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
External Sources
Wikipedia: Phil Napoleon
Discogs: Phil Napoleon
Allmusic: Phil Napoleon
IMDb: Phil Napoleon
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Napoleon, Phil - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91096910
Wikidata: Phil Napoleon - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q743585
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/29718919
MusicBrainz: Phil Napoleon - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0c532047-f771-402a-96d7-88b3f63e1580
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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