Sharkey Bonano

Joseph Gustaf "Sharkey" Bonano (April 9, 1904 – March 27, 1972), also known as Sharkey Banana or Sharkey Bananas, was an American jazz trumpeter, band leader, and vocalist. His musical abilities were sometimes overlooked because of his love of being an entertainer; he would often sing silly lyrics in a high raspy voice and break into dance on stage.

Birth and Death Data: Born Milneburg (historic town and neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States), Died March 27, 1972 (New Orleans (largest city of the state of Louisiana, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: director, vocalist, trumpet, composer, librettist, lyricist

Notes: Born Joseph Gustaf Bonano. Also known as Sharkey Banana or Sharkey Bananas.

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 27 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-019681	10-in.	2/18/1938	Drop a nickel in the slot	Lola Bard ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-019682	10-in.	2/18/1938	Please be kind	Lola Bard ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-019683	10-in.	2/18/1938	Jezebel	Lola Bard ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-019684	10-in.	2/18/1938	oooOO-OH BOOM!	Lola Bard ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-019685	10-in.	2/18/1938	In my little red book	Lola Bard ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-019686	10-in.	2/18/1938	Good-night, sweet dreams, good-night	Lola Bard ; Original Dixieland Jazz Band	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet
OKeh	8900	10-in.	1/23/1925	Peculiar	Brownlee's Orchestra of New Orleans	Jazz/dance band	composer
OKeh	8901	10-in.	1/23/1925	Dirty rag	Brownlee's Orchestra of New Orleans	Jazz/dance band	composer
Brunswick	NOR747	10-in.	Nov. 1928	Sizzling the blues	Beinville Roof Orchestra ; Sharkey Bonano ; Monk Hazel	Jazz/dance band	director
Brunswick	NOR748	10-in.	Nov. 1928	High society	Beinville Roof Orchestra ; Sharkey Bonano ; Monk Hazel	Jazz/dance band	director
Brunswick	NOR749	10-in.	Nov. 1928	Ideas	Beinville Roof Orchestra ; Sharkey Bonano ; Monk Hazel	Jazz/dance band, with vocal	director, composer
Brunswick	NOR750	10-in.	Nov. 1928	Git-wit-it	Beinville Roof Orchestra ; Sharkey Bonano ; Monk Hazel	Jazz/dance band	director
Decca	60842	10-in.	3/21/1936	Everybody loves my baby	Sharkey Bonano's New Orleans Boys		instrumentalist, trumpet, composer
Decca	60843	10-in.	3/21/1936	Yes she do, no she don't	Sharkey Bonano's New Orleans Boys		instrumentalist, trumpet, composer
Decca	60844	10-in.	3/21/1936	Swing it, swing out	Sharkey Bonano's New Orleans Boys		instrumentalist, trumpet, composer
ARC	20013	10-in.	10/7/1936	I'm satisfied with my gal	Sharkey Bonano ; Sharks of Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, vocalist
ARC	20014	10-in.	10/7/1936	High society	Sharkey Bonano ; Sharks of Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, vocalist
ARC	20015	10-in.	10/7/1936	Mudhole blues	Sharkey Bonano ; Sharks of Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, librettist, vocalist
ARC	20016	10-in.	10/7/1936	Swing in, swing out	Sharkey Bonano ; Sharks of Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, director
ARC	20365	10-in.	12/4/1936	Blowing off steam	Sharkey Bonano ; Sharks of Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, vocalist
ARC	20366	10-in.	12/4/1936	Mr. Brown goes to town	Sharkey Bonano ; Sharks of Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, vocalist
ARC	20367	10-in.	12/4/1936	Wash it clean	Sharkey Bonano ; Sharks of Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, vocalist, composer, lyricist
ARC	20368	10-in.	12/4/1936	When you're smiling	Sharkey Bonano ; Sharks of Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, director
ARC	20598	10-in.	1/29/1937	Swingin' on the Swanee shore	Sharkey Bonano ; Sharks of Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, vocalist
ARC	20599	10-in.	1/29/1937	(Give me an) Old fashioned swing	Sharkey Bonano ; Sharks of Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, vocalist

(Results 1-25 of 27 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bonano, Sharkey," accessed December 26, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106362.

Bonano, Sharkey. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106362.

"Bonano, Sharkey." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 26 December 2025.