Reuben Reeves

Reuben "River" Reeves (October 25, 1905 in Evansville, Indiana – September 1975 in New York City) was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader.

Reeves started out playing locally in the Midwest; he moved to New York City in 1924 and then to Chicago in 1925. In 1926 he joined Erskine Tate's orchestra, then played with Fess Williams and Dave Peyton (1928–1930). While in Chicago, he took lessons from a German trumpet player, Albert Cook, who played in the Chicago Symphony. While playing at the Regal Theater in 1929, Peyton featured Reeves, his hot trumpet player, on a night where Louis Armstrong, who had a gig across the street at the Savoy, performed as a guest. The "vicious" gesture from Peyton in an attempt to intimidate Armstrong did not work as the audience begged Armstrong to play five encores. He signed to Vocalion and recorded as a bandleader with his groups the Tributaries and the River Boys; among his sidemen were his brother, trombonist Gerald Reeves, and clarinetist Omer Simeon (20 sides were recorded in 1929). He played under Cab Calloway in 1931-32, and recorded again with the River Boys in 1933. He toured as a leader from 1933–35, then played freelance through the late 1930s. During World War II, he led an Army band called the Jungleers. Stationed at the Army Jungle Training Center on the northeast coast of Oahu, they were popular participants in Battle of the Band competitions that were an integral part of the "extraordinary music scene in Hawaii during the war." After the war, he played in Harry Dial's Blusicians in 1946.

Reeves' entire output as a bandleader has been released to a single compact disc by RST Records.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 25, 1905 (Chicago), Died September 1, 1975 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, leader, composer, cornet

Notes: Sometimes listed as Reuben "River" Reeves.

= 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
OKeh W401958 10-in. 5/22/1929 Bugle call rag Ed Lang Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E36212 10-in. 3/3/1931 Minnie the moocher Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Brunswick C3532 10-in. 5/23/1929 River blues Reuben “River” Reeves and his Tributaries Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Brunswick C3584 10-in. 6/10/1929 Parson blues Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Brunswick C3605 10-in. 6/17/1929 Papa “Skag” stomp Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Brunswick C3697 10-in. 6/25/1929 Bugle call blues Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band, with vocal duet leader, composer  
Brunswick C3919 10-in. 7/22/1929 Low down rhythm Hollywood Shufflers Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick C3943 10-in. 7/25/1929 Blue sweets Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Brunswick C3963 10-in. 7/29/1929 Texas Special blues Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Brunswick C3964 10-in. 7/29/1929 Texas Special blues Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Brunswick C3989 10-in. 8/5/1929 Head low Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band, with vocal quartet leader  
Brunswick C4029 10-in. 8/13/1929 (What did I do to be so) Black and blue Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Brunswick C4079 10-in. 8/15/1929 Moanin’ low Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Brunswick C4131 10-in. 8/18/1929 Head low Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band, with vocal leader  
Brunswick C4318 10-in. 9/8/1929 Have you ever felt that way? Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Brunswick C4403 10-in. 9/12/1929 Do I know what I’m doing (While I'm in love) Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Brunswick C4404 10-in. 9/12/1929 Shoo shoo boogie boo Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Brunswick C4745 10-in. 11/25/1929 Tiger rag Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick C4746 10-in. 11/25/1929 Shine Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick C4747 10-in. 11/25/1929 Tiger rag Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band leader  
Decca 75848 2/9/1950 Prince's boogie woogie Blusicians ; Harry Dial instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75849 2/9/1950 Diddy we Diddy Blusicians ; Harry Dial instrumentalist, trumpet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Reeves, Reuben," accessed April 20, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110953.

Reeves, Reuben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 20, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110953.

"Reeves, Reuben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 20 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110953

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