Benny Krueger

Benny Krueger (June 17, 1899 – April 29, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist.

After a short stint with Ross Gorman's band, Krueger's joined the Acme Sextette in New York, which included Miff Mole on trombone, Ernie Holst on violin, and Edwin Taylor Williams on banjo. He had the distinction of being one of the first jazz saxophonists on record. In 1920, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, following a successful tour of England, cut a number of sides for the Victor Talking Machine Company. One of Victor's managers insisted, against the ODJB members' wishes, that a saxophonist be included on their early recordings. Krueger was chosen by Victor as the saxophonist, and he recorded with the ODJB in 1920 to 1921, according to Rust's Jazz Records 1897-1942.

Following the ODJB recording date, Krueger recorded numerous sides for Brunswick and Vocalion under his own name, as well as under several pseudonyms. His final recording session was for Columbia Records in May 1934, recording songs from the 1934 Carole Lombard-Bing Crosby film We're Not Dressing.

In the 1930s he worked in radio and served as musical director and orchestra conductor for Rudy Vallee and Bob Crosby. He was also a songwriter; "Sunday" was covered by Pat Boone, Lester Young and Louis Jordan). Among his outstanding recordings with his orchestra was "I Don't Know Why" (1931).

Birth and Death Data: Born June 17, 1899 (Newark), Died April 29, 1967 (Orange)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1920 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone, leader, saxophone, composer, songwriter, tenor saxophone, clarinet

Notes: Sometimes listed as Bennie Kreuger.

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

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 396 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick [9094a] approximately Oct. 1922 [Unknown title(s)] Benny Krueger’s Orchestra ; Brox Sisters Female vocal trio, with jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 9372 10-in. approximately Dec. 1922 Nothing but Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick [9373a] approximately Dec. 1922 [Unknown title(s)] Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 9812 10-in. approximately Feb. 1923 St. Louis blues Marion Harris ; Benny Krueger Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band and saxophone solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Brunswick 9815 10-in. approximately Feb. 1923 I ain’t got nobody Marion Harris ; Benny Krueger Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band and saxophone solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Brunswick [10180a] 3/26/1923 Dearest (You’re the nearest to my heart) Marion Harris Female vocal solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Brunswick 12921 10-in. 4/18/1924 Adoration Carl Fenton’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Brunswick [13672a] 8/4/1924 No masters Marion Harris Female vocal solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Brunswick [14444a] 12/11/1924 Oh Joseph Carl Fenton’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Brunswick [14567a] 12/19/1924 [Unknown title(s)] Al Bernard Male vocal solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Brunswick 4609-4610 10-in. approximately Nov. 1920 [Unknown title(s)] Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 4611-4612 10-in. approximately Nov. 1920 Singin' the blues Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 5111-5112 10-in. approximately Mar. 1921 Wang wang blues Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 5378-5380 10-in. approximately Apr. 1921 Satanic blues Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 5381-5383 10-in. approximately Apr. 1921 I wonder where my sweet, sweet daddy's gone Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 5779-5780 10-in. approximately June 1921 Dangerous blues Benny Krueger’s Orchestra ; Al Bernard Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick 5783-5784 10-in. approximately June 1921 Ain't we got fun? Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 6390-6392 10-in. approximately Sept. 1921 How many times? Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 6393-6395 10-in. approximately Sept. 1921 Everybody step Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 6835-6836 10-in. approximately Nov. 1921 I'm cuckoo over you Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 6838-6839 10-in. approximately Nov. 1921 Bow-wow blues Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 6942-6945 10-in. approximately Dec. 1921 The school house blues Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 6946-6948 10-in. approximately Dec. 1921 I've got my habits on Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 7088-7091 10-in. approximately Jan. 1922 Carolina blues Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 7092-7094 10-in. approximately Jan. 1922 On the 'Gin, 'Gin, 'Ginny shore Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
(Results 76-100 of 396 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Krueger, Benny," accessed April 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112549.

Krueger, Benny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112549.

"Krueger, Benny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112549

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