Leonard Davis

Leonard "Ham" Davis (July 4, 1905 in St. Louis, Missouri – 1957) was an American jazz trumpeter.

Davis began his career in St. Louis, playing with the Odd Fellows Boys' Band as a teenager and landing a spot in Charlie Creath's band. Late in the 1920s, he relocated to New York City, where he played in the bands of Edgar Hayes and Arthur Gibbs. He recorded for the first time with Eddie Condon's ensemble in 1929, and sat in with McKinney's Cotton Pickers that same year. In the 1930s he played with Benny Carter, Don Redman, and Elmer Snowden, and did a two-year stint in Louis Armstrong's orchestra starting in 1935. Toward the end of the decade he toured Europe with Edgar Hayes and played in the Blackbirds revue in New York City.

Davis joined Sidney Bechet's revival group in 1940, and also played in bands led by Maurice Hubbard, Albert Socarras, and George James. He continued performing in small-time settings in New York through the mid-1950s.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 4, 1905 (St. Louis), Died 1957

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet

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

Recordings (Results 51-70 of 70 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 62218 10-in. 5/25/1937 Edgar steps out Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62219 10-in. 5/25/1937 Laughing at life Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62220 10-in. 5/25/1937 Stomping at the Renny Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62450 10-in. 7/27/1937 Laughing at life Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62451 10-in. 7/27/1937 High, wide and handsome Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62452 10-in. 7/27/1937 Satan takes a holiday Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62675 10-in. 10/11/1937 Queen Isabella Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62676 10-in. 10/11/1937 Old King Cole Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62677 10-in. 10/11/1937 Shindig Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62678 10-in. 10/11/1937 Let's love Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63157 10-in. 1/14/1938 Meet the band Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63158 10-in. 1/14/1938 Fugitive from a harem Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63159 10-in. 1/14/1938 Swingin' in the promised land Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63160 10-in. 1/14/1938 Barbary Coast blues Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63294 10-in. 2/17/1938 Help me Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63295 10-in. 2/17/1938 Without you Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63296 10-in. 2/17/1938 You're my first thought every morning Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63297 10-in. 2/17/1938 In the mood Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63298 10-in. 2/17/1938 Star dust Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63299 10-in. 2/17/1938 Sophisticated swing Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 51-70 of 70 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Davis, Leonard," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112286.

Davis, Leonard. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112286.

"Davis, Leonard." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112286

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