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Sonny Greer

William Alexander "Sonny" Greer (December 13, c. 1895 – March 23, 1982) was an American jazz drummer and vocalist, best known for his work with Duke Ellington.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 13, 1895 (Long Branch), Died March 23, 1982 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1946

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums, vocalist, maracas

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 201 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-39370 10-in. 10/26/1927 Creole love call Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-39371 10-in. 10/26/1927 Blues I love to sing Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-40155 10-in. 10/6/1927 Black and tan fantasie Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-40156 10-in. 10/6/1927 Washington wabble Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-41244 10-in. 12/19/1927 Harlem River quiver Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-41245 10-in. 12/19/1927 East St. Louis toodle-oo Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-41246 10-in. 12/19/1927 Blue bubbles Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-43502 10-in. 3/26/1928 Black beauty Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-43503 10-in. 3/26/1928 Jubilee stomp Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-43504 10-in. 3/26/1928 Got everything but you Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-47799 10-in. 10/30/1928 The mooche Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-48100 10-in. 10/30/1928 Santa Claus, bring my man back to me Hot Five [Ellington ensemble] ; Ozie Ware Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-48101 10-in. 10/30/1928 I done caught you blues Hot Five [Ellington ensemble] ; Ozie Ware Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-48102 10-in. 10/30/1928 I can't give you anything but love Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-48103 10-in. 10/30/1928 No papa no Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band (take 1); with female vocal solo (take 2) instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-48166 10-in. 11/15/1928 Bandanna babies Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-48167 10-in. 11/15/1928 Diga diga do Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-48168 10-in. 11/15/1928 I must have that man Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-48373 10-in. 2/18/1929 Japanese dream Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-48374 10-in. 2/18/1929 Harlemania Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor CVE-49007 12-in. 12/20/1928 St. Louis blues Warren Mills and his Blue Serenaders Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal chorus instrumentalist, drums  
Victor CVE-49008 10-in. 12/20/1928 Gems from Blackbirds of 1928 Warren Mills and his Blue Serenaders Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal chorus (takes 4-7); with male vocal solo (takes 1 and 2); unaccompanied (take 3) vocalist  
Victor BVE-49652 10-in. 1/16/1929 Flaming youth Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-49653 10-in. 1/16/1929 Saturday night function Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BVE-49654 10-in. 1/16/1929 High life Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 1-25 of 201 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Greer, Sonny," accessed March 30, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104570.

Greer, Sonny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 30, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104570.

"Greer, Sonny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 30 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104570

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