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Ace Brigode

Athos C. "Ace" Brigode (January 5, 1893 – February 3, 1960) was a United States dance band leader who enjoyed his greatest popularity in the 1920s.

Ace Brigode was born in Illinois. He entered show business as a member of a touring minstrel show. His band began playing professionally in early 1921 as "Ace Brigode & His 10 Virginians"; a bit later they were renamed "Ace Brigode & His 14 Virginians"; this name stuck although the band varied between having 9 to 19 members over the years. The band played in the moderately jazz-influenced peppy dance band style called "Collegiate Hot" that to many people exemplifies the music of the "Roaring Twenties". The most noted musician who played with Brigode was trombonist Abe Lincoln.

Brigode hosted the "White Rose Gasoline Show" on radio, featuring his band. The band also made gramophone records for various record labels, including OKeh, Edison, Cameo and Pathé Records; their biggest hit was a 1925 version of "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" for Columbia Records. The band's theme song was "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny". Dwight Eisenhower was among the band's fans.

Brigode himself played violin and clarinet, but mostly acted as master of ceremonies. The band toured widely around the United States. Brigode kept the band current with newer style arrangements into the early swing music era, before disbanding the group in 1946.

After this Ace Brigode worked as promotions manager for Cleveland, Ohio's Chippewa Lake Park, and also did television commercial voice work. Brigode refused to book rock and roll performers into the park because of his dislike for the musical genre. He was survived by his wife, Theresa, sons Robert and Richard, and a daughter, Mrs. James Knott.

Birth and Death Data: Died February 3, 1960

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 48 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 140239 10-in. 1/13/1925 Alabamy bound 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia 140240 10-in. 1/13/1925 A sun-kist cottage 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140425 10-in. 3/10/1925 What a smile can do 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140426 10-in. 3/10/1925 When I think of you 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140568 10-in. 4/30/1925 Sleeping Beauty's wedding 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140569 10-in. 4/30/1925 Yes sir, that's my baby 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band, with vocal ensemble leader  
Columbia W140642 10-in. 6/2/1925 Wait'll it's moonlight 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140643 10-in. 6/2/1925 Make those naughty eyes behave 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140763 10-in. 7/15/1925 Alone at last 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140764 10-in. 7/15/1925 I'm tired of everything but you 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W141112 10-in. 10/6/1925 Normandy 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W141113 10-in. 10/6/1925 Why aren't yez eatin' more oranges? 14 Virginians ; Lou Allen ; Ace Brigode ; Fred Brohez Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet leader  
Columbia WC2874 10-in. 1/23/1940 Charley, my boy Ace Brigode Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia WC2875 10-in. 1/23/1940 Why should I cry over you Ace Brigode Orchestra ; Buddy Curran Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia WC2876 10-in. 1/23/1940 I'm givin' you warning Ace Brigode Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia WC2877 10-in. 1/23/1940 You know you belong to somebody else (So why don't you leave me alone) Ace Brigode Orchestra ; Buddy Curran Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
OKeh S-72118 10-in. 11/26/1923 You, darling, you Ace Brigode ; Ten Virginians Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-72119 10-in. 11/26/1923 Oklahoma Indian jazz Ace Brigode ; Ten Virginians Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-72120 10-in. 11/26/1923 Dream daddy Ace Brigode ; Ten Virginians Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-72121 10-in. 11/26/1923 More Ace Brigode ; Ten Virginians Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-72407 10-in. Mar. 1924 Colorado 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-72408 10-in. Mar. 1924 Mona Vanna 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-72428 10-in. Apr. 1924 Never again 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-72429 10-in. Apr. 1924 Don't mind the rain 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-72637 10-in. June 1924 Don't take your troubles to bed 14 Virginians ; Ace Brigode Jazz/dance band leader  
(Results 1-25 of 48 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brigode, Ace," accessed December 26, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112614.

Brigode, Ace. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112614.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112614

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