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Bob McCracken

Robert Edward McCracken (November 23, 1904 – July 4, 1972) was an American jazz clarinetist.

He was born in Dallas, Texas, United States. Early in his career, McCracken played with local Dallas musicians, including Jack Teagarden, Eddie Whitley, the Southern Trumpeters, and Doc Ross's Jazz Bandits.

He lived in New York City from 1926–28, where he worked with Johnnie Johnston and Willard Robison's Levee Loungers. After returning to Dallas, he worked with Ligon Smith, Joe Gill, and Ross again, then toured with Joe Venuti and Frankie Trumbauer, before moving to Chicago in 1939. There he played with Bud Freeman (1939–40), Jimmy McPartland, Wingy Manone, Benny Goodman (1941), Russ Morgan, and Wayne King. He substituted for Barney Bigard in the Louis Armstrong All-Stars international tour in 1952–53. He then toured internationally with Kid Ory and Red Allen throughout the 1950s.

During his later years in Los Angeles, McCracken played in several Dixieland revival groups, working with Ben Pollack, Pete Daily, Wild Bill Davison, and again with Teagarden, Ory, and Allen. McCracken is on many recordings including Kid Ory's album, This Kid's the Greatest.

Jeff McCracken is his grandchild.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 23, 1904 (Dallas), Died July 4, 1972

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1952

Roles Represented in DAHR: saxophone

= 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
Decca 83439 9/22/1952 White Christmas Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, saxophone  
Decca 83440 9/22/1952 Winter wonderland Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, saxophone  
Decca 83441 9/22/1952 Chlo-e Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, saxophone  
Decca 83442 9/22/1952 Listen to the mocking bird Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, saxophone  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "McCracken, Bob," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/330606.

McCracken, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/330606.

"McCracken, Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/330606

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