Bill Rank

William C. Rank (June 8, 1904 – May 20, 1979) was an American jazz trombonist.

Rank was born in Lafayette, Indiana, United States, and initially worked in Indiana and Florida. In 1922, Rank played trombone in Tade's Singing Orchestra, which was led by violinist, Tade Dolen. Between 1923 and 1927 he played with Jean Goldkette's band in Detroit and often recorded with Bix Beiderbecke. After playing with Adrian Rollini in 1927 and a period as a freelance, Rank joined Paul Whiteman's band, and stayed until 1938. He was then a studio musician in Hollywood into the early 1940s, when he moved to Cincinnati. There, he led a tenet for the rest of the 1940s.

Rank then changed to playing part-time while also working in insurance. His one album as a leader, a tribute to Beiderbecke, was recorded in 1973. Rank continued playing until a short time before his death, on May 20, 1979, in Cincinnati.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 8, 1904 (Lafayette), Died May 20, 1979 (Cincinnati)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: trombone

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 85 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-38268 10-in. 5/23/1927 In my merry Oldsmobile Jean Goldkette Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-38607 10-in. 5/6/1927 Slow river Jean Goldkette Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-40211 10-in. 9/15/1927 Blue river Jean Goldkette Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-40212 10-in. 9/15/1927 Clementine (From New Orleans) Jean Goldkette Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-41294 10-in. 1/4/1928 Smile Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-41465 12-in. 1/24/1928 My heart stood still Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-41471 10-in. 1/28/1928 Back in your own back yard Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-41635 12-in. 1/21/1928 Together Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-41681 10-in. 2/8/1928 There ain't no sweet man that's worth the salt of my tears Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-41682 12-in. 2/8/1928 A shady tree Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo and recitation instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-41683 10-in. 2/9/1928 Dardanella Bix Beiderbecke ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-41684 10-in. 2/10/1928 Love nest Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-41688 10-in. 2/13/1928 Sunshine Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-41689 10-in. 2/13/1928 From Monday on Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-41690 12-in. 2/14/1928 Grand fantasia Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-41691 12-in. 2/14/1928 Grand fantasia Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-41692 12-in. 2/16/1928 Three shades of blue Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-41693 12-in. 2/16/1928 Three shades of blue Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-41696 10-in. 2/18/1928 Mississippi mud Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-43116 12-in. 2/27/1928 Chloe Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-43117 12-in. 2/28/1928 High water Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43118 10-in. 2/28/1928 Sugar Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-43119 12-in. 2/29/1928 Sea burial Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43120 10-in. 2/29/1928 When you're with somebody else Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-43122 12-in. 3/1/1928 Ol' Man River Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra ; Paul Robeson Orchestra, with mixed vocal chorus and soloist instrumentalist, trombone  
(Results 26-50 of 85 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rank, Bill," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112842.

Rank, Bill. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112842.

"Rank, Bill." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112842

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