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Gus Mueller

Gustave "Gussie" Mueller (April 17, 1890 – December 16, 1965) was an early jazz clarinetist.

The New Orleans, Louisiana-born Mueller was a top clarinetist with Papa Jack Laine's bands in New Orleans before going to Chicago, Illinois with Tom Brown's band in early 1915. After serving in the Army in World War I he moved to California and joined the early Paul Whiteman Orchestra, with which he moved to New York City. He helped give the Whiteman band a touch of the Dixieland jazz style. One of the Whiteman Orchestra's early hit records, as well as one of the unfortunately few recordings where Mueller can be heard prominently, is Wang Wang Blues which Mueller dominates in a style similar to Larry Shields. Mueller also shares composer credit on "Wang Wang".

According to Whiteman, Mueller was reluctant to learning how to read music, for fear that it would impair his abilities as a "hot player". He left the Whiteman band in November 1920, saying "I jes' can't play that 'pretty music' that you all play. And you fellers can't never play blues worth a damn". Mueller returned to California to join his old friend Ray Lopez in the Abe Lyman Orchestra. Mueller stayed in the Los Angeles area and remained active as a musician well in to the 1940s, mainly performing with "Hillbilly" bands. He rejoins Whiteman in Capitol Record's Hollywood studios in 1945, for a recreation of the famous Wang-Wang Blues. On the record Mueller replicates in detail his phrases from the 1920 recording.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 17, 1890 (New Orleans), Died December 16, 1965 (Hollywood)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1920 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, alto saxophone, clarinet, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 29 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-24390 10-in. 8/9/1920 The Japanese sandman Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor C-24391 12-in. 8/9/1920 Avalon Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor B-24392 10-in. 8/9/1920 Wang-wang blues Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band composer, instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-24392 10-in. 9/22/1927 Wang wang blues Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-24393 10-in. 8/9/1920 Whispering Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor C-24394 12-in. 8/19/1920 Best ever medley Ambassador Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor B-24400 10-in. 8/23/1920 Anytime, anyday, anywhere Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor C-24545 12-in. 10/22/1920 Honolulu eyes Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor B-24545 10-in. 11/3/1920 Honolulu eyes Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band, with whistling instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor B-24546 10-in. 10/22/1920 Darling Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor C-24556 12-in. 10/28/1920 Grieving for you Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor C-24557 12-in. 10/28/1920 My wonder girl Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor C-24560 12-in. 11/3/1920 Just snap your fingers at care Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor PBVE-42079 10-in. 3/12/1928 Wang-wang blues Sam-Ku-West Harmony Boys Instrumental ensemble (Hawaiian) composer  
Victor BVE-49673 10-in. 1/22/1929 Wang-wang blues Ben's Bad Boys ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 79839 10-in. 5/12/1921 Wang wang blues Van and Schenck Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 79963 10-in. 8/18/1921 Wang wang blues Ted Lewis and his Band Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 143638 10-in. 3/23/1927 The wang wang blues Dixie Stompers Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W146163 10-in. 4/20/1928 The wang wang blues Red Mountain Trio Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo and talking composer  
Columbia W148541 10-in. 5/16/1929 The wang wang blues Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
OKeh S-7816 10-in. Mar. 1921 Wang wang blues Black Devil Orchestra ; J. Tim Brymn Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-70085 10-in. Aug. 1921 Wang wang blues Horace Davis ; Sam Moore Octo-chorda and guitar duet composer  
OKeh S-70142 10-in. Sept. 1921 Wang wang blues Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-70172 10-in. Sept. 1921 Wang wang blues Norfolk Jazz Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied composer  
OKeh W80731 10-in. 4/14/1927 The wang wang blues The Goofus Five Jazz/dance ensemble composer  
(Results 1-25 of 29 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mueller, Gus," accessed March 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/114606.

Mueller, Gus. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/114606.

"Mueller, Gus." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/114606

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