Barrett Deems

Barrett Deems (March 1, 1914 – September 15, 1998) was an American swing drummer from Springfield, Illinois, United States. He worked in bands led by Jimmy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Red Norvo, and Muggsy Spanier.

In High Society, a 1956 film, performing drum solo during a scene on the back of the bus. Louis Armstrong and His All Stars play the song "Now You Has Jazz", the movie's star, Bing Crosby, introduces the band members, including Deems, who then performs a short drum solo.

Deems was married twice. He died of pneumonia in Chicago aged 84 in September 1998. He left behind his wife, Jane Johnson who is living as of 2022 and resides in Illinois.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 1, 1914 (Springfield), Died September 15, 1998 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939 - 1968

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 189 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 64950 10-in. 1/25/1939 Flip Joe Venuti and his Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 64951 10-in. 1/25/1939 Something Joe Venuti and his Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 64952 10-in. 1/25/1939 Flop Joe Venuti and his Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 64953 10-in. 1/25/1939 Nothing Joe Venuti and his Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86652 8/13/1954 Skokiaan, part 1 Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86653 8/13/1954 Skokiaan, part 2 Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86738 9/1/1954 Muskrat ramble Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86739 9/1/1954 Medley: Tenderly Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86740 9/1/1954 You'll never walk alone Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 87839 4/25/1955 Yeh! Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 87840 4/25/1955 Mm-Mm Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 87841 4/25/1955 Baby, your sleep is showing Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 87842 4/25/1955 Tin roof blues Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 87843 4/25/1955 Pretty little Missy Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88050 1/21/1955 When it's sleepy time down South ; (Back home again in) Indiana ; The gypsy Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88051 1/21/1955 Jeepers creepers ; Margie Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88052 1/21/1955 Tin roof blues Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88053 1/21/1955 My bucket's got a hole in it Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88054 1/21/1955 Rose room Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88055 1/21/1955 Me and Brother Bill Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88056 1/21/1955 Struttin' with some barbecue (Up a) Lazy river ; Old man Mose (false start) Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88057 1/21/1955 T'aint' what you do ; Lover come back to me Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88058 1/21/1955 Perdido Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88059 1/21/1955 Blues for bass Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88060 1/21/1955 Don't fence me in ; Basin Street blues ; When it's sleepy time down ; South (closing theme) Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 1-25 of 189 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Deems, Barrett," accessed April 15, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/311654.

Deems, Barrett. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/311654.

"Deems, Barrett." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 15 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/311654

External Sources

Wikipedia: Barrett Deems

Discogs: Barrett Deems

Allmusic: Barrett Deems

IMDb: Barrett Deems

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Deems, Barrett - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85076533

Wikidata: Barrett Deems - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q126611

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/14957988

MusicBrainz: Barrett Deems - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9fd2d24d-3829-4b5f-a9b4-88c134d56417

ISNI: 0000 0000 5513 3901 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000055133901

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