Delta Rhythm Boys

The Delta Rhythm Boys was an American vocal group active from 1934 to 1987.

The group was formed at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma, in 1934 by Carl Jones, Traverse Crawford, Otha Lee Gaines, and Kelsey Pharr. They moved to Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1936 and worked there under Frederick Hall as the Frederick Hall Quintet and the New Orleans Quintet.

They performed on radio programs such as Amos and Andy and The Joan Davis Show, and performed on Broadway in the shows Sing Out the News and Hot Mikado. The group appeared extensively in 15 films. They resettled permanently in Europe in 1956.

Lee Gaines died of cancer in Helsinki, Finland on July 15, 1987. At Gaines's funeral (on July 22, 1987), Hugh Bryant collapsed while performing, and died, apparently from a heart attack.

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1934, Died Ceased 1987

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1960

Roles Represented in DAHR: Vocal group

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 112 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D7VB-0446 10-in. 1/30/1947 Bye, bye, alibi baby Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0447 10-in. 1/30/1947 Jenny kissed me Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0448 10-in. 1/30/1947 Hey, John! (Keep your glasses on) Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0449 10-in. 1/30/1947 I'm awfully strong for you Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0520 10-in. 4/24/1947 Take the A train Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0521 10-in. 4/24/1947 St. Louis blues Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0522 10-in. 4/24/1947 One o'clock jump Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0523 10-in. 4/24/1947 Dry bones Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0543 10-in. 5/15/1947 East of the sun and west of the moon Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0544 10-in. 5/15/1947 September song Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0545 10-in. 5/15/1947 Ev'ry time we say goodbye Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0546 10-in. 5/15/1947 If you are but a dream Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0574 10-in. 6/29/1947 My future just passed Delta Rhythm Boys ; Frank Comstock Orchestra Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0575 10-in. 6/29/1947 Every so often Delta Rhythm Boys ; Frank Comstock Orchestra Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0576 10-in. 6/29/1947 Come in out of the rain Delta Rhythm Boys ; Frank Comstock Orchestra Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-0577 10-in. 6/29/1947 I'm in love with a gal (who's in love with a guy who looks like me but ain't) Delta Rhythm Boys ; Frank Comstock Orchestra Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-1954 10-in. 10/31/1947 Little small town girl (with the big town dreams) Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-1955 10-in. 10/31/1947 I can't tell a lie to myself Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-1956 10-in. 10/31/1947 Ain't gonna worry 'bout a soul Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal quartet with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-1957 10-in. 10/31/1947 Never underestimate the power of a woman Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal group with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-3097 10-in. 12/30/1947 My blue heaven Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal group with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Victor D7VB-3098 10-in. 12/30/1947 You're mine, you! Delta Rhythm Boys Male vocal group with instrumental ensemble Vocal group  
Decca 68502 10-in. 12/16/1940 Dry bones Delta Rhythm Boys Vocal group  
Decca 68503 10-in. 12/16/1940 Joshua fit the battle of Jericho Delta Rhythm Boys Vocal group  
Decca 68504 10-in. 12/16/1940 Gimme some skin Delta Rhythm Boys Vocal group  
(Results 1-25 of 112 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Delta Rhythm Boys," accessed March 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105030.

Delta Rhythm Boys. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105030.

"Delta Rhythm Boys." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105030

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.