Lee L. Blair

Lee L. Blair (October 10, 1903, Savannah, Georgia – October 15, 1966, New York City) was an American jazz banjoist and guitarist.

Blair was a left-handed autodidact on banjo, aside from a few lessons taken from Mike Pingitore, the banjoist for Paul Whiteman. He played and recorded in NYC with Thomas Morris's Seven Hot Babies in 1926, played with Charlie Skeete in 1926-28, then played and recorded with Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers in 1928-30. He played with Billy Kato in 1930-31, then played and recorded with Luis Russell (1934–35) and Louis Armstrong (1935-40). He worked part-time in music through the 1940s, then joined Wilbur De Paris's New New Orleans Jazz Band in the 1950s at Jimmy Ryan's Club on West 52nd Street in New York City. In the summer of 1957 he toured in Africa with the DeParis band for the State Department. In the 1960s he played less, concentrating on raising chickens on his farm in Belmore, Long Island, but appeared at the 1964 World's Fair in a trio with Danny Barker and Eddie Gibbs and freelanced around New York with Hank Duncan and others until he died. He never recorded as a leader, but appears on record with Morris, Morton, Russell, Armstrong, and De Paris, as well as with Dick Cary, Pee Wee Erwin, and Leonard Gaskin among others. He is honored in the jazz section of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, GA.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 10, 1903 (Savannah), Died October 15, 1966 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, banjo

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

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 95 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 62339 10-in. 7/7/1936 Sun showers Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 63775 10-in. 5/13/1938 So little time Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 63776 10-in. 5/13/1938 Mexican swing Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 63777 10-in. 5/13/1938 As long as you live Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 63778 10-in. 5/13/1938 When the Saints go marchin' in Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 63809 10-in. 5/18/1938 on the sentimentccl side Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 63810 10-in. 5/18/1938 It's wonderful Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 63811 10-in. 5/18/1938 Something tells me Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 63812 10-in. 5/18/1938 Love walked in Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 64907 10-in. 1/18/1939 Jeepers creepers Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 64908 10-in. 1/18/1939 What is this thing called swing? Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65344 10-in. 4/5/1939 Hear me talkin' to ya Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65345 10-in. 4/5/1939 Save it pretty Mama Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65346 10-in. 4/5/1939 West End blues Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65347 10-in. 4/5/1939 Savoy blues Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65460 10-in. 4/25/1939 (I'm) Confessin' (that I love you) Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65461 10-in. 4/25/1939 Our Monday date Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65462 10-in. 4/25/1939 If it's good then I want it Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65463 10-in. 4/25/1939 Me and Brother Bill Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65824 10-in. 6/15/1939 Baby, won't you please come home? Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65825 10-in. 6/15/1939 Poor old Joe Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65826 10-in. 6/15/1939 Shanty boat on the Mississippi Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 66984 10-in. 12/18/1939 Poor old Joe Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 66985 10-in. 12/18/1939 You're a lucky guy Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 66986 10-in. 12/18/1939 You're just a no account Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 51-75 of 95 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Blair, Lee L.," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110316.

Blair, Lee L.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110316.

"Blair, Lee L.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110316

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