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

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  
Decca 88061 1/21/1955 Big butter and egg man ; Stompin' at the Savoy ; When it's sleepy time down ; South (Opening theme) Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88062 1/21/1955 Old man Mose (2nd take) ; My bucket's got a hole in it (2nd take) ; 'S wonderful ; Big Mama's back in town ; Since I fell for you Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88063 1/21/1955 Rockin' chair ; Twelfth Street rag ; Muskrat ramble Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88064 1/21/1955 C'est si bon Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88065 1/21/1955 The Whiffenpoof song Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88066 1/21/1955 When you're smiling Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88067 1/21/1955 Medley: Shadrack ; When the Saints go marching in Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88068 1/21/1955 Someday you'll be sorry Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88069 1/21/1955 St. Louis blues ; The man I love Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88070 1/21/1955 Back o'town blues ; Old man Mose (first take) Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88071 1/21/1955 Big Mama's back in town ; Big butter and egg man Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88072 1/21/1955 Mop! Mop! Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88073 1/21/1955 When it's sleepy time down South (closing theme) Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101148 12/11/1956 If I could be with you Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101149 12/11/1956 Lazy river Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101150 12/11/1956 I can't give you anything but love Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101151 12/11/1956 On the sunny side of the street (see master 102618 below) Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101152 12/11/1956 I can't believe that you're in love with me Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101153 12/11/1956 Body and soul Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101154 12/12/1956 Mahogany Hall stomp Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101155 12/12/1956 When you're smiling Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101156 12/12/1956 Some of these days Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101157 12/12/1956 I surrender dear Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101158 12/12/1956 Georgia on my mind Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101159 12/12/1956 Exactly like you Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101168 12/12/1956 High society-3 Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101169 12/13/1956 Song of the islands Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101170 12/13/1956 That's my home Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101171 12/13/1956 Memories of you Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101172 12/13/1956 Them there eyes Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101173 12/14/1956 This younger generation Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101174 12/14/1956 In pursuit of happiness Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101175 1/23/1957 Hotter than that Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101176 1/23/1957 Gut bucket blues Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101177 1/23/1957 Weary blues Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101178 1/23/1957 Potato head blues Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101179 1/23/1957 Cornet chop suey Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101468 1/23/1957 Of all the wrongs you've done to me Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101469 1/24/1957 Two deuces Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101470 1/24/1957 Mandy make up your mind Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101476 1/24/1957 Wild man blues Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101477 1/24/1957 Gully low blues Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101478 1/24/1957 Everybody loves my baby Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101479 1/24/1957 Heebie jeebies Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101485 1/25/1957 King of the Zulus Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101486 1/25/1957 Froggie Moore (Frog-I-More rag) Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101487 1/25/1957 Georgia grind Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101488 1/25/1957 Snag it Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101489 1/25/1957 Dippermouth blues Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101490 1/25/1957 Canal Street blues Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101491 1/28/1957 (I'll be glad when you're dead) You rascal you Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101492 1/28/1957 Hobo you can't ride this train Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101493 1/28/1957 Knockin' a jug Louis Armstrong Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101494 1/28/1957 Dear old Southland-1 Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101495 1/28/1957 See see rider Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101496 1/28/1957 Reckless blues Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101497 1/28/1957 Trouble in mind Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101498 1/28/1957 Courthouse blues Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102616 1/21/1955 When it's sleepy time down South Louis Armstrong All-Stars instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102617 12/12/1956 Georgia on my mind-2 Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102618 12/11/1956 On the sunny side of the street Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102623 1/28/1957 Dear old Southland-1, 2 Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104258 2/4/1958 Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104259 2/4/1958 Down by the riverside Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104260 2/4/1958 Jonah and the whale Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104261 2/4/1958 This train Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104262 2/6/1958 Shadrack Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104263 2/6/1958 Didn't it rain Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104264 2/6/1958 On my way Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104265 2/6/1958 Rock my soul Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104266 2/7/1958 Swing low sweet chariot Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104267 2/7/1958 Go down Moses Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104268 2/7/1958 Ezekiel saw 'de wheel Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104269 2/7/1958 Sometimes I feel like a motherless child Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104555 12/12/1956 When you're smiling-1 Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115920 3/23/1965 Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115921 3/23/1965 South Rampart Street parade The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115922 3/23/1965 Exactly like you The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115923 3/23/1965 Dear heart The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115924 3/23/1965 Bourbon Street blues The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115925 3/23/1965 Struttin' with some barbecue The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115926 3/23/1965 China boy The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115927 3/23/1965 Opening theme (Do you know what it means ..) The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115928 3/23/1965 High society The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115929 3/24/1965 Hello, Dolly! The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115930 3/24/1965 Fiddler on the roof The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115931 3/24/1965 More The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115932 3/24/1965 I will wait for you The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115933 3/24/1965 Red roses for a blue lady The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115934 3/24/1965 Charade The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 115935 3/24/1965 Closing theme (Do you know what it means .. ) The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116663 10/20/1965 Baubles, bangles and beads The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116664 10/20/1965 I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116665 10/20/1965 King of the road The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116666 10/20/1965 Yvette The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116667 10/20/1965 A taste of honey The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116668 10/20/1965 Alexander's ragtime band The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116669 10/21/1965 L-O-V-E The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116670 10/21/1965 Clarinet marmalade The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116671 10/21/1965 Everybody loves my baby The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116672 10/21/1965 Indiana (Back home again in Indiana) The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116673 10/21/1965 My kind of town The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116674 10/21/1965 If I could be with you one hour tonight The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 116698 10/21/1965 A taste of honey The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117384 5/17/1966 That's a plenty-3 The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117385 5/17/1966 Down by the riverside-3 The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117386 5/17/1966 Lazy river-3 The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117387 5/17/1966 Them there eyes-3 The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117388 5/17/1966 I've found a new baby The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117389 5/17/1966 Whispering The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117390 5/17/1966 Sunrise, sunset-1 The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117391 5/17/1966 If I had you-2 The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117392 5/17/1966 The shadow of your smile-1 The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117393 5/17/1966 Who's sorry now-1 The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117394 5/17/1966 Michelle-3 The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 117395 5/17/1966 Mame-3 The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118492 1/24/1967 Stumbling The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118493 1/24/1967 Thoroughly Modern Millie The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118494 1/24/1967 The tapioca The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118495 1/24/1967 Japanese sandman The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118496 1/24/1967 Do it again The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118497 1/24/1967 Baby face The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118498 1/25/1967 Jimmy The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118499 1/25/1967 Charmaine The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118500 1/25/1967 Poor butterfly The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118501 1/25/1967 I can't believe that you're in love with me The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118502 1/25/1967 Jazz baby The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118503 1/25/1967 Rose of Washington Square The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118504 1/25/1967 The Jewish wedding song The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 118505 1/25/1967 Bonjour Madame The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119573 11/13/1967 Cabaret The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119574 11/13/1967 Don't sleep in the subway The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119575 11/13/1967 Willkommen The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119576 11/13/1967 Hellzapoppin The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119577 11/13/1967 Dancing on the streets The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119578 11/13/1967 Sunny The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119579 11/14/1967 Foolin' around The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119580 11/14/1967 More and more The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119581 11/14/1967 Smile The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119582 11/14/1967 Up, up and away The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119583 11/14/1967 Rosie The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119584 11/14/1967 I wonder who's kissing her now The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119762 1/5/1968 Just a closer walk with Thee The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119763 1/5/1968 Tin roof blues The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119764 1/5/1968 Midnight in Moscow The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119765 1/5/1968 The Third Man theme The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119766 1/5/1968 Washington Square The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119767 1/5/1968 Bill Bailey, won't you please come home The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119768 1/5/1968 [Unknown title(s)] The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119769 1/5/1968 Heartaches The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119770 1/5/1968 What's new? The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119771 1/5/1968 How come you do me like you do? The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119772 1/5/1968 Ace in the hole The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 119777 1/5/1968 Baby, won't you please come home? The Dukes of Dixieland instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8107 1/18/1955 Struttin' with some barbecue Louis Armstrong ; Gary Crosby instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8108 1/18/1955 Ko ko mo Louis Armstrong ; Gary Crosby instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8109 1/18/1955 Sincerely Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8110 1/18/1955 Pledging my love-1 Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8660 9/8/1955 Only you Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8661 9/8/1955 Christmas in New Orleans Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8662 9/8/1955 Moments to remember Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8663 9/8/1955 Christmas night in Harlem Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8668 9/9/1955 Easy street Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 8669 9/9/1955 Lazy bones Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, drums  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Deems, Barrett," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/311654.

Deems, Barrett. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/311654.

"Deems, Barrett." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.