Jack Denny

Jack Denny (September 25, 1895 – September 15, 1950) was an American dance band leader during the pre-War years. He was born in the United States and started his musical career in Montreal, Quebec in 1920.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Denny led dance bands with a conventionally styled orchestra during the 1920s, playing at various venues, including the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Canada. In 1931, he relocated to New York City, where he played at the newly opened Waldorf-Astoria Hotel the following year. Denny's band quickly gained popularity among the high society clientele of the Waldorf-Astoria, prompting him to develop a sweet and marvelous sound that had no brass section. His arrangements were often complex and fast-paced, unique for a sweet band.

The Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra consisted of four saxes, three violins, bass, piano, and drums, with the pianist sometimes doubling on accordion. They recorded around two dozen titles for Victor in 1932 and appeared in the film "Moonlight and Pretzels" in 1933.

After leading his band for many years, Denny retired from the band business about six years before his death and worked as a salesman for the Baldwin Piano Company. He died on September 15, 1950, at the age of 54. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1895, Died 1950

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1922 - 1932

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, director, arranger, composer, conductor

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

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 132 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick E20408-E20409 10-in. 10/14/1926 I never knew what the moonlight could do Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick E20410-E20411 10-in. 10/14/1926 Ting-a-ling, the bells’ll ring Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick E20528-E20529 10-in. 10/26/1926 Ting-a-ling, the bells’ll ring Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick E20530-E20531 10-in. 10/26/1926 I never knew what the moonlight could do Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick E20532-E20533 10-in. 10/26/1926 Am I wasting my time on you? Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick E20586-E20587 10-in. 10/29/1926 Moonlight on the Ganges Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio leader  
Brunswick E20588-E20590 10-in. 10/29/1926 Some day Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio leader  
Brunswick E20704-E20705 10-in. 11/11/1926 Moonlight on the Ganges Bonnie Laddies ; Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio leader  
Brunswick E20706-E20707 10-in. 11/11/1926 Some day Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio leader  
Brunswick E20907-E20909 10-in. 12/8/1926 I love the moonlight Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick E20910-E20912 10-in. 12/8/1926 Song of Shanghai Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick E20913-E20914 10-in. 12/8/1926 Am I wasting my time on you? Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick E20955-E20957 10-in. 12/15/1926 I love the moonlight Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick E20958-E20959 10-in. 12/15/1926 Song of Shanghai Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick E20960-E20962 10-in. 12/15/1926 Am I wasting my time on you Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick E21346-E21348 10-in. 1/28/1927 Roses for remembrance Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick E21349-E21351 10-in. 1/28/1927 All I want is you Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick E30940-E30941 10-in. Sept. 1929 Pretty little you Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) leader  
Brunswick E30942-E30943 10-in. Sept. 1929 Scotchie Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) leader  
Brunswick E30944-E30945 10-in. Sept. 1929 The end of the lonesome trail Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) leader  
Brunswick E30946-E30947 10-in. Sept. 1929 Why can’t you love that way? Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) leader  
Brunswick E31331-E31332 10-in. Nov. 1929 Congratulations Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) leader  
Brunswick E31333-E31334 10-in. Nov. 1929 Hang on to me Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) leader  
Brunswick E31335-E31336 10-in. Nov. 1929 Climbing the stairs (Into your heart) Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) leader  
Brunswick E31337-E31338 10-in. Nov. 1929 Blondy Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) leader  
(Results 76-100 of 132 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Denny, Jack," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111151.

Denny, Jack. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111151.

"Denny, Jack." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111151

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

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.