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Harlan Leonard

Harlan Leonard (July 2, 1905 – November 10, 1983) was an American jazz bandleader and clarinetist from Kansas City, Missouri, United States.

Leonard was born in Kansas City in 1905. A professional musician from the age of 17, he joined Bennie Moten's orchestra in 1923, where he led the reed section until 1931. In 1931, he and Thamon Hayes formed the Kansas City Skyrockets, which included trumpeters Ed Lewis and James Ross, trombonist Vic Dickenson, and pianist Jesse Stone. After disputes with the Chicago local of the American Federation of Musicians the band broke up.

In 1939, Leonard formed Harlan Leonard and his Rockets, which featured a young Myra Taylor. This band quickly became a leading band in Kansas City and toured nationally. Charlie Parker played in this band for five weeks, but he was fired by Leonard for lack of discipline. The band featured arrangements by its piano player Tadd Dameron that bore suggestions of the transition between swing and bebop. The band broke up during the Second World War, and Leonard left professional music. He worked in banking and for the Internal Revenue Service and died in Los Angeles in 1983.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 2, 1905 (Kansas City), Died November 10, 1983 (Kansas City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: clarinet, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, leader, saxophone, composer, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 92 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-42934 10-in. 9/7/1928 She's no trouble Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-42935 10-in. 9/7/1928 South Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
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 instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-55420 10-in. 7/16/1929 Terrific stomp Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
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, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-55422 10-in. 7/16/1929 Kansas City squabble Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-55423 10-in. 7/17/1929 Rite tite Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-55424 10-in. 7/17/1929 Moten's blues Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-55425 10-in. 7/17/1929 That's what I'm talking about Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-55426 10-in. 7/17/1929 That certain motion Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-55427 10-in. 7/17/1929 It won't be long Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-55429 10-in. 7/18/1929 Just say it's me Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-55430 10-in. 7/18/1929 Now goofy dust Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57301 10-in. 10/23/1929 Rumba negro Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57302 10-in. 10/23/1929 The Jones Law blues Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57303 10-in. 10/23/1929 Band box shuffle Kansas City Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57304 10-in. 10/23/1929 Small black Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57305 10-in. 10/23/1929 Everyday blues Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57312 10-in. 10/24/1929 Boot it Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57313 10-in. 10/24/1929 Mary Lee Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57314 10-in. 10/24/1929 Rit-dit-ray Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57315 10-in. 10/24/1929 New Vine Street blues Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-57316 10-in. 10/24/1929 Sweetheart of yesterday Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
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 instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-62910 10-in. 10/28/1930 I wish I could be blue! Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
(Results 26-50 of 92 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Leonard, Harlan," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109661.

Leonard, Harlan. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109661.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109661

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