Ulysses Livingston

Ulysses Livingston (January 29, 1912, Bristol, Tennessee - October 7, 1988, Los Angeles) was an American jazz guitarist and bass guitarist.

Livingston's career in music began in the band of Horace Henderson as a roadie (or, as Henderson called them, "valet"). Prior to this he had played in the band of the West Virginia State College. After his period with Henderson he played in carnival bands on traveling road shows. In the middle of the 1930s he began to get jazz gigs with Lil Armstrong, Frankie Newton, Sammy Price, Coleman Hawkins, and Benny Carter. After moving to New York City, he accompanied Ella Fitzgerald on tour and on record. He served briefly in the military during World War II, but returned to jazz playing on the West Coast in 1943. He played with Cee Pee Johnson in Hawaii in 1947.

Alongside his guitar playing, Livingston also sang with the Spirits of Rhythm, and led a group called the Four Blazes. From the 1950s he did freelance work with West Coast jazz musicians and also became active as a record producer. In the 1970s he took up electric bass alongside the guitar, and recorded with both instruments.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 29, 1912 (Bristol), Died October 7, 1988

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939 - 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 52 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 28874 10-in. 10/15/1940 St. Louis blues Benny Carter All Star Orchestra ; Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia 28875 10-in. 10/15/1940 Loveless love Benny Carter All Star Orchestra ; Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65756 10-in. 6/8/1939 Come easy, go easy Rosetta Howard instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65757 10-in. 6/8/1939 My blues is like whiskey Rosetta Howard instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65758 10-in. 6/8/1939 The jive is here Rosetta Howard instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65759 10-in. 6/8/1939 My downfall Rosetta Howard instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 65760 10-in. 6/8/1939 Hog-wild blues Rosetta Howard instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 66245 10-in. 8/30/1939 You ain't had no blues Blue Lu Barker instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 66246 10-in. 8/30/1939 Marked woman Blue Lu Barker instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 66247 10-in. 8/30/1939 Midnight blues Blue Lu Barker instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 66248 10-in. 8/30/1939 Down in the dumps Blue Lu Barker instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 66764 10-in. 10/13/1939 Cheatin' on me Helen Proctor instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 66765 10-in. 10/13/1939 Let's call it a day Helen Proctor instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 66766 10-in. 10/13/1939 Take me along with you Helen Proctor instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 66767 10-in. 10/13/1939 Blues at midnight Helen Proctor instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 67781 10-in. 5/20/1940 Night hop Benny Carter Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 67782 10-in. 5/20/1940 Pom pom Benny Carter Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 67783 10-in. 5/20/1940 O.K. for baby Benny Carter Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 67784 10-in. 5/20/1940 Serenade to a sarong Benny Carter Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68146 10-in. 9/25/1940 Five o'clock whistle Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68147 10-in. 9/25/1940 So long Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68148 10-in. 9/25/1940 Louisville, Ky Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68329 10-in. 11/8/1940 Taking a chance on love Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68330 10-in. 11/8/1940 Cabin in the sky Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 68331 10-in. 11/8/1940 I'm the lonesomest gal in town Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 1-25 of 52 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Livingston, Ulysses," accessed March 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/327686.

Livingston, Ulysses. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/327686.

"Livingston, Ulysses." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/327686

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