McKinney's Cotton Pickers

McKinney's Cotton Pickers were an American jazz band, founded in Detroit, Michigan, United States in 1926, and led by William McKinney, who expanded his Synco Septet to ten players. Cuba Austin took over for McKinney on drums, with the latter becoming the band's manager. Between 1927 and 1931, they were one of the most popular African American bands. Many of their records for Victor were bestsellers.

In 1927, Fletcher Henderson's arranger and saxophone player Don Redman was invited to become the Cotton Pickers' musical director and he assembled a band. John Nesbitt helped Redman with arrangements and rehearsals. The band in 1928 included Cuba Austin (drums and vocals), Langston Curl (trumpet), Ralph Escudero (tuba), Claude Jones, Redman (clarinet, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, vocals), Todd Rhodes (piano, celeste), Prince Robinson (clarinet, tenor saxophone), Milton Senior (trombone), George Thomas (clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, vocals) and Dave Wilborn (banjo, vocals).

Other band members included George Bias (vocals), Benny Carter (clarinet, alto saxophone), Doc Cheatham (trumpet), Bill Coti (vocals), Ed Cuffee (trombone), Lois Deppe (vocals), Jimmy Dudley (clarinet, tenor saxophone), Robert Inge (clarinet, (alto saxophone), Quentin Jackson (trombone), Moxey-Hilton Jefferson (clarinet, alto saxophone), James P. Johnson (piano), Buddy Lee (trumpet), Donald King (vocals), Frank Marvin (vocals), Theodore McCord (clarinet, tenor saxophone), Jim Napier (vocals), Rex Stewart (cornet), and Billy Taylor (tuba). Towards the end of 1929, multiple soloists who were not regular members of the band sat in for a series of recordings. These included Leonard Davis (trumpet), Sidney de Paris (trumpet), Coleman Hawkins (clarinet, tenor saxophone), Fats Waller (piano, celeste), Joe "Fox" Smith (trumpet, cornet), and Kaiser Marshall (drums).

In 1931, Redman left to form a band and was replaced by Benny Carter. The Cotton Pickers disbanded in 1934, unable to make money during the Great Depression. Manager of the band was Jean Goldkette who arranged for the group to record "Birmingham Bertha" for him in July 1929.

A New McKinney's Cotton Pickers was organized in the early 1970s by David Hutson, using the arrangements by Don Redman. The band recorded several albums and featured banjoist Dave Wilborn, who was the only surviving original member. The new group recorded music with Detroit trombonist Al Winters, as well as other leading members of Detroit's jazz scene during the era of the 1970s though the 1990s.

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1926

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1931

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 56 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-57139 10-in. 11/7/1929 Peggy McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BVE-57140 10-in. 11/7/1929 Wherever there's a will, baby McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Don Redman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-58543 10-in. 1/31/1930 I'll make fun for you McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; George Thomas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-58544 10-in. 1/31/1930 Words can't express McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; George Thomas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-58545 10-in. 1/31/1930 If I could be with you one hour to-night McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; George Thomas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-58546 10-in. 2/3/1930 Honeysuckle rose McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-58547 10-in. 2/3/1930 Then someone's in love McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-59140 10-in. 2/3/1930 Zonky McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-59141 10-in. 2/3/1930 Trav'lin' all alone McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; George Thomas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal chorus Musical group  
Victor BVE-63195 10-in. 11/5/1930 I want your love McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Dave Wilborn Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-63196 10-in. 11/5/1930 Hello McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Dave Wilborn Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64002 10-in. 7/28/1930 Just a shade corn McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Dave Wilborn Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64003 10-in. 7/28/1930 Baby won't you please come home McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; George Thomas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64004 10-in. 7/29/1930 Okay, baby McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; George Thomas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64005 10-in. 7/29/1930 Blues sure have got me McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Don Redman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64006 10-in. 7/30/1930 Hullabaloo McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Dave Wilborn Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64007 10-in. 7/30/1930 I want a little girl McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; George Thomas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64008 10-in. 7/31/1930 Cotton picker's scat McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; George Thomas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal chorus Musical group  
Victor BVE-64055 10-in. 12/17/1930 To whom it may concern Lois Deppe ; McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64056 10-in. 12/17/1930 You're driving me crazy McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Dave Wilborn Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64058 10-in. 12/18/1930 Come a little closer Quentin Jackson ; McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64605 10-in. 11/3/1930 Talk to me McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Don Redman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64606 10-in. 11/3/1930 Rocky road McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Don Redman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64607 10-in. 11/4/1930 Laughing at life McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-64608 10-in. 11/4/1930 Never swat a fly McKinney's Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
(Results 26-50 of 56 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "McKinney's Cotton Pickers," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103735.

McKinney's Cotton Pickers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103735.

"McKinney's Cotton Pickers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103735

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