Bunny Berigan

Roland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan (November 2, 1908 – June 2, 1942) was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader who rose to fame during the swing era. His career and influence were shortened by alcoholism, and ended with his early demise at the age of 33 from cirrhosis. Although he composed some jazz instrumentals such as "Chicken and Waffles" and "Blues", Berigan was best known for his virtuoso jazz trumpeting. His 1937 classic recording "I Can't Get Started" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1975.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 2, 1908 (Hilbert), Died June 2, 1942 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1931 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: director, vocalist, arranger, speaker

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 112 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
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	director
Victor	MS-102942	16-in. (33-1/3 rpm)	approximately early June 1936	Take my word	Bunny Berigan Studio Orchestra ; Peggy Lawson	Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist	director
Victor	MS-102943	16-in. (33-1/3 rpm)	approximately early June 1936	But definitely	Bunny Berigan Studio Orchestra ; Peggy Lawson	Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist	director
Victor	MS-102944	16-in. (33-1/3 rpm)	approximately early June 1936	On your toes	Bunny Berigan Studio Orchestra	Jazz/dance band and vocal soloists	director
Victor	MS-102945	16-in. (33-1/3 rpm)	approximately early June 1936	I can pull a rabbit out of a hat	Bunny Berigan Studio Orchestra	Jazz/dance band and vocal soloists	director
Victor	MS-102946	16-in. (33-1/3 rpm)	approximately early June 1936	You're not the kind	Bunny Berigan Studio Orchestra	Jazz/dance band and vocal soloists	director
Victor	BS-06590	10-in.	4/1/1937	You can't run away from love tonight	Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Carol Mackay	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-06591	10-in.	4/1/1937	'Cause my baby says it's so	Bunny Berigan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, director
Victor	BS-06592	10-in.	4/1/1937	Carelessly	Bunny Berigan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-06593	10-in.	4/1/1937	All dark people are light on their feet	Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ford Leary	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-010163	10-in.	5/13/1937	The first time I saw you	Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ford Leary	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-010164	10-in.	5/13/1937	Love is a merry go round	Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Sue Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-010165	10-in.	5/13/1937	The image of you	Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Sue Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-010166	10-in.	5/13/1937	I'm happy, darling, dancing with you	Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Sue Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-010167	10-in.	5/13/1937	Swanee River	Bunny Berigan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	arranger, director
Victor	BS-010597	10-in.	6/18/1937	All God's chillun got rhythm	Ruth Bradley ; Bunny Berigan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-010598	10-in.	6/18/1937	The lady from Fifth Avenue	Ruth Bradley ; Bunny Berigan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-010599	10-in.	6/18/1937	Let's have another cigarette	Ruth Bradley ; Bunny Berigan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-011119	10-in.	6/25/1937	Roses in December	Ruth Bradley ; Bunny Berigan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-011120	10-in.	6/25/1937	Mother Goose	Ruth Bradley ; Bunny Berigan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-011121	10-in.	6/25/1937	Frankie and Johnnie	Bunny Berigan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director
Victor	BS-011122	10-in.	6/25/1937	Mahogany Hall stomp	Bunny Berigan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director
Victor	BS-011673	10-in.	8/7/1937	Let 'er go	Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-011674	10-in.	8/7/1937	Turn on that red hot heat (Burn your blues away)	Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director
Victor	CS-011675	12-in.	8/7/1937	I can't get started	Bunny Berigan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, director

(Results 1-25 of 112 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Berigan, Bunny," accessed September 26, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/353004.

Berigan, Bunny. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/353004.

"Berigan, Bunny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 26 September 2023.