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Paul Whiteman

Paul Samuel Whiteman (March 28, 1890 – December 29, 1967) was an American bandleader, composer, orchestral director, and violinist.

As the leader of one of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s and early 1930s, Whiteman produced recordings that were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz". His most popular recordings include "Whispering", "Valencia", "Three O'Clock in the Morning", "In a Little Spanish Town", and "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers". Whiteman led a usually large ensemble and explored many styles of music, such as blending symphonic music and jazz, as in his debut of Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin.

Whiteman recorded many jazz and pop standards during his career, including "Wang Wang Blues", "Mississippi Mud", "Rhapsody in Blue", "Wonderful One", "Hot Lips (He's Got Hot Lips When He Plays Jazz)", "Mississippi Suite", "Grand Canyon Suite", and "Trav'lin' Light". He co-wrote the 1925 jazz classic "Flamin' Mamie". His popularity faded in the swing music era of the mid-1930s, and by the 1940s he was semi-retired from music. He experienced a revival and had a comeback in the 1950s with his own network television series, Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue, which ran for three seasons on ABC. He also hosted the 1954 ABC talent contest show On the Boardwalk with Paul Whiteman.

Whiteman's place in the history of early jazz is somewhat controversial. Detractors suggest that his ornately orchestrated music was jazz in name only, lacking the genre's improvisational and emotional depth, and co-opted the innovations of black musicians. Defenders note that Whiteman's fondness for jazz was genuine. He worked with black musicians as much as was feasible during an era of racial segregation. His bands included many of the era's most esteemed white musicians, and his groups handled jazz admirably as part of a larger repertoire.

Critic Scott Yanow declares that Whiteman's orchestra "did play very good jazz...His superior dance band used some of the most technically skilled musicians of the era in a versatile show that included everything from pop tunes and waltzes to semi-classical works and jazz. [...] Many of his recordings (particularly those with Beiderbecke) have been reissued numerous times and are more rewarding than his detractors would lead one to believe."

In his autobiography, Duke Ellington declared, "Paul Whiteman was known as the King of Jazz, and no one as yet has come near carrying that title with more certainty and dignity."

Birth and Death Data: Born March 28, 1891 (Denver), Died December 29, 1967 (Doylestown)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1920 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, director, composer, violin, songwriter, conductor, other, arranger, session supervisor, speaker, viola

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 859 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CVE-30174 12-in. 4/21/1927 Rhapsody in blue George Gershwin ; Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra and piano soloist leader  
Victor B-24390 10-in. 8/9/1920 The Japanese sandman Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor BVE-24390 10-in. 2/7/1928 The Japanese sandman Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor C-24391 12-in. 8/9/1920 Avalon Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Victor BVE-24391 10-in. 2/7/1928 Avalon Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor B-24392 10-in. 8/9/1920 Wang-wang blues Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor BVE-24392 10-in. 9/22/1927 Wang wang blues Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-24393 10-in. 8/9/1920 Whispering Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor BVE-24393 10-in. 2/7/1928 Whispering Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor C-24394 12-in. 8/19/1920 Best ever medley Ambassador Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor B-24400 10-in. 8/23/1920 Anytime, anyday, anywhere Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor C-24545 12-in. 10/22/1920 Honolulu eyes Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor B-24545 10-in. 11/3/1920 Honolulu eyes Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band, with whistling leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor B-24546 10-in. 10/22/1920 Darling Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor C-24556 12-in. 10/28/1920 Grieving for you Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor C-24557 12-in. 10/28/1920 My wonder girl Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, violin, leader  
Victor C-24560 12-in. 11/3/1920 Just snap your fingers at care Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor C-24582 12-in. 11/26/1920 Caresses Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor B-24583 10-in. 11/26/1920 12th Street rag Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor B-24807 10-in. 12/29/1920 Rosie Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor B-24808 10-in. 12/29/1920 I never knew (I could love anybody like I'm loving you) Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, viola  
Victor B-24821 10-in. 1/27/1921 Do you ever think of me? Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-24822 10-in. 1/27/1921 Bright eyes Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-24836 10-in. 2/1/1921 Love bird Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-24863 10-in. 2/17/1921 My mammy Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano duet leader  
(Results 1-25 of 859 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Whiteman, Paul," accessed March 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104378.

Whiteman, Paul. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104378.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104378

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