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Red Norvo

Red Norvo (born Kenneth Norville; March 31, 1908 – April 6, 1999) was an American musician, one of jazz's early vibraphonists, known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone as jazz instruments. His recordings included "Dance of the Octopus", "Bughouse", "Knockin' on Wood", "Congo Blues", and "Hole in the Wall".

Birth and Death Data: Born Beardstown (city in Cass County, Illinois), Died April 6, 1999 (Santa Monica (beachfront city in Los Angeles County, California, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1933 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: director, vibraphone, xylophone, piano, songwriter, vocalist

See Also: Norville, Kenneth

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 160 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-101132 10-in. 3/27/1936 The touch of your lips Red Norvo ; Stew Pletcher Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-101133 10-in. 3/27/1936 Will I ever know? Red Norvo ; Stew Pletcher Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-101134 10-in. 3/27/1936 I don't want to make history Red Norvo ; Stew Pletcher Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-101135 10-in. 3/27/1936 I hope Gabriel likes my music Red Norvo ; Stew Pletcher Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-101136 10-in. 3/27/1936 You Red Norvo ; Stew Pletcher Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-101137 10-in. 3/27/1936 You never looked so beautiful Red Norvo ; Stew Pletcher Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-027216 10-in. 9/23/1938 Jump jump's here Elisse Cooper ; Eddie De Lange Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble songwriter  
Victor E4LB-4610 10-in. 6/11/1954 All I wanna do Red Norvo director, vocalist, instrumentalist, vibraphone  
Victor E4LB-4612 10-in. 6/11/1954 "X" marks the hits Red Norvo director, vocalist, instrumentalist, vibraphone, songwriter  
Victor D7VB-0091 10-in. 1/24/1947 Up on atom Eric Siday Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, xylophone  
Victor D7VB-0092 10-in. 1/24/1947 Slightly Volga Eric Siday Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia CO16021 10-in. 9/26/1934 Old fashioned love Red Norvo Swing Septet Jazz/dance band director  
Columbia CO16022 10-in. 9/26/1934 I surrender, dear Red Norvo Swing Septet Jazz/dance band director  
Columbia COW16033 10-in. 10/4/1934 Tomboy Red Norvo Swing Septet Jazz/dance band director  
Columbia COW16034 10-in. 10/4/1934 The night is blue Red Norvo Swing Septet Jazz/dance band director  
Columbia CO16703 10-in. 1/25/1935 Honeysuckle rose Red Norvo Swing Octet Jazz/dance band director  
Columbia CO16709 10-in. 1/25/1935 With all my heart and soul Red Norvo Swing Octet Jazz/dance band director  
Columbia CO16710 10-in. 1/25/1935 Bughouse Red Norvo Swing Octet Jazz/dance band director  
Columbia CO16711 10-in. 1/25/1935 Blues in E flat Red Norvo Swing Octet Jazz/dance band director  
Columbia B23182 10-in. 6/30/1938 Put your heart in a song Mildred Bailey ; Red Norvo Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Columbia B23183 10-in. 6/30/1938 Wigwammin' Mildred Bailey ; Red Norvo Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Columbia B23184 10-in. 6/30/1938 The sunny side of things Mildred Bailey ; Red Norvo Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Columbia B23185 10-in. 6/30/1938 How can I thank you Mildred Bailey ; Red Norvo Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Columbia B23293 10-in. 7/26/1938 Garden of the moon Mildred Bailey ; Red Norvo Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Columbia B23294 10-in. 7/26/1938 Just you, just me Red Norvo Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
(Results 1-25 of 160 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Norvo, Red," accessed January 20, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103480.

Norvo, Red. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 20, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103480.

"Norvo, Red." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 20 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103480

External Sources

Wikipedia: Red Norvo

Discogs: Red Norvo

Allmusic: Red Norvo

Grove: Red Norvo

IMDb: Red Norvo

Britannica: Red Norvo

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Norvo, Red - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82020521

Wikidata: Red Norvo - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q491814

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/71578896

MusicBrainz: Red Norvo - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/54badd18-ff72-4409-bd06-acf6b0011529

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/87218 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/87218

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