Thomas Morris

Thomas Morris (August 30, 1897 – 1945) was an American jazz cornetist. Jazz critic Scott Yanow noted that Morris's primitive style was "an excellent example of how New York brass players sounded before the rise of Louis Armstrong."

Morris was born in New York City. His many recordings include dates with Clarence Williams, Charlie Johnson, Fats Waller and many jazz and blues singers, including Mamie Smith, Eva Taylor and Sippie Wallace. His most notable dates were with his band, the Seven Hot Babies, producing eight songs in 1923 and ten in 1926. For a time, Morris served as a porter at Grand Central Terminal. In the last few years of his life, he was associated with Father Divine's strict religious movement, changing his name to Brother Pierre. Sidney Bechet recalled an encounter with Morris in a radio interview with Wynne Paris, stating, "I happened to be walking down 132nd Street near Seventh Avenue when I saw Thomas Morris, and I was tickled to death to see him. I say, 'Hello Thomas.' He said, 'Not no more. I'm St. Peter.' I said, 'You might be St. Peter to Father Divine, but you're Thomas Morris to me.'"

Morris died in 1945 in California. He was the uncle of pianist Marlowe Morris.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 30, 1897, Died 1945 (California)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: cornet, leader, composer, director, speaker, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 68 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-35762 10-in. 7/13/1926 Lazy drag Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-35763 10-in. 7/13/1926 Jackass blues Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-35764 10-in. 7/13/1926 Charleston stampede Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36047 10-in. 8/17/1926 Georgia grind Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36048 10-in. 8/17/1926 Ham gravy Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band composer, leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36069 10-in. 8/27/1926 Goin' crazy with the blues Mamie Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36071 10-in. 8/27/1926 Who's dis heah stranger Thomas Morris Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with dialogue leader, instrumentalist, cornet, speaker  
Victor BVE-36081 10-in. 8/31/1926 What have you done to make me feel this way Mamie Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36846 10-in. 10/20/1926 When a 'gator holler, folks say it's a sign of rain Margaret Johnson Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36847 10-in. 10/20/1926 Graysom Street blues Margaret Johnson Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36895 10-in. 11/2/1926 My baby doesn't squawk New Orleans Blue Five Jazz/dance band composer, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36896 10-in. 11/2/1926 The king of the Zulus New Orleans Blue Five Jazz/dance band composer, speaker, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36897 10-in. 11/2/1926 South Rampart Street blues New Orleans Blue Five Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36925 10-in. 11/12/1926 Blues from the Everglades Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36926 10-in. 11/12/1926 P. D. Q. blues Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36958 10-in. 11/23/1926 I got a mule to ride Edna Winston Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer, director  
Victor BVE-36959 10-in. 11/23/1926 Mamma's gonna drop your curtain Edna Winston Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director  
Victor BVE-36960 10-in. 11/23/1926 Pail in my hand Edna Winston Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director  
Victor BVE-36961 10-in. 11/23/1926 Peepin' Jim Edna Winston Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director  
Victor BVE-36962 10-in. 11/24/1926 The mess Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band leader, composer, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-36963 10-in. 11/24/1926 The chinch Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-38050 10-in. 5/20/1927 Fats Waller stomp Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor BVE-38051 10-in. 5/20/1927 Savannah blues Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, cornet, leader, composer  
Victor BVE-38052 10-in. 5/20/1927 Won't you take me home? Morris' Hot Babies ; Fats Waller Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, cornet, composer, leader  
Victor BVE-38115 10-in. 2/25/1927 Paradise wobble Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten ; Monette Moore Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer, instrumentalist, cornet  
(Results 1-25 of 68 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Morris, Thomas," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103510.

Morris, Thomas. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103510.

"Morris, Thomas." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103510

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