Beverly (Beverley) Peer

Beverly Peer (October 7, 1912 – January 16, 1997) was an American jazz double-bassist. Peer played piano professionally early in his career before switching to bass. He worked with Chick Webb from 1936 to 1939 and continued to play in the orchestra under the direction of Ella Fitzgerald. In 1942 he joined Sabby Lewis's orchestra. He also worked extensively as an accompanist for vocalists such as Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne, Johnny Mathis, and Barbra Streisand. In the 1950s and 1960s he worked with pianists Barbara Carroll and Ellis Larkins, and worked with Bobby Short from the 1970s into the 1990s, often performing at the Cafe Carlyle in New York City. He can be heard on Ella Fitzgerald's release "Ella Sings, Chick Swings" as well as other recordings of Ella and the Chick Webb Orchestra. Aside from music, late in his career Peer also had cameo roles in films such as Hannah and Her Sisters and For Love or Money.

Birth and Death Data: Born New York City (most populous city in the United States), Died January 16, 1997 (Manhattan (borough of New York City, New York, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1956

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 185 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	MS-031431	16-in. (33-1/3 rpm)	approximately late January 1939	Tea for two	Chick Webb Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	MS-031432	16-in. (33-1/3 rpm)	approximately late January 1939	Crazy rhythm	Chick Webb Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	MS-031433	16-in. (33-1/3 rpm)	approximately late January 1939	Blue skies	Chick Webb Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	E0VB-4993	10-in.	7/17/1950	Do I worry?	Four Tunes	Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	E0VB-4994	10-in.	7/17/1950	Say when	Four Tunes	Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	E0VB-5117	10-in.	7/17/1950	Cool water	Four Tunes	Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	E0VB-5118	10-in.	7/17/1950	How can you say that I don't care	Four Tunes	Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	D7VB-0154	10-in.	2/20/1947	That ain't right	Mildred Bailey ; Ellis Larkins Trio	Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	D7VB-0155	10-in.	2/20/1947	I don't wanna miss Mississippi (anymore)	Mildred Bailey ; Ellis Larkins Trio	Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass	instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61361	10-in.	10/29/1936	(If you can't sing it) You'll have to swing it	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61362	10-in.	10/29/1936	Swinging on the reservation	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61363	10-in.	10/29/1936	I got the Spring fever blues	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61364	10-in.	10/29/1936	Vote for Mr. Rhythm	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61419	10-in.	11/18/1936	My last affair	Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61420	10-in.	11/18/1936	Organ grinder's swing	Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61421	10-in.	11/19/1936	Shine	Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61422	10-in.	11/19/1936	Darktown Strutters' Ball	Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61520	10-in.	1/14/1937	There's frost on the moon-1	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61527	10-in.	1/14/1937	Take another guess	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61528	10-in.	1/14/1937	Love marches on-1	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	61530	10-in.	1/15/1937	Gee, but you're swell	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	62064	10-in.	3/24/1937	Rusty hinge	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	62065	10-in.	3/24/1937	Wake up and live-2	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	62066	10-in.	3/24/1937	It's swell of you	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Decca	62067	10-in.	3/24/1937	You showed me the way	Chick Webb Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass

(Results 1-25 of 185 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Peer, Beverly (Beverley)," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/336956.

Peer, Beverly (Beverley). (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/336956.

"Peer, Beverly (Beverley)." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.