Elmer Chambers

Dallas Elmer Chambers, also called Frog and Muffle Jaws Chambers (1897, Bayonne, New Jersey - ca. 1952, Jersey City, New Jersey) was an American jazz trumpeter.

Chambers played in marching bands while serving in World War I, where he met bandleader Sam Wooding. He played with Wooding in Atlantic City, Detroit, and New York City, but left his service before Wooding's tours abroad. In 1923 he began playing with Fletcher Henderson in both large and small ensembles, and played on recordings behind the blues singers Alberta Hunter, Rosa Henderson, Clara Smith, and Ida Cox. He played with Louis Armstrong, and recorded with him on sessions for Decca, Verve, and Paramount. While with Armstrong he played alongside Coleman Hawkins, Don Redman, Buster Bailey, and Joe Smith.

Chambers left Henderson in 1926 and played subsequently in the bands of Ellsworth Reynolds (1926), Billy Fowler (1926–27), and Russell Wooding (1930). He played in pit orchestras, in touring revues, and with Fats Waller, Sidney Bechet, and June Cole before going into semi-retirement in the 1930s.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1897 (Bayonne), Died 1952 (Jersey City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1924

Roles Represented in DAHR: cornet, trumpet

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 81183 10-in. 8/31/1923 I want my sweet daddy now Fletcher Henderson ; Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
Columbia 81184 10-in. 8/31/1923 Irresistible blues Fletcher Henderson ; Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
Columbia 81513 10-in. 1/31/1924 Chicago blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet  
Columbia 81514 10-in. 1/31/1924 31st Street blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet  
Columbia 140108 10-in. 10/15/1924 Death letter blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio instrumentalist, cornet  
Columbia 140109 10-in. 10/15/1924 Prescription for the blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio instrumentalist, cornet  
Decca 1406 10-in. May 1923 Down-hearted blues Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 1413 10-in. May 1923 Gulf coast blues Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Chambers, Elmer," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100812.

Chambers, Elmer. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100812.

"Chambers, Elmer." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100812

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