Bennie Moten

Benjamin Moten (November 13, 1893 – April 2, 1935) was an American jazz pianist and band leader born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. He led his Kansas City Orchestra, the most important of the regional, blues-based orchestras active in the Midwest in the 1920s, and helped to develop the riffing style that would come to define many of the 1930s big bands. The jazz standard "Moten Swing" bears his name.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 13, 1894 (Kansas City), Died April 2, 1935 (Kansas City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, director, leader, piano, songwriter, arranger

= 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
Victor	BVE-37232	10-in.	12/13/1926	Thick lip stomp	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director, composer
Victor	BVE-37233	10-in.	12/13/1926	Harmony blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director, composer
Victor	BVE-37234	10-in.	12/13/1926	Kansas City shuffle	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director, composer
Victor	BVE-37235	10-in.	12/13/1926	Yazoo blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director, composer
Victor	BVE-37236	10-in.	12/13/1926	White lightnin' blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director
Victor	BVE-37237	10-in.	12/14/1926	Muscle Shoals blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director
Victor	BVE-37238	10-in.	12/14/1926	Midnight mama	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	composer, instrumentalist, piano, director
Victor	BVE-37239	10-in.	12/14/1926	Missouri wobble	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director, composer
Victor	BVE-38667	10-in.	6/11/1927	Sugar	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director
Victor	BVE-38668	10-in.	6/11/1927	Dear heart	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director
Victor	BVE-38669	10-in.	6/11/1927	The new Tulsa blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director, composer
Victor	BVE-38670	10-in.	6/11/1927	Baby dear	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet	instrumentalist, piano, director, composer
Victor	BVE-38671	10-in.	6/11/1927	12th Street rag	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director
Victor	BVE-38672	10-in.	6/12/1927	Pass out lightly	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director
Victor	BVE-38673	10-in.	6/12/1927	Ding-dong blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director, composer
Victor	BVE-38674	10-in.	6/12/1927	Moten stomp	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director, composer
Victor	BVE-42924	10-in.	9/6/1928	Justrite	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, composer, director
Victor	BVE-42925	10-in.	9/6/1928	It's hard to laugh or smile	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, composer, director
Victor	BVE-42926	10-in.	9/6/1928	Slow motion	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, composer, director
Victor	BVE-42927	10-in.	9/6/1928	Tough breaks	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, composer, director
Victor	BVE-42928	10-in.	9/7/1928	Sad man blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano, composer, director
Victor	BVE-42929	10-in.	9/7/1928	Kansas City breakdown	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, composer, director
Victor	BVE-42930	10-in.	9/7/1928	Trouble in mind	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director
Victor	BVE-42931	10-in.	9/7/1928	Hot water blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, composer, director
Victor	BVE-42932	10-in.	9/7/1928	When life seems so blue	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, composer, director
Victor	BVE-42933	10-in.	9/7/1928	Get low-down blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band, with vocal effects	instrumentalist, piano, composer, director
Victor	BVE-42934	10-in.	9/7/1928	She's no trouble	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, director
Victor	BVE-42935	10-in.	9/7/1928	South	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, composer, director
Victor	BRC-53012	10-in.	4/15/1931	Ya got love	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	leader
Victor	BVE-55420	10-in.	7/16/1929	Terrific stomp	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer
Victor	BVE-55421	10-in.	7/16/1929	Let's get it	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer
Victor	BVE-55422	10-in.	7/16/1929	Kansas City squabble	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer
Victor	BVE-55423	10-in.	7/17/1929	Rite tite	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer
Victor	BVE-55424	10-in.	7/17/1929	Moten's blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer
Victor	BVE-55425	10-in.	7/17/1929	That's what I'm talking about	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer
Victor	BVE-55426	10-in.	7/17/1929	That certain motion	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer
Victor	BVE-55427	10-in.	7/17/1929	It won't be long	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer
Victor	BVE-55428	10-in.	7/18/1929	Loose like a goose	Bennie Moten ; Buster Moten	Piano duet, with clarinet and traps	composer, instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BVE-55429	10-in.	7/18/1929	Just say it's me	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer
Victor	BVE-55430	10-in.	7/18/1929	Now goofy dust	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer
Victor	BVE-55431	10-in.	7/18/1929	Michigan rag	Bennie Moten ; Buster Moten	Piano duet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BVE-57301	10-in.	10/23/1929	Rumba negro	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	composer, director
Victor	BVE-57302	10-in.	10/23/1929	The Jones Law blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-57303	10-in.	10/23/1929	Band box shuffle	Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-57304	10-in.	10/23/1929	Small black	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-57305	10-in.	10/23/1929	Everyday blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-57312	10-in.	10/24/1929	Boot it	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-57313	10-in.	10/24/1929	Mary Lee	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-57314	10-in.	10/24/1929	Rit-dit-ray	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, composer
Victor	BVE-57315	10-in.	10/24/1929	New Vine Street blues	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-57316	10-in.	10/24/1929	Sweetheart of yesterday	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62909	10-in.	10/27/1930	Won't you be my baby?	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62910	10-in.	10/28/1930	I wish I could be blue!	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62911	10-in.	10/28/1930	Oh! Eddie	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62912	10-in.	10/28/1930	That too, do	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62913	10-in.	10/28/1930	Mack's rhythm	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62914	10-in.	10/28/1930	You make me happy	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62915	10-in.	10/28/1930	Here comes Marjorie	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62916	10-in.	10/28/1930	The count	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director
Victor	BVE-62921	10-in.	10/29/1930	Liza Lee	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director
Victor	BVE-62922	10-in.	10/30/1930	Get goin' (Get ready to love)	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director
Victor	BVE-62923	10-in.	10/30/1930	Professor Hot Stuff	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62924	10-in.	10/30/1930	When I'm alone	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62925	10-in.	10/30/1930	New Moten stomp	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62926	10-in.	10/30/1930	As long as I love you	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, composer
Victor	BVE-62927	10-in.	10/31/1930	Somebody stole my gal	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director
Victor	BVE-62928	10-in.	10/31/1930	Now that I need you	Count Basie ; Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter, director
Victor	BVE-62929	10-in.	10/31/1930	Bouncin' round	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	director
Victor	BVE-62930	10-in.	10/31/1930	Break a day schuffle	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, piano, composer, director
Victor	BRC-68900	10-in.	4/15/1931	I wanna be around my baby all the time	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	leader
Victor	BS-74846	10-in.	12/13/1932	Toby	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	BS-74847	10-in.	12/13/1932	Moten's swing	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	leader, composer
Victor	BS-74848	10-in.	12/13/1932	Blue room	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	BS-74849	10-in.	12/13/1932	Imagination	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	leader
Victor	BS-74850	10-in.	12/13/1932	New Orleans	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	leader
Victor	BS-74851	10-in.	12/13/1932	The only girl I ever loved	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	leader
Victor	BS-74852	10-in.	12/13/1932	Milenberg joys	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	BS-74853	10-in.	12/13/1932	Lafayette	Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	BS-74854	10-in.	12/13/1932	Prince of Wales	Count Basie ; Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band, with piano	arranger, leader
Victor	BS-74855	10-in.	12/13/1932	Two times	Josephine Garrison ; Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	leader
Victor	BS-056414	10-in.	9/30/1940	South	Two Guitars and a Bass	Male vocal trio, with 2 guitars and string bass	composer
Victor	D7VB-0908	10-in.	5/22/1947	South	Count Basie Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer
Columbia	142213	10-in.	5/17/1926	18th Street strut	Joe Candullo ; Everglades Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer
OKeh	8456	10-in.	September 1923	Ill natured blues	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra ; Ada Brown	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	8457	10-in.	September 1923	Chattanooga blues	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra ; Mary H. Bradford	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	8458	10-in.	September 1923	Evil mama blues	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra ; Ada Brown	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	8459	10-in.	September 1923	Elephant's wobble	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, leader
OKeh	8460	10-in.	September 1923	Crawdad blues	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, leader
OKeh	8461	10-in.	September 1923	Selma Bama blues	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra ; Mary H. Bradford	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	8462	10-in.	September 1923	Break o' day blues	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra ; Ada Brown	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	8463	10-in.	September 1923	Waco, Texas blues	Mary H. Bradford ; Bennie Moten ; Lamar Wright	Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano	instrumentalist, piano
OKeh	8769	10-in.	11/29/1924	South	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, leader
OKeh	8770	10-in.	Nov. 1924	Vine Street blues	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	8771	10-in.	Nov. 1924	Tulsa blues	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, leader
OKeh	8772	10-in.	Nov. 1924	Goofy dust	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, leader
OKeh	8773	Not documented	Nov. 1924	[Unknown title(s)]	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	8774	10-in.	Nov. 1924	Baby dear	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, leader
OKeh	9118	10-in.	May 1925	She's sweeter than sugar (That gal o' mine)	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra ; William Little, Jr.	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	leader, songwriter
OKeh	9119	10-in.	May 1925	South Street blues	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	9120	10-in.	May 1925	Sister Honky Tonk	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader, composer
OKeh	9121	10-in.	May 1925	As I like it	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader, composer
OKeh	9122	Not documented	May 1925	[Unknown title(s)]	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	9123	10-in.	May 1925	18th Street strut	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	9124	10-in.	May 1925	Things seem so blue to me	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader, composer
OKeh	9125	10-in.	May 1925	Kater Street rag	Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	leader, composer
Brunswick	DAL1070	10-in.	4/26/1940	South	Light Crust Doughboys	String band	composer

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Moten, Bennie," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104807.

Moten, Bennie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104807.

"Moten, Bennie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.