Johnny Blowers

John G. Blowers Jr. (April 21, 1911 – July 17, 2006) was an American drummer of the swing era. Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States, Blowers ("Blau-ers") learned to play percussion during his schooldays and began performing with the Bob Pope Band in 1936. Blowers attended college at Oglethorpe College, now Oglethorpe University.

In 1937, he travelled to New York City, where he found employment as a drummer in Greenwich Village. In 1938, he joined Bunny Berigan's band, and in 1942 he began performing with the up-and-coming Frank Sinatra, who asked Blowers to record with him. They performed and recorded together regularly until the 1950s. In 1947, he opened Club Blowers in the Queens district.

In addition to Sinatra, Blowers performed with Louis Armstrong, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Sidney Bechet, Eddie Fisher, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, and Mel Tormé.

Blowers also performed in the They Might Be Giants video, "They'll Need a Crane" from the album, Lincoln.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 21, 1911, Died July 17, 2006

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums

= 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 MS-023740[d] [DAHR Test] 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late April 1935 Don't wake my heart Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Dick Wharton Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-023738 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early June 1936 Now it can be told Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-023739 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early June 1936 Flat foot floogie Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor ; Bernie Mackey Jazz/dance band and vocal soloists instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-023740 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early June 1936 Cowboy from Brooklyn Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Dick Wharton Jazz/dance band and male vocal solos instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-023741 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early June 1936 Pied piper Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-023742 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early June 1936 Wearin' of the green Bunny Berigan Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-024474 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1838 Small fry Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor Jazz/dance band and female vocal solos instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-024475 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1838 Hi yo, Silver Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor ; Dick Wharton Jazz/dance band and vocal soloists instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-024476 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1838 I used to be color blind Bunny Berigan Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-024477 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1838 Sing, you sinners Bunny Berigan Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D5VB-0821 10-in. 11/5/1945 Amor Dick Leibert Instrumental ensemble, with oboe solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D5VB-0822 10-in. 11/5/1945 The sweetheart of Sigma Chi Dick Leibert Instrumental ensemble, with clarinet solo instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 68132 10-in. 9/20/1940 When you got to go you got to go Bob Pope Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 68133 10-in. 9/20/1940 That's all I ask of you Bob Pope Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 68134 10-in. 9/20/1940 I want my Lagniappe Bob Pope Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 68135 10-in. 9/20/1940 Stop teasing me Bob Pope Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71482 10-in. 11/3/1943 Cow cow boogie (Cuma-ti-yi-yi-ay) Ella Fitzgerald ; Ink Spots instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 72404 10-in. 10/4/1944 Lover man (oh, where can you be?) Billie Holiday instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 72405 10-in. 10/4/1944 No more Billie Holiday instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 72692 10-in. 1/14/1945 Jodie man Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 72693 10-in. 1/14/1945 I wonder-1 Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 72933 10-in. 6/14/1945 Lady be good-1 Eddie Condon Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 72934 10-in. 6/14/1945 Swanee-2 Eddie Condon Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 74030 8/6/1947 Aunt Hagar's blues Eddie Condon Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 74031 8/6/1947 Down among the sheltering palms Eddie Condon Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 74032 8/6/1947 Rose of the Rio Grande Eddie Condon Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 74033 8/6/1947 Ida, sweet as apple cider Eddie Condon Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 75227 9/6/1949 That lucky old sun Louis Armstrong ; Gordon Jenkins and his Chorus and Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 75228 9/6/1949 Blueberry hill-1 Louis Armstrong ; Gordon Jenkins and his Chorus and Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76426 5/29/1950 I'm forever blowing bubbles Gordon Jenkins ; Artie Shaw instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76427 5/29/1950 You're mine, you! Gordon Jenkins ; Artie Shaw instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76528 6/26/1950 La vie en rose Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76529 6/26/1950 C' est si bon Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76662 7/19/1950 Three little words Bill Darnell instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76663 7/19/1950 Pink champagne Bill Darnell instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76664 7/19/1950 Well, oh well Bill Darnell instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76750 8/25/1950 Dream a little dream on me Louis Armstrong ; Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76751 8/25/1950 Can anyone explain Louis Armstrong ; Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76789 8/31/1950 Sit down you're rocking the boat Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76790 8/31/1950 That's what the man said Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81214 6/26/1951 Mixed emotions Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81215 6/26/1951 Smooth sailing Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81216 6/26/1951 Come on a-my house Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81281 7/13/1951 Castle rock Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81282 7/13/1951 Aboard the sentimental train Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81287 7/18/1951 I don't want to make a change Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81288 7/18/1951 There never was a baby like my baby Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81289 7/18/1951 Give a little, get a little Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81300 7/23/1951 The morning side of the mountain Arthur Prysock instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81301 7/23/1951 Blue velvet Arthur Prysock instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81302 7/23/1951 The love of a gypsy Arthur Prysock instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81303 7/23/1951 A man ain't supposed to cry Arthur Prysock instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81357 8/6/1951 Lemme go Tamara Hayes instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81358 8/6/1951 Dreamy melody Tamara Hayes instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81359 8/6/1951 I got it bad Tamara Hayes instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81360 8/6/1951 The day isn't long enough Tamara Hayes instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81394 8/14/1951 untitled original Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81395 8/14/1951 Kissing bug boogie Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81396 8/14/1951 Slick chick on the sly Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 82732 4/23/1952 I waited a little too long Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Trudy Richards instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 82733 4/23/1952 I may hate myself in the morning Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Trudy Richards instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 82734 4/23/1952 Trav'lin' (All alone)-1 Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84140 3/10/1953 Let's go down to the tavern Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84141 3/10/1953 Red top Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84142 3/10/1953 Accent on youth Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84143 3/10/1953 Glad rag doll Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84481 5/11/1953 I wanna know Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84482 5/11/1953 Till the moon turns green Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84483 5/11/1953 The girl that I marry Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86570 7/13/1954 (Who's the guy with) The mink bow tie Johnny Long Orchestra ; Art Lund instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86571 7/13/1954 Those Texas women Johnny Long Orchestra ; Art Lund instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86572 7/13/1954 Sidetracked Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86573 7/13/1954 Give, give, give Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86590 7/19/1954 Sally May Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86591 7/19/1954 Say hey Willie Mays Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86592 7/19/1954 Pussy footin' (Back to me) Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86593 7/19/1954 Flo the all American flirt-1 Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Signature SRC 108 10-in. 2/12/1945 Sugar Yank Lawson Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Signature SRC 109 10-in. 2/12/1945 Sensation rag Yank Lawson Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 12SRC101 12-in. 2/12/1945 Davenport blues Yank Lawson Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca DLA 430 10-in. 7/13/1936 A star fell out of heaven Ben Bernie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca DLA 431 10-in. 7/13/1936 Am I asking too much? Ben Bernie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca DLA 432 10-in. 7/13/1936 Long ago and far away Ben Bernie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca DLA 433 10-in. 7/13/1936 San Francisco Ben Bernie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca DLA 434 10-in. 7/13/1936 It's like reaching for the moon Ben Bernie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca DLA 435 10-in. 7/13/1936 When did you leave heaven? Ben Bernie Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Signature S-7 10-in. 12/7/1944 Wang wang blues Yank Lawson and his Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Signature S-8 10-in. 12/7/1944 Stumbling Yank Lawson and his Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Signature S-9 10-in. 12/7/1944 That's a plenty Yank Lawson and his Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Signature S-12 1944 Rockin' chair Yank Lawson and his Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Signature S-13 1944 Clarinet blues (Double clarinet) Yank Lawson and his Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Signature S-14 1944 Wolverine blues Yank Lawson and his Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Signature S-15 1944 Sunday Yank Lawson and his Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 12SRC100 12-in. 2/12/1945 Lady be good Yank Lawson Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Blowers, Johnny," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/304724.

Blowers, Johnny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/304724.

"Blowers, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/304724

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