24/1931 Fan it Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E16302-E16304 10-in. 9/1/1925 Hot honey Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E16305-E16307 9/1/1925 If you never come back Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E16795-E16797 10-in. 10/29/1925 If you never come back Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E30504-E30505 10-in. 8/20/1929 The New Yorkers Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick C1885 10-in. 4/6/1928 There’ll be some changes made Chicago Rhythm Kings Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick C1886 10-in. 4/6/1928 I’ve found a new baby Chicago Rhythm Kings Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick 1067W-1069W 10-in. 8/7/1925 The morning after blues Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 1070W-1071W 10-in. 8/7/1925 Happy children blues McKenzie’s Candy Kids Jazz/dance band composer  
Decca 38633 10-in. 9/11/1934 'Way down yonder in New Orleans Red McKenzie vocalist  
Decca 38634 10-in. 9/11/1934 I've got the world on a string Red McKenzie vocalist  
Decca 38635 10-in. 9/11/1934 From Monday on Red McKenzie vocalist  
Decca 38636 10-in. 9/11/1934 As long as I live Red McKenzie vocalist  
Decca 38799 10-in. 10/5/1934 It's all forgotten now Red McKenzie with the Spirits of Rhythm vocalist  
Decca 38804 10-in. 10/5/1934 What's the use of getting used to you? Red McKenzie with the Spirits of Rhythm vocalist  
Decca 39378 10-in. 2/20/1935 Baby brown New Orleans Rhythm Kings vocalist  
Decca 39379 10-in. 2/20/1935 No lovers allowed New Orleans Rhythm Kings vocalist  
Decca 39380 10-in. 2/20/1935 (Oh! Susanna) Dust off that old piano New Orleans Rhythm Kings vocalist  
Decca 39381 10-in. 2/20/1935 Since we fell out of love New Orleans Rhythm Kings vocalist  
Decca 39721 10-in. 7/12/1935 Murder in the moonlight Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 39722 10-in. 7/15/1935 Let's swing it Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 39805 10-in. 8/2/1935 Double trouble Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 39807 10-in. 8/5/1935 That's what you think Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60096 10-in. 10/22/1935 Georgia rockin' chair Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60097 10-in. 10/22/1935 Monday in Manhattan Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60098 10-in. 10/22/1935 Every now and then Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60099 10-in. 10/22/1935 Wouldn't I be a wonder Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60137 10-in. 11/8/1935 Red sails in the sunset Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60139 10-in. 11/8/1935 On Treasure Island Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60140 10-in. 11/8/1935 Thanks a million Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60219 10-in. 12/12/1935 Eeney meeney miney mo Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60295 10-in. 1/3/1936 The broken record Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60296 10-in. 1/3/1936 The broken record Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60311 10-in. 1/8/1936 I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60312 10-in. 1/8/1936 Mama don't allow it Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60313 10-in. 1/8/1936 (If I had) Rhythm in my nursery rhymes Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60314 10-in. 1/8/1936 I hope Gabriel likes my music Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60365 10-in. 1/20/1936 Sing an old-fashioned song Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60368 10-in. 1/20/1936 I'm building up an awful letdown Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60444 10-in. 2/5/1936 Don't count your kisses Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60445 10-in. 2/5/1936 When love has gone Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60446 10-in. 2/5/1936 I don't know your name Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60447 10-in. 2/5/1936 Moon rose Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60481 10-in. 2/17/1936 You hit the spot Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, washboard  
Decca 60482 10-in. 2/17/1936 Spreadin' rhythm around Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, washboard  
Decca 60483 10-in. 2/17/1936 Saddle your blues to a wild mustang Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, washboard  
Decca 60484 10-in. 2/17/1936 Wah-hoo! Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, washboard  
Decca 60485 10-in. 2/17/1936 I'm gonna clap my hands Mound City Blue Blowers instrumentalist, washboard  
Decca 60977 10-in. 4/3/1936 I can't get started with you Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  
Decca 60978 10-in. 4/3/1936 I can pull a rabbit out of my hat Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings vocalist, instrumentalist, comb  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "McKenzie, Red," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109742.

McKenzie, Red. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109742.

"McKenzie, Red." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109742

External Sources

Wikipedia: Red McKenzie

Discogs: Red McKenzie

Allmusic: Red McKenzie

Grove: Red McKenzie

IMDb: Red McKenzie

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: McKenzie, Red, 1899-1948 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no93028465

Wikidata: Red McKenzie - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1600338

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/54335634

MusicBrainz: Red McKenzie - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/042db999-bffd-43bb-b34e-1560aa586530

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/329059

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

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