William (Bill) Pemberton

William McLane, better known as Bill Pemberton (March 5, 1918 in New York City – December 13, 1984 in New York City) was an American jazz double-bassist.

Pemberton played violin as a child before switching to bass. He was in Frankie Newton's orchestra from 1941 to 1945 and then worked with Herman "Ivory" Chittison, Mercer Ellington, Eddie Barefield, and Billy Kyle later in the 1940s. In the 1950s he worked with Art Tatum and Rex Stewart, and from 1966 to 1969 was Earl Hines's bassist, including for international tours and at the 1967 Newport Jazz Festival and Monterey Jazz Festival. He also worked with Buck Clayton in 1967. In 1969 he joined the JPJ quartet alongside Budd Johnson, Oliver Jackson, and Dill Jones, and remained with the group until 1975; concomitantly he played with Ruby Braff, Max Kaminsky, and Vic Dickenson. He rejoined Hines in 1977, playing in Europe with him and Benny Carter. Late in his career he played with Panama Francis, Bill Coleman, and Doc Cheatham.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 5, 1918 (New York City), Died December 13, 1984 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1947 - 1968

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

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D7VB-0257 10-in. 4/14/1947 Where is Sam? Bob Smith Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-0258 10-in. 4/14/1947 You must have been a beautiful baby Bob Smith Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1215 10-in. 6/30/1947 Trouble is a man Hall Sisters ; Jesse Stone Orchestra ; Jesse Stone Female vocal trio, with jazz/dance septet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1216 10-in. 6/30/1947 You never can tell the depth of a well (by the length of the handle on the pump) Hall Sisters ; Jesse Stone Orchestra ; Jesse Stone Female vocal trio, with jazz/dance septet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 74916 5/13/1949 Caravan Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 74917 5/13/1949 Nine o'clock gal Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 74918 5/13/1949 That's the gal for me Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 74919 5/13/1949 When my sugar walks down the street Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 89415 2/23/1956 Don't you weep, O Mary don't you weep Sister Rosetta Tharpe instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 89416 2/23/1956 I've done wrong Sister Rosetta Tharpe instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 89417 2/23/1956 I can hear the angels Sister Rosetta Tharpe instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 89418 2/23/1956 Father prepare me Sister Rosetta Tharpe instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 120028 3/8/1968 Rhythm Sundae Earl Hines and his Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 120029 3/8/1968 The one I love (belongs to somebody else) Earl Hines and his Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 120030 3/8/1968 Back in your own back yard Earl Hines and his Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 120031 3/8/1968 You're mine, you! Earl Hines and his Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 120032 3/8/1968 For me and my gal Earl Hines and his Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 120033 3/11/1968 Nobody knows (and nobody seems to care) Earl Hines and his Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 120034 3/11/1968 Saturday-1 Earl Hines and his Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 120035 3/11/1968 Shine on harvest moon Earl Hines and his Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 120036 3/11/1968 Thinking of you Earl Hines and his Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 120037 3/11/1968 I love my baby (My baby loves me) Earl Hines and his Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 120038 3/11/1968 Everything depends on you-1 Earl Hines and his Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Pemberton, William (Bill)," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/337014.

Pemberton, William (Bill). (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/337014.

"Pemberton, William (Bill)." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/337014

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