Lee L. Blair

Lee L. Blair (October 10, 1903, Savannah, Georgia – October 15, 1966, New York City) was an American jazz banjoist and guitarist.

Blair was a left-handed autodidact on banjo, aside from a few lessons taken from Mike Pingitore, the banjoist for Paul Whiteman. He played and recorded in NYC with Thomas Morris's Seven Hot Babies in 1926, played with Charlie Skeete in 1926-28, then played and recorded with Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers in 1928-30. He played with Billy Kato in 1930-31, then played and recorded with Luis Russell (1934–35) and Louis Armstrong (1935-40). He worked part-time in music through the 1940s, then joined Wilbur De Paris's New New Orleans Jazz Band in the 1950s at Jimmy Ryan's Club on West 52nd Street in New York City. In the summer of 1957 he toured in Africa with the DeParis band for the State Department. In the 1960s he played less, concentrating on raising chickens on his farm in Belmore, Long Island, but appeared at the 1964 World's Fair in a trio with Danny Barker and Eddie Gibbs and freelanced around New York with Hank Duncan and others until he died. He never recorded as a leader, but appears on record with Morris, Morton, Russell, Armstrong, and De Paris, as well as with Dick Cary, Pee Wee Erwin, and Leonard Gaskin among others. He is honored in the jazz section of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, GA.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 10, 1903 (Savannah), Died October 15, 1966 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, banjo

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 95 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 60158 10-in. 11/21/1935 (Was I to blame for) Falling in love with you Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 60227 10-in. 12/13/1935 Red sails in the sunset Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 60228 10-in. 12/13/1935 On Treasure Island Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 60249 10-in. 12/19/1935 Thanks a million Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 60250 10-in. 12/19/1935 Shoe Shine Boy Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 60251 10-in. 12/19/1935 Solitude Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 60252 10-in. 12/19/1935 I hope Gabriel likes my music Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 60362 10-in. 1/18/1936 The music goes 'round and around Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 60363 10-in. 1/18/1936 Rhythm saved the world Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61058 10-in. 4/28/1936 I come from a musical family Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61059 10-in. 4/29/1936 If we never meet again Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61075 10-in. 4/28/1936 Somebody stole my break Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61106 10-in. 5/18/1936 Lyin' to myself Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61107 10-in. 5/18/1936 Ev'ntide Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61108 10-in. 5/18/1936 Swing that music Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61109 10-in. 5/18/1936 Thankful Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61110 10-in. 5/18/1936 Red nose Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61111 10-in. 5/18/1936 Mahogany Hall stomp Jimmy Archey ; Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62328 10-in. 7/2/1937 Public melody number one Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62329 10-in. 7/2/1937 Yours and mine Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62330 10-in. 7/2/1937 Red cap Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62335 10-in. 7/7/1937 She's the daughter of a planter from Havana Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62336 10-in. 7/7/1937 Alexander's ragtime band Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62337 10-in. 7/7/1937 Cuban Pete Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62338 10-in. 7/7/1937 I've got a heart full of rhythm Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 26-50 of 95 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Blair, Lee L.," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110316.

Blair, Lee L.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110316.

"Blair, Lee L.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110316

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