Kentucky Serenaders
Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders was a US jazz and dance band, active from the late 1910s through the 1920s. The group was known simply as The Serenaders until Johnny Hamp became the band leader. Johnny Hamp was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and should not be confused with British television producer Johnnie Hamp. According to some sources, he became the leader by chance when the band was performing at the Hershey Ballroom in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The band leader at the time had an argument with the players and walked out. Hamp, who never played a musical instrument in spite of being a jazz fan and had no experience as a conductor (in addition, he only sang whenever the chorus was performed by a vocal ensemble or the whole band), volunteered to lead them for the rest of the evening and they accepted. After the performance, the band asked him to stay on as leader. The "Kentucky" in the name appears to be related to the band's use of "My Old Kentucky Home" as a theme song, rather than any connection to the U.S. state of Kentucky. The group toured in the eastern United States and toured England in 1930. In 1931, the group was renamed Johnny Hamp and His Orchestra. The group made most of its recordings in New York City on the Victor label. Their biggest hit was "Black Bottom" recorded in 1926, which led to a dance fad; see Black Bottom (dance). Hamp continued to record for Victor until April, 1932. The next session was in August, 1935 for ARC (Melotone, Perfect, Romeo, Oriole). In December, 1936, Hamp was back with Victor recording for their Bluebird label for only two sessions (the second in February, 1937), which turned out to be their last session. Band members at different times included:
Johnny Hamp led other bands in the 1930s and early 1940s ending up as a hotel house band leader in Chicago. |
Birth and Death Data: Died Ceased 1937
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1920 - 1929
Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 51-71 of 71 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BVE-46681 | 10-in. | 8/10/1928 | Two lips (to kiss my cares away) | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48614 | 10-in. | 11/22/1928 | 'Round evening | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48615 | 10-in. | 11/22/1928 | Where is the song of songs for me? | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48630 | 10-in. | 11/28/1928 | Mia bella Rosa | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48631 | 10-in. | 11/28/1928 | Please let me dream in your arms | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48743 | 10-in. | 12/13/1928 | Avalon town | Roy Cropper ; Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48744 | 10-in. | 12/13/1928 | My arms are open | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48802 | 10-in. | 1/17/1929 | We'll find our shelter (before the rain) | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48803 | 10-in. | 1/17/1929 | Remember I love you | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-50507 | 10-in. | 2/21/1929 | I promise | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-50508 | 10-in. | 2/21/1929 | I'll be a pal to your boy (If you'll be a pal to mine) | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-55687 | 10-in. | 9/13/1929 | Sunny side up | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders ; Frank Luther | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-55688 | 10-in. | 9/13/1929 | Nobody cares if I'm blue | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-55689 | 10-in. | 9/13/1929 | If I had a talking picture of you | Johnny Hamp ; Don Howard ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-55690 | 10-in. | 9/13/1929 | Lady luck | Johnny Hamp ; Don Howard ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-55691 | 10-in. | 9/13/1929 | La rosita | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-57433 | 10-in. | 11/20/1929 | My pals | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-57434 | 10-in. | 11/20/1929 | Your love is all that I crave | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-57446 | 10-in. | 11/22/1929 | Never say die | Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Columbia | 78970 | 10-in. | 2/11/1920 | Venetian moon | Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 79007 | 10-in. | 3/1/1920 | Rose of Washington Square | Kentucky Serenaders | Jazz/dance band | Musical group |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kentucky Serenaders," accessed November 24, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112318.
Kentucky Serenaders. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112318.
"Kentucky Serenaders." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2004029854
Wikidata: Johnny Hamp’s Kentucky Serenaders - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6266851
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/140964393
MusicBrainz: Johnny Hamp’s Kentucky Serenaders - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d9b52ea3-8a50-4fd8-87fd-18245482fab9
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