Billy Banks

Billy Banks (c. 1908 – October 19, 1967, Tokyo, Japan) was an American jazz singer. Banks is most prominently remembered for being a successful female impersonator on record.

Banks recorded in 1932 with the Rhythmakers; an all-star, multi-racial jazz lineup made up of Red Allen on trumpet, Pee Wee Russell on clarinet, Tommy Dorsey on trombone, Joe Sullivan on piano, Zutty Singleton on drums, and Fats Waller, also on piano; most of the black musicians were from Luis Russell's retinue, while the white ones had been brought to the studio by producer Irving Mills. The vocals were once thought to have been performed by Una Mae Carlisle, but Banks is the actual vocalist.

Banks worked with Russell as a showman and vocalist, and later worked with Noble Sissle. He later performed in cabarets under Billy Rose, then toured Europe, Australia, and East Asia in the 1950s. One of his last recordings was done in Denmark in 1954 with Cy Laurie. Late in the 1950s, he relocated to Japan, and died there in Tokyo in 1967.

Birth and Death Data: Died October 19, 1967 (Tokyo)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1932 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, director

= 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 BRC-72560 10-in. 5/10/1932 The scat song Billy Banks Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, vocalist  
Victor BRC-72561 10-in. 5/10/1932 Mighty sweet Billy Banks Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, director  
Victor BRC-72562 10-in. 5/10/1932 Minnie the Moocher's weddin' day Billy Banks Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, vocalist  
Victor BS-73306 10-in. 8/18/1932 Oh! you sweet thing Billy Banks Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-73307 10-in. 8/18/1932 It don't mean a thing Billy Banks Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-73309 10-in. 8/18/1932 You wonderful thing Billy Banks Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BRC-Test-1128 10-in. 4/13/1932 Sleepytown down South Billy Banks Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Victor BRC-Test-1129 10-in. 4/13/1932 Dinah Billy Banks Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Brunswick B11768 10-in. 5/3/1932 Dinah Billy Banks ; Eddie Edinboro Washboard Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B11769 10-in. 5/3/1932 Nobody's sweetheart Billy Banks ; Eddie Edinboro Washboard Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B11770 10-in. 5/3/1932 Dream sweetheart Billy Banks ; Eddie Edinboro Washboard Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick B11771 10-in. 5/3/1932 Lawd, you made the night too long Billy Banks ; Eddie Edinboro Washboard Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Decca 60889 10-in. 3/11/1936 You can't live in Harlem Noble Sissle Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 60890 10-in. 3/11/1936 I wonder who made rhythm Noble Sissle Orchestra vocalist  
ARC 11718 10-in. 4/18/1932 Margie Billy Banks ; Rhythmakers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
ARC 11719 10-in. 4/18/1932 Spider crawl Billy Banks ; Rhythmakers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
ARC 11881 10-in. 5/23/1932 Who's sorry now Billy Banks ; Rhythmakers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
ARC 11882 10-in. 5/23/1932 Slow and easy Billy Banks ; Rhythmakers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
ARC 11883 10-in. 5/23/1932 Bald headed mama Billy Banks ; Rhythmakers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
ARC 12119 10-in. 7/26/1932 I'd do anything for you Billy Banks ; Rhythmakers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
ARC 12120 10-in. 7/26/1932 Mean old bed bug blues Billy Banks ; Rhythmakers ; Fats Waller Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
ARC 12121 10-in. 7/26/1932 Yellow dog blues (He's gone where the southern cross the yellow dog) Billy Banks ; Rhythmakers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
ARC 12122 10-in. 7/26/1932 Yes suh! Billy Banks ; Rhythmakers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
ARC 12181 10-in. 8/17/1932 Sentimental gentleman from Georgia Billy Banks ; Baron Lee and Blue Rhythm Boys Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Master M407 10-in. 4/16/1937 Characteristic blues Noble Sissle's Swingsters Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 29 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Banks, Billy," accessed December 15, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110396.

Banks, Billy. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 15, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110396.

"Banks, Billy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 15 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110396

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