Missourians

The Missourians were an American jazz band active in the 1920s, who performed at the Cotton Club in New York City and eventually became the backing band for Cab Calloway.

The Missourians were formed by Wilson Robinson in the early 1920s under the name Wilson Robinson's Syncopators, or Wilson Robinson's Bostonians. Andrew Preer took leadership of the group in 1925, which performed at the Cotton Club until 1927 under the name Andrew Preer's Cotton Club Orchestra. In 1927 the group became the accompanying band for Ethel Waters on tour, and changed its name to The Missourians, since Duke Ellington's band had become known as the Cotton Club Orchestra. After returning to New York the band took up residency at the Savoy Ballroom from 1928 to 1929; reedist George Scott was its leader during this period. In 1929, Cab Calloway led the group intermittently, and assumed leadership of the band in 1930; soon after he began recording as Cab Calloway and His Orchestra. Prior to Calloway's arrival, the group recorded for Gennett Records and Victor Records. The group's membership in the 1920s included Lammar Wright Sr., R.Q. Dickerson, Dewey Jackson, William Thornton Blue, David Jones, Earres Prince, and Andrew Brown.

Birth and Death Data: Died Ceased 1930

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

Notes: According to the Red Hot Jazz website, the Cotton Club Orchestra led by Andy Preer was the name used by the Missourians jazz/dance band when playing at the Cotton Club.

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-53802 10-in. 6/3/1929 Market street stomp Missourians Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BVE-53803 10-in. 6/3/1929 Ozark mountain blues Missourians Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BVE-53804 10-in. 6/3/1929 You'll cry for me, but I'll be gone Missourians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-53805 10-in. 6/3/1929 Missouri moan Missourians Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BVE-53971 10-in. 8/1/1929 I've got someone Missourians Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BVE-53972 10-in. 8/1/1929 '400' hop Missourians Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BVE-53973 10-in. 8/1/1929 Vine Street drag Missourians Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BVE-53974 10-in. 8/1/1929 Scotty blues Missourians Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BVE-59173 10-in. 2/17/1930 Two hundred squabble Missourians Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BVE-59174 10-in. 2/17/1930 Swingin' dem cats Missourians Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BVE-59175 10-in. 2/17/1930 Stoppin' the traffic Missourians Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BVE-59176 10-in. 2/17/1930 Prohibition blues Missourians Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 140224 10-in. 1/6/1925 Down and out blues Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 140225 10-in. 1/6/1925 Snag 'em blues Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W140475 10-in. 3/31/1925 Original two time man Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W140478 10-in. 3/31/1925 Lonely and blue Cotton Club Orchestra (Andy Preer) Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W140556 10-in. 4/27/1925 Riverboat shuffle Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W141255 10-in. 11/10/1925 Everybody stomp! Cotton Club Orchestra (Andy Preer) Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W141256 10-in. 11/10/1925 Charleston ball Cotton Club Orchestra (Andy Preer) Jazz/dance band Musical group  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Missourians," accessed April 16, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116451.

Missourians. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116451.

"Missourians." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 16 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116451

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