Bob Casey

Robert Hanley Casey (February 11, 1909, in Johnson County, Illinois – April 9, 1986, in Marion, Illinois) was an American jazz double-bassist.

Casey learned to play banjo and guitar as a child, playing both in regional ensembles in the Midwest. He began playing bass at age 20 and continued as a guitarist for some time after. In the mid-1930s he played in NBC radio ensembles and worked with Wingy Manone, and in 1939 joined Muggsy Spanier's Ragtimers band. The group soon split, after which he played with Charlie Spivak, Brad Gowans, Eddie Condon, Miff Mole, and Joe Marsala. He played extensively on radio with several of these ensembles. He was also a prolific session bassist, recording with Wild Bill Davison, Bobby Hackett, Cliff Jackson, Max Kaminsky, Eddie Edwards, Bud Freeman, Pee Wee Russell, Georg Brunis, George Wettling, Ralph Sutton, Joe Sullivan, and Boyce Brown in the 1940s and 1950s.

Casey relocated to Florida in 1957, where he played with the Dukes of Dixieland. By the 1970s he was playing only occasionally.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 11, 1909 (Marion), Died April 9, 1986

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass, guitar

= 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
Victor BS-040260 10-in. 7/7/1939 Big butter and egg man Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040261 10-in. 7/7/1939 Someday sweetheart Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040262 10-in. 7/7/1939 Eccentric Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040263 10-in. 7/7/1939 That da da strain Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-043375 10-in. 11/10/1939 At the jazz band ball Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-043376 10-in. 11/10/1939 I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate George Brunis ; Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-043377 10-in. 11/10/1939 Dipper mouth blues Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-043378 10-in. 11/10/1939 Livery stable blues (Barnyard blues) Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-043894 10-in. 11/22/1939 Riverboat shuffle Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-043895 10-in. 11/22/1939 Relaxin' at the Touro Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-043896 10-in. 11/22/1939 At sundown Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-043897 10-in. 11/22/1939 Bluin' the blues Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-045745 10-in. 12/12/1939 Lonesome road Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-045746 10-in. 12/12/1939 Dinah George Brunis ; Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-045747 10-in. 12/12/1939 (What did I do to be so) Black and blue Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-045748 10-in. 12/12/1939 Mandy, make up your mind Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Casey, Bob," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106791.

Casey, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106791.

"Casey, Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106791

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