Bill Beason

William Beason (6 March 1908 – 15 August 1988) was an American swing jazz drummer born in Louisville, Kentucky. At the height of his career, he recorded with Django Reinhardt.

In 1939, Beason took over the role of drummer in Ella Fitzgerald's orchestra from Chick Webb. He died, aged 80, in New York City.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 6th, 1908 (Louisville), Died August 15th, 1988 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1944

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums, traps

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 82 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-64313 10-in. 10/9/1930 Gambling Jack Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-64314 10-in. 10/9/1930 Fickle Fay creep Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-06462 10-in. 3/26/1937 The love bug will bite you (if you don't watch out) Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-06463 10-in. 3/26/1937 Would you like to buy a dream? Beatrice Douglas ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-06464 10-in. 3/26/1937 Big Boy Blue Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-06465 10-in. 3/26/1937 Where is the sun? Beatrice Douglas ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-06466 10-in. 3/26/1937 The Harlem twister Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-06467 10-in. 3/26/1937 My Marie Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-07925 10-in. 4/23/1937 I know now Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-07926 10-in. 4/23/1937 The lady who couldn't be kissed Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-07927 10-in. 4/23/1937 (Have you forgotten) The you and me that used to be Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-07928 10-in. 4/23/1937 A study in brown Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-07929 10-in. 4/23/1937 Twilight in Turkey Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-07930 10-in. 4/23/1937 China boy Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-030354 10-in. 12/6/1938 I got ya Don Redman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-030355 10-in. 12/6/1938 I'm playing solitaire Don Redman Orchestra ; Quentin Jackson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-030356 10-in. 12/6/1938 Auld lang syne Don Redman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal ensemble instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-030357 10-in. 12/6/1938 Sweet Leilani Don Redman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal ensemble instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-030358 10-in. 12/6/1938 'Deed I do Don Redman Orchestra ; Laurel Watson Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-030359 10-in. 12/6/1938 Down home rag Don Redman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Gramophone 0LA1888 10-in. 7/7/1937 Hangin' around Boudon Bill Coleman ; Dicky Wells Orchestra Jazz/dance quintet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Gramophone 0LA1894 10-in. 7/12/1937 I've found a new baby Dicky Wells Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Gramophone 0LA1899 10-in. 7/12/1937 Dicky Wells blues Sam Allen ; Bill Beason ; Roger Chaput ; Dicky Wells Trombone solo, with piano, guitar, and drums instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 65903 10-in. 6/29/1939 Betcha nickel Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 65904 10-in. 6/29/1939 Stairway to the stars Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 1-25 of 82 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Beason, Bill," accessed August 1, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110397.

Beason, Bill. (2021). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved August 1, 2021, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110397.

"Beason, Bill." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2021. Web. 1 August 2021.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110397

External Sources

Wikipedia: Bill Beason

Discogs: Beason, Bill

Allmusic: Beason, Bill

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Beason, Bill, 1908- - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no96064956

Wikidata: Bill Beason - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q861931

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/74039715/

MusicBrainz: Beason, Bill, 1908- - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d03791f1-3561-47b5-81be-fe900479805d

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