Leonard Davis

Leonard "Ham" Davis (July 4, 1905 in St. Louis, Missouri – 1957) was an American jazz trumpeter.

Davis began his career in St. Louis, playing with the Odd Fellows Boys' Band as a teenager and landing a spot in Charlie Creath's band. Late in the 1920s, he relocated to New York City, where he played in the bands of Edgar Hayes and Arthur Gibbs. He recorded for the first time with Eddie Condon's ensemble in 1929, and sat in with McKinney's Cotton Pickers that same year. In the 1930s he played with Benny Carter, Don Redman, and Elmer Snowden, and did a two-year stint in Louis Armstrong's orchestra starting in 1935. Toward the end of the decade he toured Europe with Edgar Hayes and played in the Blackbirds revue in New York City.

Davis joined Sidney Bechet's revival group in 1940, and also played in bands led by Maurice Hubbard, Albert Socarras, and George James. He continued performing in small-time settings in New York through the mid-1950s.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 4, 1905 (St. Louis), Died 1957

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 70 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-38115 10-in. 2/25/1927 Paradise wobble Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-38116 10-in. 2/25/1927 Birmingham black bottom Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-38117 10-in. 2/25/1927 Don't you leave me here Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-47530 10-in. 9/19/1928 Gettin' away from me Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-47531 10-in. 9/19/1928 The boy in the boat Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-47532 10-in. 9/19/1928 Walk that thing Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-48345 10-in. 2/8/1929 I'm gonna stomp Mr. Henry Lee Eddie's Hot Shots Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-48346 10-in. 2/8/1929 That's a serious thing Eddie's Hot Shots Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-51298 10-in. 5/8/1929 Harlem drag Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-51299 10-in. 5/8/1929 Hot bones and rice Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-53600 10-in. 5/8/1929 Mo'lasses Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-57064 10-in. 11/5/1929 Plain dirt McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-57065 10-in. 11/5/1929 Gee, ain't I good to you McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-57066 10-in. 11/6/1929 I'd love it McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-57067 10-in. 11/6/1929 The way I feel today McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-57068 10-in. 11/6/1929 Miss Hannah McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-57139 10-in. 11/7/1929 Peggy McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-57140 10-in. 11/7/1929 Wherever there's a will, baby McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Don Redman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-57926 10-in. 12/18/1929 Lookin' for another sweetie Fats Waller’s Buddies Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-57927 10-in. 12/18/1929 Ridin' but walkin' Fats Waller’s Buddies Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-57928 10-in. 12/18/1929 Won't you get off it please Fats Waller’s Buddies Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-57929 10-in. 12/18/1929 When I'm alone Fats Waller’s Buddies Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
OKeh 9036 10-in. Mar. 1925 Discouraged blues Bertha Henderson Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, trumpet  
OKeh 9037 10-in. Mar. 1925 Jamboree blues Bertha Henderson Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 60021 10-in. 10/3/1935 I'm in the mood for love Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 1-25 of 70 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Davis, Leonard," accessed April 20, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112286.

Davis, Leonard. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 20, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112286.

"Davis, Leonard." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 20 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112286

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