Sandy Block

Sandy Block, also credited as Sid Block (January 16, 1917 - October 1985) was an American jazz bassist.

Block played violin as a child, and grew up in Cleveland and Brooklyn. He picked up bass in high school and worked professionally in big bands from the late 1930s. He worked with Van Alexander, Chick Webb, Alvino Rey, and Tommy Dorsey and recorded with Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. He played with Charlie Parker on the only television appearance Parker ever made.

After the 1950s Block worked extensively as a studio musician, including for folk ensembles such as The Greenbriar Boys. He played with Jimmy McPartland and Johnny Costa, but went into semi-retirement after the 1960s.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 16th, 1917, Died October 1st, 1985

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1943 - 1960

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass, arranger, alto saxophone, clarinet

See Also: Block, Sid

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 272 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 71483 10-in. 11/4/1943 You better give me lots of lovin', honey Johnny Long Orchestra arranger  
Decca 71484 10-in. 11/4/1943 In a friendly little harbor Johnny Long Orchestra arranger  
Decca 71485 10-in. 11/4/1943 No love, no nothin' Johnny Long Orchestra arranger  
Decca 71486 10-in. 11/4/1943 Southbound track Johnny Long Orchestra arranger  
Decca 71487 10-in. 11/4/1943 I've had this feeling before Johnny Long Orchestra arranger  
Decca 71793 10-in. 2/16/1944 San Fernando Valley Johnny Long Orchestra arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 72483 10-in. 11/6/1944 And her tears flowed like wine Ella Fitzgerald ; Johnny Long Orchestra ; The Song Spinners instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 72484 10-in. 11/6/1944 I'm confessin' (that I love you) Ella Fitzgerald ; Johnny Long Orchestra ; The Song Spinners instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 72611 10-in. 12/10/1944 Angelina (The waitress at the pizzeria) Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 72612 10-in. 12/10/1944 Gonna build a big fence around Texas Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 72737 10-in. 2/20/1945 Candy Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 72738 10-in. 2/20/1945 My dreams are getting better all the time Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 73123 10-in. 11/6/1945 Between the desert and me Johnny Long Orchestra arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73124 10-in. 11/6/1945 I want to go to Texas when I die Johnny Long Orchestra arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73341 2/4/1946 In a shanty in old shanty town Johnny Long Orchestra arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73342 2/4/1946 Blue skies Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone, arranger  
Decca 73379 2/18/1946 When I grow too old to dream Johnny Long Orchestra arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73380 2/18/1946 It's a sin to tell a lie Johnny Long Orchestra arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76851 9/18/1950 Aggravatin' situation Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 76852 9/18/1950 Everybody wants to go to heaven Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 76865 9/23/1950 Strangers Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 76866 9/23/1950 Music, maestro, please Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 76867 9/23/1950 Goofus Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 76912 9/29/1950 May I? Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 76913 9/29/1950 One morning in May Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 1-25 of 272 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Block, Sandy," accessed May 16, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112796.

Block, Sandy. (2021). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 16, 2021, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112796.

"Block, Sandy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2021. Web. 16 May 2021.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112796

External Sources

Wikipedia: Sandy Block

Discogs: Block, Sandy

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Block, Sandy, 1917-1985 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2005085517

Wikidata: Sandy Block - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q7417168

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/76054661/

MusicBrainz: Block, Sandy, 1917-1985 - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/c55de877-a57e-450d-b5bb-56243f653f52

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