Jimmy Harrison

James Henry Harrison (October 17, 1900, Louisville, Kentucky – July 23, 1931, New York City) was an American jazz trombonist.

Harrison began on trombone at age 15, playing locally in the Toledo, Ohio area. He played semi-pro baseball, but chose music over a career in sports when he joined a traveling minstrel show in the late 1910s.

He led his own jazz ensemble in Atlantic City by 1919, and played in the bands of Charlie Johnson and Sam Wooding. He then moved to Detroit and played with Hank Duncan and Roland Smith. After returning to Toledo, he played gigs with June Clark and James P. Johnson, and followed this with a stint in New York City with Fess Williams.

In 1924, June Clark took over leadership of Harrison's ensemble, though he continued to perform in it. In 1925 he began working with Billy Fowler, where he remained for several years. He also played with Duke Ellington in the mid-1920s. Later in the decade Harrison played with Elmer Snowden and Fletcher Henderson. While on tour with Henderson in 1930, he took ill with a digestive ailment, and though he continued to play for several months with Chick Webb, he died of stomach cancer in 1931, aged 30.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 17, 1900 (Louisville), Died July 23, 1931 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1935

Roles Represented in DAHR: trombone, vocalist, 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 BVE-47530 10-in. 9/19/1928 Gettin' away from me Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-47531 10-in. 9/19/1928 The boy in the boat Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone, speaker  
Victor BVE-47532 10-in. 9/19/1928 Walk that thing Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor PBS-97017 10-in. 9/27/1935 Madhouse Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Columbia W143567 10-in. 3/2/1927 After you've gone Bessie Smith and her Band Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet instrumentalist, trombone  
Columbia W143568 10-in. 3/2/1927 Alexander's ragtime band Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet instrumentalist, trombone  
Columbia W143569 10-in. 3/2/1927 Muddy water Bessie Smith and her Band Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental sextet instrumentalist, trombone  
Columbia W143570 10-in. 3/2/1927 There'll be a hot time in the old town to-night Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet instrumentalist, trombone  
Columbia W151277 10-in. 2/5/1931 Sweet and hot Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh 73753 10-in. Nov. 1925 Down at the Razor Ball Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with cornet, trombone, and piano instrumentalist, trombone  
OKeh 73754 10-in. Nov. 1925 Mournful blues Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with cornet, trombone, and piano instrumentalist, trombone  
OKeh 73755 10-in. Nov. 1925 Georgia stockade blues Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with cornet, trombone, and piano instrumentalist, trombone  
OKeh W404566 10-in. 12/4/1930 Goodbye blues Chocolate Dandies Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
OKeh W404596 10-in. 12/30/1930 Cloudy skies Chocolate Dandies Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
OKeh W404597 10-in. 12/30/1930 Got another sweetie now Chocolate Dandies ; Jimmy Harrison Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, instrumentalist, trombone  
OKeh W404598 10-in. 12/30/1930 Bugle call rag Chocolate Dandies Jazz/dance band vocalist, instrumentalist, trombone  
OKeh W404599 10-in. 12/30/1930 Dee blues Chocolate Dandies Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Harrison, Jimmy," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100200.

Harrison, Jimmy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100200.

"Harrison, Jimmy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100200

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