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 (Results 26-50 of 81 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 26-50 of 81 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Fuller, Bob," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110518.

Fuller, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110518.

"Fuller, Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 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

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