Bob Fuller

Bob Fuller (December 31, 1898 – unknown) was an American blues and jazz saxophonist and clarinetist, best known for his recordings accompanying female singers of the 1920s.

Born and raised in New York City, Fuller toured the United States with Mamie Smith, then settled down to extensive studio work. He was a house saxophonist for Ajax and Victor Records, playing with Elmer Snowden and Lou Hooper. These musicians also recorded on their own, including as the Five Musical Blackbirds. Fuller also played with Fats Waller's combo, Six Hot Babies.

Fuller worked on at least 140 sessions between 1920 and 1928, accompanying singers such as Martha Copeland, Helen Gross, Rosa Henderson, Maggie Jones, Viola McCoy, and Monette Moore.

Among his many 1920s recordings, his trio sides (with piano and banjo) were issued as "Three Hot Eskimos", "The Black Diamonds", "Three Jolly Jesters", and "Three Monkey Chasers".

Fuller left the music industry permanently after he decided to work in prisons for the New York City Police Department in the 1930s.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 31, 1898 (New York City), Died 20th century

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1928

Roles Represented in DAHR: clarinet, composer, alto saxophone, songwriter, vocalist

= 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-33825 10-in. 10/28/1925 Ridiculous blues Charleston Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Victor BVE-36069 10-in. 8/27/1926 Goin' crazy with the blues Mamie Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-36081 10-in. 8/31/1926 What have you done to make me feel this way Mamie Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-36846 10-in. 10/20/1926 When a 'gator holler, folks say it's a sign of rain Margaret Johnson Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-36847 10-in. 10/20/1926 Graysom Street blues Margaret Johnson Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-36895 10-in. 11/2/1926 My baby doesn't squawk New Orleans Blue Five Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-36896 10-in. 11/2/1926 The king of the Zulus New Orleans Blue Five Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-36897 10-in. 11/2/1926 South Rampart Street blues New Orleans Blue Five Jazz/dance band composer, instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-36962 10-in. 11/24/1926 The mess Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-36963 10-in. 11/24/1926 The chinch Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia 140411 10-in. 3/3/1925 Black cat blues Bob Fuller Clarinet solo, with banjo and piano instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Columbia 140412 10-in. 3/3/1925 Too bad Jim Bob Fuller Clarinet solo, with banjo and piano instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Columbia 140855 10-in. 8/20/1925 Corn bread wiggle Three Monkey Chasers Instrumental trio songwriter, instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia 140856 10-in. 8/20/1925 Cocoanut strut Three Monkey Chasers Instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet, songwriter  
Columbia W140857 10-in. 8/19/1925 Nobody's blues but mine Bessie Smith and her Band Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, banjo, and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W140858 10-in. 8/19/1925 I ain't got nobody Bessie Smith and her Band Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, banjo, and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W140859 10-in. 8/20/1925 My two timing papa Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, banjo, and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W140860 10-in. 8/20/1925 Kitchen mechanic blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, banjo, and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W140951 10-in. 9/17/1925 I'm a back bitin' mama Maggie Jones Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Columbia W140952 10-in. 9/17/1925 Dallas blues Maggie Jones Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Columbia W141037 10-in. 9/23/1925 Grand opera blues Bob Fuller Clarinet solo, with banjo and piano instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Columbia W141038 10-in. 9/23/1925 Pig Alley stomp Bob Fuller Clarinet solo, with banjo and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W141046 10-in. 9/25/1925 Alley rat blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Columbia W141047 10-in. 9/25/1925 When my sugar walks down the street Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Columbia W141048 10-in. 9/25/1925 You never miss your water Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Columbia W141049 10-in. 9/25/1925 Disappointed blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Columbia W141056 10-in. 9/29/1925 Single woman's blues Maggie Jones Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W141057 10-in. 9/29/1925 Never tell a woman friend Maggie Jones Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia 141142 10-in. 10/16/1925 Uncle Remus stomp Three Monkey Chasers Instrumental trio composer, instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia 141143 10-in. 10/16/1925 Montmartre giggles Three Monkey Chasers Instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W144097 10-in. 5/5/1927 Dyin' crap-shooter's blues Martha Copeland Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W144098 10-in. 5/5/1927 Mister brakes-man (Let me ride your train) Martha Copeland Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W144249 10-in. 6/1/1927 That's why the undertakers are busy today Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia W144250 10-in. 6/1/1927 Black woman's blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia W144527 10-in. 7/30/1927 Black cat moan Clara Smith and her Five Black Kittens Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W144528 10-in. 7/30/1927 Strugglin' woman's blues Clara Smith and her Five Black Kittens Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W144852 10-in. 10/13/1927 Shootin' star blues Martha Copeland Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W144853 10-in. 10/13/1927 Good time mama blues Martha Copeland Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W145650 10-in. 2/16/1928 I'd rather be dead and buried in my grave Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W145651 10-in. 2/16/1928 Hit me in the nose blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W145783 10-in. 3/19/1928 Spider man blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia W145784 10-in. 3/19/1928 Tombstone blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia 146556 10-in. 6/19/1928 Nameless blues Bob Fuller Clarinet solo, with banjo and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia 146557 10-in. 6/19/1928 Ridiculous blues Bob Fuller Clarinet solo, with banjo and piano instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Columbia W146893 10-in. 8/24/1928 Washwoman's blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia W146895 10-in. 8/24/1928 Poor man's blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
OKeh 74057 10-in. Mar. 1926 Sunset blues Buddy Christian's Creole Five ; Louise Vant Jazz/dance ensemble, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
OKeh 74058 10-in. Mar. 1926 Texas mule stomp Buddy Christian's Creole Five ; Louise Vant Jazz/dance ensemble, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
OKeh 74059 10-in. Mar. 1926 Sugar house stomp Buddy Christian's Creole Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, clarinet  
OKeh W81063 10-in. 5/6/1927 You're no count triflin' man Butterbeans & Susie ; Eddie Heywood Jazz Trio Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
OKeh W81064 10-in. 5/6/1927 Mama's gonna shorten your days Butterbeans & Susie Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
OKeh W81065 10-in. 5/6/1927 Gonna make you sorry Butterbeans & Susie Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
OKeh W81424 10-in. 9/8/1927 Stinging bee blues Margaret Johnson Female vocal solo, with clarinet and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
OKeh W81425 10-in. 9/8/1927 Best friend blues Margaret Johnson Female vocal solo, with clarinet and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
OKeh W400777 10-in. 6/11/1928 Lame duck blues Three Blues Chasers Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
OKeh W400778 10-in. 6/11/1928 Nothin' but blues Three Blues Chasers Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick E1540-E1542 10-in. 10/29/1925 House party stomp Three Jolly Miners Instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick E1543-E1545 10-in. 10/29/1925 Grand opera blues Three Jolly Miners Instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Brunswick E2108-E2110 10-in. 1/12/1926 Chicago back step Three Jolly Miners Instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Brunswick E2111-E2113 10-in. 1/13/1926 F minor blues Three Jolly Miners Instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick E2435-E2436 10-in. 2/15/1926 Pig Alley stomp Three Jolly Miners Instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick E2437-E2438 10-in. 2/15/1926 Ridiculous blues Three Jolly Miners Instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Brunswick E2713-E2715 10-in. 3/31/1926 Do it Mr. So-So Rosa Henderson Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick E2716-E2718 10-in. 3/31/1926 Fulton Street blues Rosa Henderson Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick E4764-E4765 10-in. 3/25/1927 Down that lonesome road Sis Quander Female vocal solo, with clarinet and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick E4766-E4767 10-in. 3/25/1927 Country woman’s blues Sis Quander Female vocal solo, with clarinet and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick E22040-E22042 10-in. 3/21/1927 Dallas blues Bob Fuller Clarinet solo, with guitar, piano, and vocal; without vocal (take E22042) instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick E22043-E22045 10-in. 3/21/1927 I ain’t got nobody (And nobody cares for me) Bob Fuller Clarinet solo, with guitar, piano, and vocal; without vocal (take E22045) instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick 512W-514W 10-in. 3/9/1925 Charleston clarinet blues Three Jolly Miners Jazz/dance trio composer  
Brunswick 515W-518W 10-in. 3/9/1925 Freakish blues Three Jolly Miners Jazz/dance trio composer  
Brunswick 580W-582W 10-in. 3/20/1925 Low down daddy blues Rosa Henderson Female vocal solo, with clarinet and piano instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick 912W-914W 10-in. 6/20/1925 Too bad Jim! Three Jolly Miners Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Brunswick 915W-917W 10-in. 6/20/1925 Black cat blues Three Jolly Miners Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Brunswick 1078W-1079W 10-in. 8/8/1925 Lake George blues Three Jolly Miners Jazz/dance trio, with clarinet solo instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Brunswick 1080W-1081W 10-in. 8/8/1925 Louisville blues Three Jolly Miners Jazz/dance trio, with clarinet solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick 1240W-1242W 10-in. 8/27/1925 Plain old blues Three Jolly Miners Jazz/dance trio, with clarinet solo instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Brunswick 1243W-1245W 10-in. 8/27/1925 Ketch your breath Three Jolly Miners Jazz/dance trio, with clarinet solo composer, instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick 1377W-1378W 10-in. 9/21/1925 Old man's Charleston Three Jolly Miners Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, clarinet, composer  
Brunswick 1379W-1380W 10-in. 9/21/1925 Texas shuffle Three Jolly Miners Jazz/dance trio composer, instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick 1511W-1513W 10-in. 10/17/1925 An' I don't mean if! Rosa Henderson ; Three Jolly Miners Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick 1514W-1516W 10-in. 10/17/1925 You can't be like my last man was Rosa Henderson Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Fuller, Bob," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110518.

Fuller, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110518.

"Fuller, Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110518

External Sources

Wikipedia: Bob Fuller

Discogs: Bob Fuller

Allmusic: Bob Fuller

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Fuller, Bob, approximately 1898- - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97041650

Wikidata: Bob Fuller - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q4932479

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/10049516

MusicBrainz: Bob Fuller - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d1c27b20-6f1b-42e0-8ec4-e173129b7f4c

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

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