Harry Shields

Harry Shields (June 30, 1899 – January 19, 1971) was an early jazz clarinetist.

Harry Shields was born in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, the younger brother of noted clarinetist Larry Shields. Harry spent almost his whole career in New Orleans. He played with the bands of Norman Brownlee, Sharkey Bonano, Tom Brown, Johnny Wiggs, and others. Many fellow musicians regarded Harry as superior to his more famous brother, Larry. Johnny Wiggs commented that Harry Shields was the only clarinetist he'd heard who could always play the right note without fail.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 30, 1899 (New Orleans), Died January 19, 1971 (New Orleans)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: clarinet, composer

= 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
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  
Decca L 12580 12/29/1955 After you've gone Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca L 12581 12/29/1955 Over the waves Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca L 12582 12/29/1955 While we danced at the Mardi Gras Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca L 12583 12/29/1955 Breeze Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca L 12584 12/29/1955 Toot, toot, tootsie goodbye Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca L 12585 12/29/1955 It's a sin to tell a lie Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca L 12586 12/29/1955 Loveless love Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca L 12587 12/29/1955 Floatin' down to cotton town Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band instrumentalist, clarinet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Shields, Harry," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107381.

Shields, Harry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107381.

"Shields, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107381

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