Ray Leatherwood

Ray Leatherwood (April 24, 1914 – January 29, 1996) was an American jazz double-bassist and session musician.

Leatherwood's career began in territory bands around Texas, including the Mustang Band. Late in the 1930s he worked with Joe Venuti, and in the following decade played in Bob Chester's and Tommy Dorsey's bands. During World War II he played in military bands in California, then played with Les Brown from 1947 into the next decade.

He worked extensively as a freelance studio musician in the 1950s and 1960s, primarily in jazz and pop music. He appeared on record with Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Julie London (including on the hit song "Cry Me a River"), and Sonny James. Late in his life he played with Dick Cary's Tuesday Night Friends. He appeared on over 120 recordings in the genre of jazz alone.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 24, 1914, Died January 29, 1996

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939 - 1956

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 133 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-040956 10-in. 10/12/1939 Love never went to college Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-040957 10-in. 10/12/1939 Aunt Hagar's blues Bob Chester Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-040958 10-in. 10/12/1939 My silent mood Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-040959 10-in. 10/12/1939 57th Street drag Bob Chester Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-040962 10-in. 10/13/1939 I thought about you Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-040963 10-in. 10/13/1939 After all Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-040964 10-in. 10/13/1939 Don't make me laugh Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-040965 10-in. 10/13/1939 Stars over the campus Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-044232 10-in. 11/21/1939 Baby, what else can I do? Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-044233 10-in. 11/21/1939 Russian lullaby Bob Chester Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-044234 10-in. 11/21/1939 Why go on pretending? Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-044235 10-in. 11/21/1939 In the heart of the dark Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-044545 10-in. 1/2/1940 I've got no strings Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-044546 10-in. 1/2/1940 Easy does it Bob Chester Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-044547 10-in. 1/2/1940 Make love with a guitar Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-044548 10-in. 1/2/1940 Turn on the old music box Bob Chester Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-047742 10-in. 3/4/1940 The octave jump Bob Chester Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-047743 10-in. 3/4/1940 Chester's choice Bob Chester Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-047744 10-in. 3/4/1940 You little heart-breaker you Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-047745 10-in. 3/4/1940 River, stay 'way from my door Stuart Allen ; Bob Chester Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-048740 10-in. 4/8/1940 They ought to write a book about you Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-048741 10-in. 4/8/1940 Secrets in the moonlight Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-048742 10-in. 4/8/1940 My wonderful one, let's dance Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-048743 10-in. 4/8/1940 We met each other in a dream Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bob Chester Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-050808 10-in. 5/17/1940 The moon won't talk Bob Chester Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 1-25 of 133 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Leatherwood, Ray," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112091.

Leatherwood, Ray. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112091.

"Leatherwood, Ray." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112091

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