Jack Denny

Jack Denny (September 25, 1895 – September 15, 1950) was an American dance band leader during the pre-War years. He was born in the United States and started his musical career in Montreal, Quebec in 1920.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Denny led dance bands with a conventionally styled orchestra during the 1920s, playing at various venues, including the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Canada. In 1931, he relocated to New York City, where he played at the newly opened Waldorf-Astoria Hotel the following year. Denny's band quickly gained popularity among the high society clientele of the Waldorf-Astoria, prompting him to develop a sweet and marvelous sound that had no brass section. His arrangements were often complex and fast-paced, unique for a sweet band.

The Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra consisted of four saxes, three violins, bass, piano, and drums, with the pianist sometimes doubling on accordion. They recorded around two dozen titles for Victor in 1932 and appeared in the film "Moonlight and Pretzels" in 1933.

After leading his band for many years, Denny retired from the band business about six years before his death and worked as a salesman for the Baldwin Piano Company. He died on September 15, 1950, at the age of 54. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1895, Died 1950

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1922 - 1932

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, director, arranger, composer, conductor

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 132 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BRC-72262 10-in. 4/11/1932 Dream sweetheart Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72263 10-in. 4/11/1932 Night Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72275 10-in. 4/13/1932 Goodnight, my love Jack Denny ; June Pursell ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72276 10-in. 4/13/1932 We will always be sweethearts Jack Denny ; June Pursell ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72277 10-in. 4/13/1932 Buenas noches, amor mío Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BRC-72278 10-in. 4/13/1932 Siempre hemos de querernos Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BRC-72541 10-in. 5/4/1932 Just a-wearyin' for you Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BRC-72542 10-in. 5/4/1932 Sharing (My love for you) Jack Denny ; June Pursell ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72543 10-in. 5/4/1932 Lazy day Jack Denny ; June Pursell ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72554 10-in. 5/9/1932 Hello, sweetheart, hello! Jack Denny ; Frank Luther ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72555 10-in. 5/9/1932 Why can't this go on forever Jack Denny ; Frank Luther ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72556 10-in. 5/9/1932 Why can't this go on forever Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-73945 10-in. 11/11/1932 I've told ev'ry little star Jack Denny ; Paul Small ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-73946 10-in. 11/11/1932 The song is you Jack Denny ; Paul Small ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor LBS-73947 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 11/11/1932 The song is you Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BS-73948 10-in. 11/11/1932 The song is you Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor LBS-73949 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 11/11/1932 I've told every little star Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BS-73950 10-in. 11/11/1932 I've told every little star Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BS-73951 10-in. 11/11/1932 My river home Jack Denny ; Paul Small ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor LBS-73952 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 11/14/1932 My river home Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BS-73953 10-in. 11/14/1932 My river home Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BS-73954 10-in. 11/14/1932 That's all that matters to me Jack Denny ; Paul Small ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor LBS-73955 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 11/14/1932 That's all that matters Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BS-73956 10-in. 11/14/1932 That's all that matters to me Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BS-74734 10-in. 12/28/1932 Twenty million people Jack Denny ; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
(Results 1-25 of 132 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Denny, Jack," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111151.

Denny, Jack. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111151.

"Denny, Jack." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111151

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