Floyd O'Brien

Floyd O'Brien (May 7, 1904 – November 26, 1968) was an American jazz trombonist.

He was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States. O'Brien first played in Chicago in the 1920s with the Austin High School Gang; later in the decade he played with Earl Fuller, Floyd Town, Charles Pierce, Thelma Terry, and Husk O'Hare. During 1930-31 he worked in a pit band at a theater in Des Moines, Iowa. He moved to New York City and played with Mal Hallett, Joe Venuti, Smith Ballew, Mike Durso (1933–34), Phil Harris (1935–39), Gene Krupa (1939–40), and Bob Crosby (1940–42).

In 1943, he relocated to Los Angeles and played with Eddie Miller, Bunk Johnson, Shorty Sherock, Jack Teagarden, and Wingy Manone. In 1948, he moved back to Chicago and there worked with Bud Freeman, Art Hodes and Danny Alvin. O'Brien had recorded with Freeman as early as 1928; other recordings include with Eddie Condon (1933 and later), Fats Waller, Mezz Mezzrow, George Wettling (1940), Charles LaVere (1944), Albert Nicholas (1959), and Smokey Stover. His lone session as a bandleader yielded two singles for Jump Records in 1945, which were also released under LaVere's name.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 7, 1904 (Chicago), Died November 26, 1968 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1933 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: trombone

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 118 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-84417 10-in. 9/28/1934 Serenade for a wealthy widow Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and talk instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-84418 10-in. 9/28/1934 How can you face me? Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and talk instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-84419 10-in. 9/28/1934 Sweetie pie Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-84420 10-in. 9/28/1934 Mandy Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-84421 10-in. 9/28/1934 Let's pretend there's a moon Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-84422 10-in. 9/28/1934 You're not the only oyster In the stew Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Columbia W265156 10-in. 10/10/1933 Blue interlude Chocolate Dandies instrumentalist, trombone  
Columbia W265157 10-in. 10/3/1933 I never knew-1 Chocolate Dandies instrumentalist, trombone  
Columbia W265158 10-in. 10/10/1933 Once upon a time-1 Chocolate Dandies instrumentalist, trombone  
Columbia W265159 10-in. 10/3/1933 Krazy kapers Chocolate Dandies instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 38844 10-in. 10/15/1934 You gotta give credit to love Johnnie Davis Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 38866 10-in. 10/22/1934 Don't stop me if you've heard it before Johnnie Davis Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 38867 10-in. 10/22/1934 Were you foolin'? Johnnie Davis Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 38868 10/22/1934 A hundred to one it's you Johnnie Davis Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 38869 10-in. 10/22/1934 Congratulate me Johnnie Davis Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 67059 10-in. 1/16/1940 I've found a new baby George Wettling's Chicago Rhythm Kings instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 67060 10-in. 1/16/1940 Bugle call rag George Wettling's Chicago Rhythm Kings instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 67061 10-in. 1/16/1940 I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate George Wettling's Chicago Rhythm Kings instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 67062 10-in. 1/16/1940 Darktown Strutters' Ball George Wettling's Chicago Rhythm Kings instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 69270 10-in. 5/29/1941 Do you care? Bob Crosby Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 69271 10-in. 5/29/1941 Will you still be mine? Bob Crosby Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 69272 10-in. 5/29/1941 You're a darlin' devil Bob Crosby Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 69273 10-in. 5/29/1941 Big Tom Bob Crosby Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 69449 10-in. 6/30/1941 It was only a dream Bob Crosby Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 69450 10-in. 6/30/1941 Elmer's tune Bob Crosby Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
(Results 1-25 of 118 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "O’Brien, Floyd," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100201.

O’Brien, Floyd. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100201.

"O’Brien, Floyd." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100201

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