Al Sears
Albert Omega Sears (February 21, 1910 – March 23, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and bandleader, sometimes credited as Big Al Sears. Sears was born in Macomb, Illinois, United States. His first major gig came in 1928 when he replaced Johnny Hodges in Chick Webb's ensemble. Following this he played with Elmer Snowden (1931–32), then led his own groups between 1933 and 1941. In the early 1940s he was with Andy Kirk (1941–42) and Lionel Hampton (1943-44) before he became a member of Duke Ellington's Orchestra in 1944, replacing Ben Webster. He remained with Ellington until 1949, when first Jimmy Forrest and then Paul Gonsalves took over his chair. He played with Johnny Hodges in 1951–52 and recorded the tune "Castle Rock" with him; the tune became a hit but was released under Hodges's name. Sears was in Alan Freed's band when Freed did live shows, being introduced as "Big Al Sears." He played as a studio musician on R&B albums in the 1950s and recorded two albums for Swingville in 1960. He also owned several record labels, including Arock, Serock, and Gator. In 1990, he died in St. Albans, New York, at the age of 80. |
Birth and Death Data: Born February 22, 1910 (Macomb), Died March 23, 1990 (New York City)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1957
Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, saxophone
= 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 | D4VB-0454 | 10-in. | 12/1/1944 | I'm beginning to see the light | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D4VB-0455 | 10-in. | 12/1/1944 | Don't you know I care (or don't you care to know) | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Al Hibbler | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D4VB-0456 | 10-in. | 12/1/1944 | I didn't know about you | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0012 | 10-in. | 1/4/1945 | Carnegie blues | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0014 | 10-in. | 1/4/1945 | The mood to be wooed | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Johnny Hodges | Jazz/dance band, with saxophone solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0015 | 10-in. | 1/4/1945 | (All of a sudden) my heart sings | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0232 | 10-in. | 4/26/1945 | Kissing bug | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0233 | 10-in. | 5/1/1945 | Everything but you | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0234 | 10-in. | 5/1/1945 | (Otto make that) riff staccato | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Ray Nance | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0262 | 10-in. | 5/11/1945 | Caravan | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0265 | 10-in. | 5/14/1945 | In a sentimental mood | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0274 | 10-in. | 5/16/1945 | Every hour on the hour (I fall in love with you) | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Al Hibbler | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0518 | 10-in. | 7/30/1945 | Things ain't what they used to be | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0662 | 10-in. | 10/8/1945 | Tell ya what I'm gonna do | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0663 | 10-in. | 10/8/1945 | Come to baby, do! | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0949 | 10-in. | 11/26/1945 | I'm just a lucky so-and-so | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Al Hibbler | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D5VB-0951 | 10-in. | 11/26/1945 | The wonder of you | Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2093 | 10-in. | 7/9/1946 | Rockabye river | Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2094 | 10-in. | 7/9/1946 | Suddenly it jumped | Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Jimmy Hamilton ; Taft Jordan ; Oscar Pettiford | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2095 | 10-in. | 7/9/1946 | Transblucency (a blue fog that you can almost see through) | Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2096 | 10-in. | 7/9/1946 | Just squeeze me (but don't tease me) | Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2113 | 10-in. | 8/26/1946 | Back home again in Indiana | Duke Ellington Orchestra | Piano solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2114 | 10-in. | 8/26/1946 | Blue is the night | Duke Ellington Orchestra | Piano solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2115 | 10-in. | 8/26/1946 | Lover man (Oh, where can you be?) | Duke Ellington Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with piano and female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2116 | 10-in. | 8/26/1946 | Just you, just me | Duke Ellington Orchestra | Piano solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2117 | 10-in. | 8/26/1946 | Beale Street blues | Duke Ellington Orchestra | Piano solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2126 | 10-in. | 9/3/1946 | My honey's lovin' arms | Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Ray Nance | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2129 | 10-in. | 9/3/1946 | St. Louis blues | Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2130 | 10-in. | 9/3/1946 | Swamp fire | Duke Ellington Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D6VB-2131 | 10-in. | 9/3/1946 | Royal garden blues | Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Chess | U7372 | 10-in. | 1947 | My little brown book | Al Hibbler | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Chess | U7627 | 10-in. | 1947 | Fat and forty | Harry Carney ; Jimmy Hamilton ; Al Hibbler | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Gennett | 14718 | 10-in. | 1/22/1929 | Mandy | Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone | |
Gennett | 14787 | 10-in. | 2/11/1929 | Shake it and break it | Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone | |
Gennett | 14788 | 10-in. | 2/11/1929 | Hum all your troubles away | Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels | Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone | |
Gennett | 14836 | 10-in. | 2/26/1929 | It's tight like that | Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone | |
Gennett | 14837 | 10-in. | 2/26/1929 | West End blues | Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone | |
Gennett | 16005 | 10-in. | 12/19/1929 | Good feelin' blues | Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, baritone saxophone | |
Gennett | 16006 | 10-in. | 12/19/1929 | Wailin' blues | Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, baritone saxophone | |
Gennett | 16007 | 10-in. | 12/19/1929 | When you're smiling | Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, baritone saxophone | |
Gennett | 16008 | 10-in. | 12/19/1929 | Sophomore prom | Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, baritone saxophone | |
Decca | 71050 | 10-in. | 7/14/1942 | Hey lawdy Mama | Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71051 | 10-in. | 7/14/1942 | Boogie woogie cocktail | Twelve Clouds of Joy | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71052 | 10-in. | 7/14/1942 | Ride on, ride on | Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71053 | 10-in. | 7/14/1942 | Mc Ghee special-2 | Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71239 | 10-in. | 7/31/1942 | Worried life blues | Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71240 | 10-in. | 7/31/1942 | Take it and git | Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71241 | 10-in. | 7/31/1942 | Hip hip hooray | Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71242 | 10-in. | 7/31/1942 | Unlucky blues | Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71825 | 10-in. | 3/2/1944 | Loose wig | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71826 | 10-in. | 3/2/1944 | Chop chop | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71827 | 10-in. | 3/2/1944 | Flying home No.2 | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 71828 | 10-in. | 3/2/1944 | Hamp's boogie woogie | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 75610 | 12/19/1949 | 125th Street New York | Al Sears ; The Sparrows | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 75611 | 12/19/1949 | Shake hands | Al Sears ; The Sparrows | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 75612 | 12/19/1949 | Tan skin lad | Al Sears ; The Sparrows | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 75613 | 12/19/1949 | Brown baby | Al Sears ; The Sparrows | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 87814 | 4/22/1955 | Come and dance with me | Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 87815 | 4/22/1955 | come a-runnin' | Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 87816 | 4/22/1955 | Tom, Dick 'n Harry (Instrumental) | Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 87817 | 4/22/1955 | Tina's canteen (Instrumental) | Al Sears and his Rock 'n' Rollers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
Decca | 89964 | 5/16/1956 | Camel rock | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 89965 | 5/16/1956 | Up and down | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 89966 | 5/16/1956 | Take one | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 89967 | 5/16/1956 | The grey bear | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 100343 | 7/27/1956 | Homesick blues | Eddie Fontaine | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 100344 | 7/27/1956 | Into each life some rain must fall | Eddie Fontaine | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 100345 | 7/27/1956 | Cool it baby | Eddie Fontaine | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101657 | 2/14/1957 | John Thompson | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101658 | 2/14/1957 | Sure | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101659 | 2/14/1957 | Swell | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101660 | 2/14/1957 | Easy rock | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101666 | 2/15/1957 | Sentimental journey | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101667 | 2/15/1957 | Stop, look and run | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101668 | 2/15/1957 | Twenty one | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 101669 | 2/15/1957 | Sometimes I'm happy | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102267 | 4/15/1957 | Swizzle time | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102268 | 4/15/1957 | Late hours | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102269 | 4/15/1957 | You for me | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102270 | 4/15/1957 | Readin', writin' and rockin' | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102279 | 4/16/1957 | Three bad men | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102280 | 4/16/1957 | Gumbo rock | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102281 | 4/16/1957 | Kissing rock | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102282 | 4/16/1957 | Sweet potato pie | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102283 | 4/17/1957 | The street | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102284 | 4/17/1957 | Mr. Onion head | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102285 | 4/17/1957 | Ease down | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 102286 | 4/17/1957 | The king's ring | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | N 2994 | 10-in. | 1/2/1945 | Midriff | Duke Ellington Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Sears, Al," accessed November 6, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109665.
Sears, Al. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 6, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109665.
"Sears, Al." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Sears, Al, 1910-1990 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no93022660
Wikidata: Al Sears - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q195171
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/51880055
MusicBrainz: Al Sears - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/52f9e4c8-27e2-4151-9d3c-8a505d0d044b
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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