Ulysses Livingston

Ulysses Livingston (January 29, 1912, Bristol, Tennessee - October 7, 1988, Los Angeles) was an American jazz guitarist and bass guitarist.

Livingston's career in music began in the band of Horace Henderson as a roadie (or, as Henderson called them, "valet"). Prior to this he had played in the band of the West Virginia State College. After his period with Henderson he played in carnival bands on traveling road shows. In the middle of the 1930s he began to get jazz gigs with Lil Armstrong, Frankie Newton, Sammy Price, Coleman Hawkins, and Benny Carter. After moving to New York City, he accompanied Ella Fitzgerald on tour and on record. He served briefly in the military during World War II, but returned to jazz playing on the West Coast in 1943. He played with Cee Pee Johnson in Hawaii in 1947.

Alongside his guitar playing, Livingston also sang with the Spirits of Rhythm, and led a group called the Four Blazes. From the 1950s he did freelance work with West Coast jazz musicians and also became active as a record producer. In the 1970s he took up electric bass alongside the guitar, and recorded with both instruments.

Birth and Death Data: Born Bristol (city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States), Died October 7, 1988

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939 - 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 75 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 67783 10-in. 5/20/1940 O.K. for baby Benny Carter Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 67784 10-in. 5/20/1940 Serenade to a sarong Benny Carter Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68146 10-in. 9/25/1940 Five o'clock whistle Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68147 10-in. 9/25/1940 So long Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68148 10-in. 9/25/1940 Louisville, Ky Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68329 10-in. 11/8/1940 Taking a chance on love Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68330 10-in. 11/8/1940 Cabin in the sky Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68331 10-in. 11/8/1940 I'm the lonesomest gal in town Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68558 10-in. 1/8/1941 Three little words Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68559 10-in. 1/8/1941 Hello Ma, I done it again Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68560 10-in. 1/8/1941 Wishful thinking Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68561 10-in. 1/8/1941 The one I love (belongs to somebody else) Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68562 10-in. 1/8/1941 The muffin mac Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68894 10-in. 3/31/1941 Keep cool, fool Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68895 10-in. 3/31/1941 No nothing Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68896 10-in. 3/31/1941 My man Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 69784 10-in. 10/6/1941 Jim Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 69785 10-in. 10/6/1941 This love of mine Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 69875 10-in. 10/28/1941 Somebody nobody loves Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 69876 10-in. 10/28/1941 You don't know what love is Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 69905 10-in. 11/5/1941 Who are you? Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 69906 10-in. 11/5/1941 I'm thrilled Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 69907 10-in. 11/5/1941 Make love to me Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Master WM1046 10-in. 6/29/1939 Plymouth Rock Benny Carter Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Master WM1047 10-in. 6/29/1939 Savoy stampede Benny Carter Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 26-50 of 75 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Livingston, Ulysses," accessed January 7, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/327686.

Livingston, Ulysses. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 7, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/327686.

"Livingston, Ulysses." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 7 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/327686

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