John Kirby

John Kirby

John Kirby (December 31, 1908 – June 14, 1952), was an American jazz double-bassist and bandleader. In addition to sideman work (prominently with Benny Goodman), Kirby is remembered for leading a successful chamber jazz sextet in the late 1930s and early 1940s, which scored several hit songs including "Loch Lomond" and the debut recording of "Undecided", a jazz standard. He is perhaps the first musician in the chamber jazz genre. Earlier in his career he also played trombone and tuba.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 31, 1908 (Winchester), Died June 14, 1952 (Hollywood)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1946

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass, tuba, director, composer

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 176 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-066895	10-in.	7/25/1941	Close shave	John Kirby Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, director
Victor	BS-066896	10-in.	7/25/1941	Bugler's dilemma	John Kirby Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director
Victor	BS-066897	10-in.	7/25/1941	It's only a paper moon	John Kirby Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director
Victor	BS-066898	10-in.	7/25/1941	Fifi's rhapsody	John Kirby Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, composer
Victor	BS-067962	10-in.	10/3/1941	I'm the one who loves you	Una Mae Carlisle	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-067963	10-in.	10/3/1941	My wish	Una Mae Carlisle	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-067964	10-in.	10/3/1941	Coffee and cakes	Una Mae Carlisle	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-067965	10-in.	10/3/1941	Moonlight masquerade	Una Mae Carlisle	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-067977	10-in.	10/7/1941	Night whispers	John Kirby Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director
Victor	BS-067978	10-in.	10/7/1941	Tweed me	John Kirby Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-067979	10-in.	10/7/1941	Move over	John Kirby Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-067980	10-in.	10/7/1941	Wondering where	Buster Bailey ; John Kirby Orchestra ; Russell Procope ; Charlie Shavers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	director, instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-071900	10-in.	2/11/1942	Keep smilin' (Keep laughin', be happy)	Buster Bailey ; John Kirby Orchestra ; Russell Procope ; Charlie Shavers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	director, instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-071901	10-in.	2/11/1942	Comin' back	John Kirby Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-071902	10-in.	2/11/1942	No blues at all	John Kirby Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-071903	10-in.	2/11/1942	St. Louis blues	John Kirby Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-071908	10-in.	2/13/1942	Don't tetch it!	Una Mae Carlisle	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-071909	10-in.	2/13/1942	So long, Shorty (You've got a long way to go)	Una Mae Carlisle	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-071910	10-in.	2/13/1942	I'm tryin'	Una Mae Carlisle	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, string bass
Victor	BS-071911	10-in.	2/13/1942	Sweet talk	Una Mae Carlisle	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet	instrumentalist, string bass
Columbia	W265135	10-in.	9/22/1933	Queer notions-1	Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Columbia	W265136	10-in.	9/22/1933	It's the talk of the town	Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Columbia	W265137	10-in.	9/22/1933	Night life-3	Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Columbia	W265138	10-in.	9/22/1933	Nagasaki-2	Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass
Columbia	W265144	10-in.	9/29/1933	Jamaica shout-1	Coleman Hawkins Orchestra		instrumentalist, string bass

(Results 26-50 of 176 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kirby, John," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105538.

Kirby, John. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105538.

"Kirby, John." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.