Wendell Marshall
Wendell Lewis Marshall (October 24, 1920 – February 6, 2002) was an American jazz double-bassist. Marshall was Jimmy Blanton's cousin. Marshall studied with the noted Ellington bassist, inheriting Blanton's bass upon his death. He attended Sumner High School and studied at Lincoln University, and in 1942 played briefly with Lionel Hampton, then served in the Army from 1943 to 1946. Following his discharge, he performed with Jimmy Forrest, Buggs Roberts, and Stuff Smith, then relocated to New York City, where he worked with Mercer Ellington. From 1948 to 1955, he performed with Duke Ellington. He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the Ellington band on November 13, 1948. Following his time with Ellington, Marshall joined pit orchestras on Broadway, including Fiddler on the Roof and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. His freelance employers included Mary Lou Williams, Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, Milt Jackson, and Hank Jones among others. During 1955-56, Marshall, Hank Jones, and Kenny Clarke were the house rhythm section for Savoy Records. Marshall played on over 370 record dates, but made only one record as a leader, Wendell Marshall and the Billy Byers Orchestra. Marshall retired from music in 1968, worked as an insurance agent and started his own insurance business in St. Louis in 1970. He died of colon cancer in 2002, aged 81. |
Birth and Death Data: Born October 24, 1920 (St. Louis (independent city in Missouri, United States)), Died February 6, 2002 (St. Louis (independent city in Missouri, United States) )
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1942 - 1959
Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 79 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decca | 70771 | 10-in. | 5/26/1942 | Now I know | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 70772 | 10-in. | 5/26/1942 | Half a love is better than none | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 70773 | 10-in. | 5/26/1942 | Flying home | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 70774 | 10-in. | 5/26/1942 | In the bag | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | instrumentalist, string bass | ||
| Decca | 88140 | 6/14/1955 | Just one of those things | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88141 | 6/14/1955 | Sometimes I'm happy | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88142 | 6/14/1955 | Something to live for-1 | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88143 | 6/14/1955 | Love is here to stay | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88144 | 6/14/1955 | I can't get started | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88145 | 6/14/1955 | This will make you laugh | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88146 | 6/14/1955 | Suppertime-2 | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88147 | 6/16/1955 | My one and only love | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88148 | 6/16/1955 | Yardbird suite | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88149 | 6/16/1955 | Give me the simple life | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88150 | 6/16/1955 | I'll remember April | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88151 | 6/16/1955 | You took advantage of me | Carmen McRae | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88657 | 9/16/1955 | Timmy's tune | Joe Holiday and his Band | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88658 | 9/16/1955 | Love is a many splendored thing | Joe Holiday and his Band | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88659 | 9/16/1955 | Opening night | Joe Holiday and his Band | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88660 | 9/16/1955 | Tiny mite | Joe Holiday and his Band | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88963 | 11/7/1955 | Theme for a mellophone | Don Elliott Quartet | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88964 | 11/7/1955 | Vibes impressions | Don Elliott Quartet | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88965 | 11/7/1955 | Strike up the band | Don Elliott Quartet | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88966 | 11/7/1955 | Beans again | Coleman Hawkins Quartet | instrumentalist, string bass | |||
| Decca | 88967 | 11/7/1955 | The man I love | Coleman Hawkins Quartet | instrumentalist, string bass |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Marshall, Wendell," accessed December 26, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/329897.
Marshall, Wendell. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/329897.
"Marshall, Wendell." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 26 December 2025.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Wendell Marshall
Discogs: Wendell Marshall
Allmusic: Wendell Marshall
Grove: Wendell Marshall
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Marshall, Wendell - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88664111
Wikidata: Wendell Marshall - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1252565
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/10033979
MusicBrainz: Wendell Marshall - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/02aeb577-94dd-4f45-8a7f-5a51bd6d2329
ISNI: 0000 0000 5941 1091 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000059411091
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