Bill Rank

William C. Rank (June 8, 1904 – May 20, 1979) was an American jazz trombonist.

Rank was born in Lafayette, Indiana, United States, and initially worked in Indiana and Florida. In 1922, Rank played trombone in Tade's Singing Orchestra, which was led by violinist, Tade Dolen. Between 1923 and 1927 he played with Jean Goldkette's band in Detroit and often recorded with Bix Beiderbecke. After playing with Adrian Rollini in 1927 and a period as a freelance, Rank joined Paul Whiteman's band, and stayed until 1938. He was then a studio musician in Hollywood into the early 1940s, when he moved to Cincinnati. There, he led a tenet for the rest of the 1940s.

Rank then changed to playing part-time while also working in insurance. His one album as a leader, a tribute to Beiderbecke, was recorded in 1973. Rank continued playing until a short time before his death, on May 20, 1979, in Cincinnati.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 8, 1904 (Lafayette), Died May 20, 1979 (Cincinnati)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: trombone

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

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 84 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CVE-43124 12-in. 3/2/1928 A study in blue Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43125 10-in. 3/2/1928 Coquette Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43138 10-in. 3/12/1928 When Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43139 10-in. 3/12/1928 Down in old Havana town Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43140 10-in. 3/12/1928 I'm winging home (Like a bird that's on the wing) Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-43141 12-in. 3/13/1928 Metropolis Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-43142 12-in. 3/13/1928 Metropolis Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-43143 12-in. 3/14/1928 Metropolis Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43145 10-in. 3/15/1928 Lovable Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CVE-43149 12-in. 3/17/1928 Metropolis Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43659 10-in. 4/21/1928 In my bouquet of memories Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43660 10-in. 4/21/1928 I'm afraid of you Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43661 10-in. 4/21/1928 My angel Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43662 10-in. 4/22/1928 My pet Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43663 10-in. 4/22/1928 It was the dawn of love Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43664 10-in. 4/22/1928 Dancing shadows Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43665 10-in. 4/22/1928 Forget-me-not Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43666 10-in. 4/23/1928 Dixie dawn Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43667 10-in. 4/23/1928 Louisiana Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43668 10-in. 4/24/1928 Grieving Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43669 10-in. 4/24/1928 Do I hear you saying (I love you) Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BVE-43670 10-in. 4/25/1928 You took advantage of me Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-06546 10-in. 3/26/1937 Shall we dance Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-06547 10-in. 3/26/1937 For you Allan Holt ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor CS-06557 12-in. 3/28/1937 All points West Bob Lawrence ; Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and talk instrumentalist, trombone  
(Results 51-75 of 84 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rank, Bill," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112842.

Rank, Bill. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112842.

"Rank, Bill." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112842

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