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Phil Napoleon

Phil Napoleon (born Filippo Napoli; 2 September 1901 – 1 October 1990) was an early jazz trumpeter and bandleader born in Boston, Massachusetts. Ron Wynn observed that Napoleon "was a competent, though unimaginative trumpeter whose greatest value was the many recording sessions he led that helped increase jazz's popularity in the mid-'20s." Richard Cook and Brian Morton, writing for The Penguin Guide to Jazz, refer to Napoleon as "a genuine pioneer" whose playing was "profoundly influential on men such as Red Nichols and Bix Beiderbecke."

Napoleon began with classical training, and was performing publicly by age 5. In the 1910s, he was one of the first musicians in the northeastern United States to embrace the new "jass" style brought to that part of the country by musicians from New Orleans, Louisiana. With pianist Frank Signorelli he formed the group "The Original Memphis Five" in 1917. He became one of the most sought after trumpeters of the 1920s. The group were very prolific, one of the most prolific in New York City at the time, and in 1922-1923 alone made over a hundred recordings. Napoleon's 1927 version of "Clarinet Marmalade" was a particular success. The Original Memphis Five split in 1928. During the 1930s, Napoleon mainly worked as a session trumpeter, working in the RCA Radio Orchestra in the early 1930s, and in 1937 unsuccessfully tried to form his own orchestra. He also worked as a network house conductor and trumpet soloist for NBC from around 1929 to 1937. He recorded with the Cotton Pickers and the Charleston Chasers and also worked with blues singers Leona Williams and Alberta Hunter.

Napoleon joined Jimmy Dorsey's then Los Angeles-based group in the mid-1940s, and he appeared with the band in the film Four Jills in a Jeep. Parting with Dorsey in 1947, he moved back to New York and worked as a studio musician at NBC until 1949-1950 when he reformed The Original Memphis Five. During the early 1950s the group became noted for their performances at Nick's in New York City. He also worked frequently with his nephew Marty Napoleon, a jazz pianist. On July 3, 1959, Napoleon and The Five performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, later released as an album. In 1966, he opened up his own club named "Napoleon's Retreat" in Miami, Florida where he lived until his death, although continued to perform Dixieland jazz in the club up until the 1980s.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 2, 1901 (Boston), Died September 30, 1990 (North Miami)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1922 - 1950

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

= 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 B-30250 10-in. 6/6/1924 Just hot Pennsylvanians ; Fred Waring Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-30372 10-in. 7/9/1924 Sioux City Sue Ross Gorman ; Virginians Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-30877 10-in. 10/1/1924 Meanest blues The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-31913 10-in. 2/4/1925 Throw down blues The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-33388 10-in. 9/17/1925 Bass ale blues The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-33546 10-in. 10/7/1925 Lookin' for blues The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-37744 10-in. 2/7/1927 Tiger rag Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BVE-37745 10-in. 2/7/1927 Clarinet marmalade Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BVE-38313 10-in. 3/31/1927 Take your finger out of your mouth (I want a kiss from you) Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BVE-38314 10-in. 3/31/1927 Go Joe go Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, director  
Victor BVE-50885 10-in. 5/16/1929 Sittin' and whittlin' Billy Hays and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-50886 10-in. 5/16/1929 Do you believe? Billy Hays and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-51014 10-in. 3/8/1929 My sugar and me Billy Hays and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-51015 10-in. 3/8/1929 Sweet Virginia rose Billy Hays and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-51016 10-in. 3/8/1929 Will the angels play their harps for me? Bud Billings Male vocal solo, with violin, cornet, and guitar instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-51017 10-in. 3/8/1929 The wanderer's warning Bud Billings Male vocal solo, with violin, cornet, and guitar instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-51018 10-in. 3/8/1929 All by yourself in the moonlight Billy Hayes Teagarden Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-51019 10-in. 3/8/1929 I'm wild about horns on automobiles, that go ta-ta-ta-ta Billy Hays and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-51095 10-in. 4/10/1929 Baby's back to-day Irene Beasley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-51096 10-in. 4/10/1929 Furniture man blues Irene Beasley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-51097 10-in. 4/10/1929 Sometimes I wonder Irene Beasley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-51098 10-in. 4/10/1929 What would I do without you? Irene Beasley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-51099 10-in. 4/11/1929 Sun's gonna shine Irene Beasley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-51800 10-in. 4/11/1929 Moon song Irene Beasley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-51801 10-in. 4/11/1929 Applesauce Irene Beasley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-51802 10-in. 4/11/1929 You'll come back to me someday Irene Beasley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-51809 10-in. 4/18/1929 Just in time Billy Hays and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-51810 10-in. 4/18/1929 I've got to have a mamma now Billy Hays and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-51811 10-in. 4/18/1929 When Carolina smiles Billy Hays and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-51812 10-in. 4/18/1929 Bay rum song Billy Hays and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-53506 10-in. 5/23/1929 Getting hot Joe Venuti and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-53507 10-in. 5/23/1929 Anything (Slow fox trot) Napoleon's Emperors Jazz/dance band director, composer  
Victor BVE-53508 10-in. 5/23/1929 You can't cheat a cheater Napoleon's Emperors Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-53615 10-in. 5/14/1929 Mean to me Napoleon's Emperors Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BVE-53616 10-in. 5/14/1929 My kinda love Napoleon's Emperors Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor BS-055961 10-in. 9/9/1940 Anything Frank Sinatra ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-064417 10-in. 5/24/1941 Anything Mitchell Ayres ; Fashions-in-Music ; Tommy Taylor Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-066881 10-in. 7/22/1941 Anything Una Mae Carlisle Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet composer  
Columbia 81394 10-in. 12/4/1923 Shufflin' Mose Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 81886 10-in. 7/25/1924 Sioux City Sue Joseph A. Griffith ; Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 141711 10-in. 2/23/1926 Bass ale blues Joe Candullo ; Everglades Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 143336 10-in. 1/21/1927 Clarinet marmalade The Emperors Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia 143337 10-in. 1/21/1927 A blues serenade The Emperors Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia 143338 10-in. 1/21/1927 Go, Joe, go The Emperors Jazz/dance band songwriter, leader  
Columbia W143979 10-in. 4/15/1927 So long, Joe New Orleans Owls Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia W148617 10-in. 5/23/1929 Gotta feelin' for you The Seven Hot Air-Men Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Columbia W148618 10-in. 5/23/1929 Low down rhythm The Seven Hot Air-Men Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Columbia W151422 10-in. 3/13/1931 At dusk Kate Smith Female vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W151889 10-in. 11/21/1931 Anything Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W401822 10-in. 4/23/1929 You can't cheat a cheater Tom Dorsey Novelty Orchestra Jazz/dance quartet composer  
OKeh W401988 10-in. 5/27/1929 Left my gal in the mountains Black Brothers Male vocal duet, with cornet and guitars instrumentalist, cornet  
OKeh W401989 10-in. 5/27/1929 Goin' back to Texas Black Brothers Male vocal duet, with cornet and guitars instrumentalist, cornet  
Brunswick 9310-9312 10-in. approximately Nov. 1922 Great white way blues Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 11428-11431 10-in. 9/26/1923 Just hot Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 11432-11434 10-in. 9/26/1923 Shufflin' Mose Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E29579 10-in. 4/5/1929 Memphis blues The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band arranger  
Brunswick E29580 10-in. 4/5/1929 Beale Street blues The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band arranger  
Brunswick E29581 10-in. 4/5/1929 Kansas City Kitty The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal arranger  
Brunswick E29847 10-in. 5/16/1929 No parking Cotton Pickers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E2209-E2211 10-in. 1/23/1926 Bass ale blues Hottentots [The Original Memphis Five] Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E22442-E22444 10-in. 4/15/1927 Go, Joe, go Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Brunswick E22978-E22980 10-in. 5/5/1927 Go, Joe, go Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio songwriter  
Brunswick E24240-E24242 10-in. 8/16/1927 Lovey Lee The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance quintet songwriter  
Edison 9077 10-in. 7/16/1923 The great white way blues Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 9078 10-in. 7/16/1923 Shufflin' Mose Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 9253 10-in. 11/20/1923 Back o' town blues Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison 9254 10-in. 11/20/1923 St. Louis gal Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison 11177 10-in. 9/2/1926 Bass ale blues Joe Candullo ; Everglades Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 11394 10-in. 12/23/1926 Go, Joe, go Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter, leader  
Edison 11395 10-in. 12/23/1926 Tiger rag Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison 11539 10-in. 2/25/1927 It made you happy when you made me cry Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison 11540 10-in. 2/25/1927 The cat (A spooky novelty!) Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison 11594 10-in. 3/22/1927 Rubber heels (A bouncing rhythm) Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison 11595 10-in. 3/22/1927 Clarinet marmalade Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison 11628 10-in. 4/6/1927 Mary dear (I miss you most of all) J. Donald Parker ; Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Edison 11629 10-in. 4/6/1927 La lo la Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison 11630 10-in. 4/6/1927 Underneath the weeping willow Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison 18027 10-in. 11/11/1927 Moon of Japan Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison 18028 10-in. 11/11/1927 Five pennies Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison 18557 10-in. 6/1/1928 No parking Palais D'Or Orchestra ; B. A. Rolfe Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Edison S-19 10-in. 1928 Five pennies - Test recording Phil Napoleon Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Edison N-284 10-in. 6/1/1928 No parking Palais D'Or Orchestra ; B. A. Rolfe Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Gennett 8705 10-in. 1/17/1924 The one I love belongs to somebody else Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8706 10-in. 1/17/1924 Lovey came back Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8707 10-in. 1/17/1924 Where the lazy daisies grow Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8720 10-in. 1/24/1924 Mindin' my business Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8721 10-in. 1/24/1924 Hula Lou Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8722 10-in. 1/24/1924 Soothing lullaby Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8723 10-in. 1/24/1924 If you'll come back Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8788 10-in. 3/20/1924 What'll I do? Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8789 10-in. 3/20/1924 Lazy Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8790 10-in. 3/20/1924 Worried Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8823 10-in. 4/3/1924 It had to be you Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8824 10-in. 4/3/1924 After the storm Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8825 10-in. 4/3/1924 There's yes! yes! in your eyes Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8872 10-in. 5/7/1924 Oh baby (Don't say no, say maybe) Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8873 10-in. 5/7/1924 Oriental love dreams Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8874 10-in. 5/7/1924 Never again Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8906 10-in. 5/28/1924 Wait'll you see my girl Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8907 10-in. 5/28/1924 I can't get the one I want Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 8908 10-in. 5/28/1924 Maytime Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 9052 10-in. 8/22/1924 Cold mamas (Burn me up) Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 9053 10-in. 8/22/1924 Go Emmaline Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Gennett 9054 10-in. 8/22/1924 Lucille Bailey's Lucky Seven Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 71693 10-in. 1/19/1944 I'm in love with someone Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 71694 10-in. 1/19/1944 Holiday for strings-1 Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 71695 10-in. 1/19/1944 Two again Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 71773 10-in. 2/16/1944 Ohio Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 71774 10-in. 2/16/1944 The champ-1 Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75968 3/15/1950 Fair Jennie's lament Phil Napoleon and his Memphis Five instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75969 3/15/1950 When the Saints go marching in Phil Napoleon and his Memphis Five instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75970 3/15/1950 The Blue Danube goes Dixieland Phil Napoleon and his Memphis Five instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75971 3/15/1950 Alabama blues Phil Napoleon and his Memphis Five instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3212 10-in. 10/7/1943 My first love Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3213 10-in. 10/7/1943 That wonderful worrisome feeling Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3214 10-in. 10/7/1943 Besame mucho (Kiss me much) Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3215 10-in. 10/7/1943 King Porter stomp Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3216 10-in. 10/7/1943 Star eyes Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3217 10-in. 10/7/1943 They're either too young or too old Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3246 10-in. 10/27/1943 Do you know? Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3247 10-in. 10/27/1943 My ideal Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3248 10-in. 10/27/1943 Sack house stomp Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca L 3249 10-in. 10/27/1943 When they ask about you Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Napoleon, Phil," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106417.

Napoleon, Phil. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106417.

"Napoleon, Phil." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106417

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