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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 51-75 of 92 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-62911 10-in. 10/28/1930 Oh! Eddie Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
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 instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-62913 10-in. 10/28/1930 Mack's rhythm Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-62914 10-in. 10/28/1930 You make me happy Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-62915 10-in. 10/28/1930 Here comes Marjorie Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-62916 10-in. 10/28/1930 The count Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-62921 10-in. 10/29/1930 Liza Lee Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
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 instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-62923 10-in. 10/30/1930 Professor Hot Stuff Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
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 instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-62925 10-in. 10/30/1930 New Moten stomp Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
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 instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
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 instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
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 instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-62929 10-in. 10/31/1930 Bouncin' round Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-62930 10-in. 10/31/1930 Break a day schuffle Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
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 instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-044589 10-in. 1/11/1940 Rockin' with the Rockets Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, saxophone, songwriter  
Victor BS-044590 10-in. 1/11/1940 Hairy Joe jump Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, songwriter, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-044591 10-in. 1/11/1940 Contact Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-044592 10-in. 1/11/1940 Snaky feelin' Harlan Leonard ; Rockets ; Jimmy Ross Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-044593 10-in. 1/11/1940 My gal Sal (They called her Frivolous Sal) Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-044594 10-in. 1/11/1940 Skee Harlan Leonard ; Rockets Jazz/dance band leader, songwriter, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-047796 10-in. 3/11/1940 I don't want to set the world on fire Harlan Leonard ; Rockets ; Myra Taylor Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BS-047797 10-in. 3/11/1940 Ride my blues away Harlan Leonard ; Rockets ; Ernie Williams Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, composer, instrumentalist, saxophone  
(Results 51-75 of 92 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Leonard, Harlan," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109661.

Leonard, Harlan. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109661.

"Leonard, Harlan." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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