Vernon Alley

Vernon Alley (May 26, 1915 – October 3, 2004) was an American jazz bassist.

Alley was born in Winnemucca, Nevada, and played football in high school and college. His brother, Eddie Alley, was a drummer; they played together often. Vernon played with Wes People in 1937 and with Saunders King (whose band was interracial) until the end of the decade. He briefly led his own band in 1940.

Around 1940, while in Lionel Hampton's band, Alley switched from double bass to electric upright bass, one of the first musicians to do so. In 1942 he moved to Count Basie's ensemble, where he played only for a few months and appeared in the film Reveille with Beverly.

Alley enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a musician in 1942 and after training at Camp Robert Smalls, he was assigned as part of a 45-piece regimental band to the Navy's PreFlight School located at St. Mary's College, in Moraga, California. Others who served in this band included Ernie and Marshal Royal, Jackie Kelso, Wilbert Baranco, Earl Watkins, and Buddy Collette.

After returning to civilian life, Alley put together an ensemble in San Francisco. He continued to play there and was an active member on local radio and in civic arts into the 1990s. He died there in 2004, having become "the most distinguished jazz musician in San Francisco history."

Birth and Death Data: Born May 26, 1915 (Winnemucca), Died October 3, 2004 (San Francisco)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass

= 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
Decca 70100 10-in. 12/24/1941 Just for you Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 70101 10-in. 12/24/1941 Southern echoes Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 70102 10-in. 12/24/1941 My wish Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 70103 10-in. 12/24/1941 Nola Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 70416 10-in. 3/2/1942 Royal family Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 70417 10-in. 3/2/1942 I can't believe that you're in love with me Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 70418 10-in. 3/2/1942 Blues in the news Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 70419 10-in. 3/2/1942 Exactly like you Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, string bass  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Alley, Vernon," accessed June 3, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/301022.

Alley, Vernon. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 3, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/301022.

"Alley, Vernon." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 3 June 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/301022

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