Image Source: Wikipedia

Pee Wee Russell

Charles Ellsworth "Pee Wee" Russell (March 27, 1906 – February 15, 1969) was an American jazz musician. Early in his career he played clarinet and saxophones, but he eventually focused solely on clarinet.

With a highly individualistic and spontaneous clarinet style that "defied classification", Russell began his career playing traditional jazz, but throughout his career incorporated elements of newer developments such as swing, bebop, and free jazz. Writing in 1961, the poet Philip Larkin commented: "No one familiar with the characteristic excitement of his solos, their lurid, snuffling, asthmatic voicelessness, notes leant on till they split, and sudden passionate intensities, could deny the uniqueness of his contribution to jazz."

Birth and Death Data: Born Maplewood (city in Missouri, United States), Died February 15, 1969 (Alexandria (city in the state of Virginia, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: clarinet, tenor saxophone

Notes: Full name: Charles Ellsworth Russell

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 104 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-57145 10-in. 11/14/1929 Hello Lola Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57146 10-in. 11/14/1929 One hour Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BS-038291 10-in. 7/19/1939 I've found a new baby Bud Freeman ; Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BS-038292 10-in. 7/19/1939 Easy to get Bud Freeman ; Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BS-038293 10-in. 7/19/1939 China boy Bud Freeman ; Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BS-038294 10-in. 7/19/1939 The eel Bud Freeman ; Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia C1675 10-in. 11/16/1936 Mr. Ghost goes to town Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia C1676 10-in. 11/16/1936 Pennies from heaven Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia C1677 10-in. 11/16/1936 The goose hangs high Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia C1678 10-in. 11/16/1936 What will Santa Claus say? Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
OKeh W81413 10-in. 9/1/1927 My gal Sal Little Molers ; Miff Mole Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
OKeh W81415 10-in. 9/1/1927 The new twister Little Molers ; Miff Mole Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1078 10-in. 11/30/1935 Sweet sue, just you Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1079 10-in. 11/30/1935 I'm shooting high Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1080 10-in. 11/30/1935 I love you truly Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1081 10-in. 11/30/1935 I've got my fingers crossed Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1101 10-in. 2/28/1936 It's been so long Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1102 10-in. 2/28/1936 At the Dark Town Strutters' Ball Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1103 10-in. 2/28/1936 Dinah Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1104 10-in. 2/28/1936 Lazy river Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1105 10-in. 2/28/1936 Alice blue gown Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1106 10-in. 2/28/1936 Sing, sing, sing Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1111 10-in. 5/17/1936 Let's get together and swing Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1112 10-in. 5/17/1936 Cross patch Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
Brunswick LA1113 10-in. 5/17/1936 Swing me a lullaby Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet  
(Results 1-25 of 104 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Russell, Pee Wee," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103181.

Russell, Pee Wee. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103181.

"Russell, Pee Wee." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103181

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.