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
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | director, vocalist | |
| 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 | director, arranger | |
| 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 | |
| Victor | CS-011676 | 12-in. | 8/7/1937 | The prisoner's song | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | CS-011701 | 12-in. | 8/21/1937 | Record of welcome to Harry [Henry] Hall of England—6 bands of talks by dance band leaders | Rudy Vallée | Re-recording: Talk | speaker | |
| Victor | BS-013201 | 10-in. | 8/18/1937 | Why talk about love? | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-013202 | 10-in. | 8/18/1937 | Caravan | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-013203 | 10-in. | 8/18/1937 | A study in brown | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-013329 | 10-in. | 9/3/1937 | Sweet Varsity Sue | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-013330 | 10-in. | 9/3/1937 | Gee, but it's great to meet a friend (From your home town) | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble | director | |
| Victor | BS-013331 | 10-in. | 9/3/1937 | Ebb tide | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-013332 | 10-in. | 9/3/1937 | Have you ever been in heaven? | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-013333 | 10-in. | 9/3/1937 | Mama, I wanna make rhythm | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, director | |
| Victor | BS-014652 | 10-in. | 10/7/1937 | I'd love to play a love scene (Opposite you) | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-014653 | 10-in. | 10/7/1937 | I want a new romance | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-014654 | 10-in. | 10/7/1937 | Miles apart | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-014655 | 10-in. | 10/7/1937 | A strange loneliness | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-014690 | 10-in. | 10/15/1937 | Sweet varsity Sue | Jerry Blaine ; Johnny McKeever ; Stream Line Rhythm | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-017765 | 10-in. | 12/23/1937 | In a little Spanish town ('Twas on a night like this) | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-017766 | 10-in. | 12/23/1937 | Black bottom | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-017767 | 10-in. | 12/23/1937 | Trees | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-017768 | 10-in. | 12/23/1937 | Russian lullaby | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-017769 | 10-in. | 12/23/1937 | Can't help lovin' dat man | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-018413 | 10-in. | 1/26/1938 | Piano tuner man | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-018414 | 10-in. | 1/26/1938 | Heigh-ho | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-018415 | 10-in. | 1/26/1938 | A serenade to the stars | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-018416 | 10-in. | 1/26/1938 | Outside of paradise | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-021168 | 10-in. | 3/15/1938 | Down stream | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-021169 | 10-in. | 3/15/1938 | Sophisticated swing | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-021170 | 10-in. | 3/15/1938 | Lovelight in the starlight | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-021174 | 10-in. | 3/16/1938 | Rinka tinka man | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-021175 | 10-in. | 3/16/1938 | An old straw hat | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-021176 | 10-in. | 3/16/1938 | I dance alone | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-022482 | 10-in. | 4/21/1938 | Never felt better, never had less | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-022483 | 10-in. | 4/21/1938 | I got a guy | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-022484 | 10-in. | 4/21/1938 | Moonshine over Kentucky | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-022485 | 10-in. | 4/21/1938 | 'Round the old deserted farm | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-022486 | 10-in. | 4/21/1938 | Azure | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-023288 | 10-in. | 5/26/1938 | Somewhere with somebody else | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Dick Wharton | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-023289 | 10-in. | 5/26/1938 | It's the little things that count | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-023290 | 10-in. | 5/26/1938 | Wacky dust | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-023291 | 10-in. | 5/26/1938 | The wearing of the green | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-023476 | 10-in. | 6/8/1938 | The Pied Piper | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-023477 | 10-in. | 6/8/1938 | Tonight will live | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Dick Wharton | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-023478 | 10-in. | 6/8/1938 | (A sky of blue, with you) And so forth | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-023479 | 10-in. | 6/8/1938 | (How to make love in) Ten easy lessons | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | MS-023738 | 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | approximately early June 1936 | Now it can be told | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor | Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist | director | |
| Victor | MS-023739 | 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | approximately early June 1936 | Flat foot floogie | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor ; Bernie Mackey | Jazz/dance band and vocal soloists | director | |
| Victor | MS-023740 | 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | approximately early June 1936 | Cowboy from Brooklyn | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Dick Wharton | Jazz/dance band and male vocal solos | director | |
| Victor | MS-023741 | 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | approximately early June 1936 | Pied piper | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor | Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist | director | |
| Victor | MS-023742 | 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | approximately early June 1936 | Wearin' of the green | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | MS-024474 | 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | approximately early July 1838 | Small fry | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor | Jazz/dance band and female vocal solos | director | |
| Victor | MS-024475 | 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | approximately early July 1838 | Hi yo, Silver | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor ; Dick Wharton | Jazz/dance band and vocal soloists | director | |
| Victor | MS-024476 | 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | approximately early July 1838 | I used to be color blind | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | MS-024477 | 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | approximately early July 1838 | Sing, you sinners | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-026870 | 10-in. | 9/13/1938 | When a prince of a fella meets a Cinderella | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Jayne Dover | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-026871 | 10-in. | 9/13/1938 | Livery stable blues | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-026872 | 10-in. | 9/13/1938 | Let this be a warning to you, baby | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Jayne Dover | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-026873 | 10-in. | 9/13/1938 | Why doesn't somebody tell me these things? | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-026874 | 10-in. | 9/13/1938 | High society | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-026875 | 10-in. | 9/13/1938 | Father, dear Father | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-027913 | 10-in. | 10/14/1938 | Simple and sweet | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-027914 | 10-in. | 10/14/1938 | Button, button (Who's got the button) | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-027915 | 10-in. | 10/14/1938 | I won't tell a soul I love you | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-027916 | 10-in. | 10/14/1938 | (Shango, shango, shangoree) Rockin' rollers' jubilee | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-030168 | 10-in. | 11/30/1938 | In a mist | Bunny Berigan and his Men | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-030169 | 10-in. | 11/30/1938 | Flashes | Bunny Berigan and his Men | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-030170 | 10-in. | 11/30/1938 | Davenport blues | Bunny Berigan and his Men | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-030171 | 10-in. | 11/30/1938 | Candlelights | Bunny Berigan and his Men | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-030300 | 10-in. | 11/22/1938 | Sobbin' blues | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-030301 | 10-in. | 11/22/1938 | I cried for you | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Kathleen Lane | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-030302 | 10-in. | 11/22/1938 | Jelly-roll blues | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-030303 | 10-in. | 11/22/1938 | 'Deed I do | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Kathleen Lane | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-030338 | 10-in. | 12/1/1938 | In the dark | Bunny Berigan and his Men | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-030339 | 10-in. | 12/1/1938 | Walkin' the dog | Bunny Berigan and his Men | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-035031 | 10-in. | 3/15/1939 | Patty cake, patty cake (Baker man) | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Kathleen Lane | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-035032 | 10-in. | 3/15/1939 | Jazz me blues | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-035033 | 10-in. | 3/15/1939 | Y' had it comin' to you | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Kathleen Lane | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director | |
| Victor | BS-035034 | 10-in. | 3/15/1939 | There'll be some changes made | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-035035 | 10-in. | 3/15/1939 | Little gates special | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-035036 | 10-in. | 3/15/1939 | Gangbusters' holiday | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-043925 | 10-in. | 11/28/1939 | Peg o' my heart | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-043926 | 10-in. | 11/28/1939 | Night song | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-043927 | 10-in. | 11/28/1939 | Ain't she sweet | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Victor | BS-043928 | 10-in. | 11/28/1939 | Ay-ay-ay | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director | |
| Columbia | W151604 | 10-in. | 6/15/1931 | At your command | Fred Rich Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | vocalist | |
| Decca | 60229 | 10-in. | 12/13/1935 | You took advantage of me | Bunny Berigan ; Blue Boys [Bunny Berigan ensemble] | director | ||
| Decca | 60230 | 10-in. | 12/13/1935 | Chicken and waffles | Bunny Berigan ; Blue Boys [Bunny Berigan ensemble] | director | ||
| Decca | 60231 | 10-in. | 12/13/1935 | I'm coming Virginia | Bunny Berigan ; Blue Boys [Bunny Berigan ensemble] | director | ||
| Decca | 60232 | 10-in. | 12/13/1935 | Blues | Bunny Berigan ; Blue Boys [Bunny Berigan ensemble] | director |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Berigan, Bunny," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/353004.
Berigan, Bunny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/353004.
"Berigan, Bunny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Berigan, Bunny, 1908-1942 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81131525
Wikidata: Bunny Berigan - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q491100
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/19864550
MusicBrainz: Bunny Berigan - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0d99a768-4878-4d40-a264-205e7fe5d20a
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