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Tricky Sam Nanton

Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton (February 1, 1904 – July 20, 1946) was an American trombonist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. A pioneer of the plunger mute, Nanton is notable for his use of the distinctive wah-wah effect.

Birth and Death Data: Born New York City, Died July 20, 1946 (San Francisco)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1946

Roles Represented in DAHR: trombone, speaker

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

Recordings (Results 251-275 of 284 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick B17409 10-in. 4/30/1935 Admiration Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B17974 10-in. 8/19/1935 Cotton Ivie Anderson ; Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B17975 10-in. 8/19/1935 Truckin' Ivie Anderson ; Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B17976 10-in. 8/19/1935 Accent on youth Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B18072 10-in. 9/12/1935 Reminiscing in tempo Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B18073 10-in. 9/12/1935 Reminiscing in tempo Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B18074 10-in. 9/12/1935 Reminiscing in tempo Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B18075 10-in. 9/12/1935 Reminiscing in tempo Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B18737 10-in. 2/27/1936 Echoes of Harlem Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B18738 10-in. 2/28/1936 Love is like a cigarette Ivie Anderson ; Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B18739 10-in. 2/28/1936 Kissin' my baby Ivie Anderson ; Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B18740 10-in. 2/28/1936 Oh, babe! Maybe someday Ivie Anderson ; Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B19562 10-in. 7/17/1936 Shoe shine boy Ivie Anderson ; Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B19563 10-in. 7/17/1936 It was a sad night in Harlem Ivie Anderson ; Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B19564 10-in. 7/17/1936 Trumpet in spades Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B19565 10-in. 7/17/1936 Yearning for love Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B19626 10-in. 7/29/1936 In a jam Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B19627 10-in. 7/29/1936 Exposition swing Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Brunswick B19628 10-in. 7/29/1936 Uptown downbeat Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Master M177 10-in. 3/5/1937 The new Birmingham breakdown Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Master M178 10-in. 3/5/1937 Scattin' at the Kit-Kat Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Master M179 10-in. 3/5/1937 I've got to be a rug cutter Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Master M180 10-in. 3/5/1937 The new East St. Louis toodle-o (theme song) Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Master M379 10-in. 4/9/1937 There's a lull in my life Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Master M380 10-in. 4/9/1937 It's swell of you Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
(Results 251-275 of 284 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Nanton, Tricky Sam," accessed December 11, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109787.

Nanton, Tricky Sam. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 11, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109787.

"Nanton, Tricky Sam." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 11 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109787

External Sources

Wikipedia: Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton

Discogs: Tricky Sam Nanton

Allmusic: Tricky Sam Nanton

Grove: Tricky Sam Nanton

IMDb: Tricky Sam Nanton

Britannica: Tricky Sam Nanton

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Nanton, Tricky Sam, 1904-1946 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no93032156

Wikidata: Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q725157

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/34644014

MusicBrainz: Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/b1669585-019f-483d-80c2-caada4275157

Fast: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/330891 - http://id.worldcat.org/fast/330891

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