Johnny Blowers

John G. Blowers Jr. (April 21, 1911 – July 17, 2006) was an American drummer of the swing era. Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States, Blowers ("Blau-ers") learned to play percussion during his schooldays and began performing with the Bob Pope Band in 1936. Blowers attended college at Oglethorpe College, now Oglethorpe University.

In 1937, he travelled to New York City, where he found employment as a drummer in Greenwich Village. In 1938, he joined Bunny Berigan's band, and in 1942 he began performing with the up-and-coming Frank Sinatra, who asked Blowers to record with him. They performed and recorded together regularly until the 1950s. In 1947, he opened Club Blowers in the Queens district.

In addition to Sinatra, Blowers performed with Louis Armstrong, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Sidney Bechet, Eddie Fisher, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, and Mel Tormé.

Blowers also performed in the They Might Be Giants video, "They'll Need a Crane" from the album, Lincoln.

Birth and Death Data: Died July 17, 2006

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 103 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor MS-023738 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early June 1938 Now it can be told Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-023739 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early June 1938 Flat foot floogie Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor ; Bernie Mackey Jazz/dance band and vocal soloists instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-023740 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early June 1938 Cowboy from Brooklyn Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Dick Wharton Jazz/dance band and male vocal solos instrumentalist, drums  
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 instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-023742 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early June 1938 Wearin' of the green Bunny Berigan Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-024474 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1938 Small fry Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor Jazz/dance band and female vocal solos instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-024475 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1938 Hi yo, Silver Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor ; Dick Wharton Jazz/dance band and vocal soloists instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-024476 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1938 I used to be color blind Bunny Berigan Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-024477 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1938 Sing, you sinners Bunny Berigan Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor E4LB-3953 10-in. 4/15/1954 Happy anniversary Danny Mendelsohn Singers Vocal chorus, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor E4LB-3954 10-in. 4/15/1954 Happy birthday Danny Mendelsohn Singers Vocal chorus, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor E4LB-4705 10-in. 6/28/1954 I-yi Shorty Long Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor E4LB-4706 10-in. 6/28/1954 Cry cry darlin' Shorty Long Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D5VB-0821 10-in. 11/5/1945 Amor Dick Leibert Instrumental ensemble, with oboe solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D5VB-0822 10-in. 11/5/1945 The sweetheart of Sigma Chi Dick Leibert Instrumental ensemble, with clarinet solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D9VB-2132 10-in. 8/5/1949 Wooden soldier polka (Parade of the wooden soldiers) Joseph Biviano ; RCA Victor Accordion Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D9FB-2135 10-in. 8/5/1949 Vintergae kken (Snödröppen) Joseph Biviano Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 68132 10-in. 9/20/1940 When you got to go you got to go Bob Pope Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 68133 10-in. 9/20/1940 That's all I ask of you Bob Pope Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 68134 10-in. 9/20/1940 I want my Lagniappe Bob Pope Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 68135 10-in. 9/20/1940 Stop teasing me Bob Pope Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71482 10-in. 11/3/1943 Cow cow boogie (Cuma-ti-yi-yi-ay) Ella Fitzgerald ; Ink Spots instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 72404 10-in. 10/4/1944 Lover man (oh, where can you be?) Billie Holiday instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 72405 10-in. 10/4/1944 No more Billie Holiday instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 72692 10-in. 1/14/1945 Jodie man Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 1-25 of 103 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Blowers, Johnny," accessed January 3, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/304724.

Blowers, Johnny. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/304724.

"Blowers, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 3 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/304724

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