Louis Bacon

Louis Bacon (November 1, 1904, Louisville, Kentucky - December 8, 1967) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist.

Bacon's family moved to Chicago when he was a young child. After a short stint playing with Zinky Cohn in Michigan, he relocated to New York City in 1928, where he worked through 1938 with musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter, Duke Ellington, Bingie Madison, Bessie Smith, and Chick Webb. He contracted tuberculosis in 1938, resulting in a performance hiatus, but by early 1939 was playing with Benny Carter once more. Later that same year, he embarked on a tour of Europe with Willie Lewis; remaining there for two years, he recorded under his own name as well as with Lewis and Freddy Johnson. After his return to the US, he worked with Garvin Bushell, Cootie Williams, and Jesse Stone, but shortly after the end of World War II, he stopped playing once again due to persistent health problems.

He played trumpet again briefly in 1959-60, working in New York, and late in his career taught voice and sang with Wilbur De Paris.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 1, 1904 (Louisville), Died December 8, 1967 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 48 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-74822 10-in. 12/8/1932 I hate to leave you now Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with trumpet solo and male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-77199 10-in. 12/4/1933 Dear old Southland Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist  
Victor BS-77200 10-in. 12/4/1933 Awful sad Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-77201 10-in. 12/4/1933 Daybreak Express Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-80144 10-in. 1/9/1934 Delta serenade Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-80145 10-in. 1/9/1934 Stompy Jones Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-80149 10-in. 1/10/1934 Solitude Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-80150 10-in. 1/10/1934 Blue feeling Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Columbia W150131 10-in. 3/27/1930 Keep it to yourself Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, trumpet  
Columbia W150132 10-in. 3/27/1930 New Orleans hop scop blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, trumpet  
Brunswick E36433 10-in. 3/30/1931 I’m left with the blues in my heart Chick Webb Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Decca 60021 10-in. 10/3/1935 I'm in the mood for love Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60022 10-in. 10/3/1935 You're my lucky star Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60023 10-in. 10/3/1935 La cucaracha Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60024 10-in. 10/3/1935 Got a brand new suit Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60155 10-in. 11/21/1935 I've got my fingers crossed Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60156 10-in. 11/21/1935 Old man Mose (is dead)-1 Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60157 10-in. 11/21/1935 I'm shooting high Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60158 10-in. 11/21/1935 (Was I to blame for) Falling in love with you Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60227 10-in. 12/13/1935 Red sails in the sunset Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60228 10-in. 12/13/1935 On Treasure Island Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60249 10-in. 12/19/1935 Thanks a million Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60250 10-in. 12/19/1935 Shoe Shine Boy Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60251 10-in. 12/19/1935 Solitude Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60252 10-in. 12/19/1935 I hope Gabriel likes my music Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 1-25 of 48 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bacon, Louis," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107411.

Bacon, Louis. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107411.

"Bacon, Louis." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107411

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