Beverly (Beverley) Peer

Beverly Peer (October 7, 1912 – January 16, 1997) was an American jazz double-bassist.

Peer played piano professionally early in his career before switching to bass. He worked with Chick Webb from 1936 to 1939 and continued to play in the orchestra under the direction of Ella Fitzgerald. In 1942 he joined Sabby Lewis's orchestra. He also worked extensively as an accompanist for vocalists such as Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne, Johnny Mathis, and Barbra Streisand. In the 1950s and 1960s he worked with pianists Barbara Carroll and Ellis Larkins, and worked with Bobby Short from the 1970s into the 1990s, often performing at the Cafe Carlyle in New York City.

He can be heard on Ella Fitzgerald's release "Ella Sings, Chick Swings" as well as other recordings of Ella and the Chick Webb Orchestra.

Aside from music, late in his career Peer also had cameo roles in films such as Hannah and Her Sisters and For Love or Money.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 7, 1912 (New York City), Died January 16, 1997

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1956

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 (Results 26-50 of 181 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 62213 10-in. 5/24/1937 All or nothing at all Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62214 10-in. 5/24/1937 If you ever should leave Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62215 10-in. 5/24/1937 Everyone's wrong but me Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62216 10-in. 5/24/1937 Deep in the heart of South Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62618 10-in. 9/21/1937 In a little Spanish town Chick Webb and his Little Chicks instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62619 10-in. 9/21/1937 I got rhythm Chick Webb and his Little Chicks instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62620 10-in. 9/21/1937 I ain't got nobody Chick Webb and his Little Chicks instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62725 10-in. 10/27/1937 Just a simple melody Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62726 10-in. 10/27/1937 I got a guy Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62728 10-in. 10/27/1937 Holiday in Harlem Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62737 10-in. 11/1/1937 Sweet Sue, just you Chick Webb and his Little Chicks instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62738 10-in. 11/1/1937 Rock it for me Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62739 10-in. 11/1/1937 Squeeze me Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62740 10-in. 11/1/1937 Harlem conga Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62743 10-in. 11/2/1937 Hallelujah! Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62744 10-in. 11/2/1937 I want to be happy Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62886 12-in. 12/17/1937 I want to be happy-1 Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62887 10-in. 12/17/1937 The dipsy doodle-1 Chick Webb Orchestra ; Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62888 10-in. 12/17/1937 If dreams come true Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62889 12-in. 12/17/1937 Hallelujah! Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62890 10-in. 12/17/1937 Midnite in a madhouse (Midnite in Harlem) Chick Webb Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62896 10-in. 12/21/1937 Bei mir bist du schoen Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62897 10-in. 12/21/1937 It's my turn now Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 63225 10-in. 1/25/1938 It's wonderful Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 63226 10-in. 1/25/1938 I was doing all right Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 26-50 of 181 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Peer, Beverly (Beverley)," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/336956.

Peer, Beverly (Beverley). (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/336956.

"Peer, Beverly (Beverley)." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/336956

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