Billy Gussak

William Gussak (1920 – 1994) was an American jazz and recording session drummer, best known for being the drummer on the classic 12 April 1954 recording of "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets. Some sources incorrectly spell his name as Guesak.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1920, Died 1994

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: traps, drums

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 65 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-046060 10-in. 1/3/1940 Friendship Smoothies Mixed vocal group, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-046061 10-in. 1/3/1940 Say 'si, si' (Para vigo me voy) Smoothies Mixed vocal group, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-046062 10-in. 1/3/1940 Pretty baby Smoothies Mixed vocal group, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-046063 10-in. 1/3/1940 Easy does it Smoothies Mixed vocal group, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-046717 10-in. 1/25/1940 After I say I'm sorry (what can I say) Shirley Howard Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-046718 10-in. 1/25/1940 The Japanese sandman Shirley Howard Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-046719 10-in. 1/25/1940 Sleepy head Shirley Howard Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-046720 10-in. 1/25/1940 The sky fell down Shirley Howard Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-048470 10-in. 3/28/1940 Just a-whistlin' and a-whittlin' (and a-watchin' the world go by) Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-048471 10-in. 3/28/1940 Imagination Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-048472 10-in. 3/28/1940 Say it Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-048473 10-in. 3/28/1940 Shake down the stars Dinah Shore ; Paul Wetstein Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-060665 10-in. 2/19/1941 The hat my father wore (upon St. Patrick's Day) Harry's Tavern Band ; Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-060666 10-in. 2/19/1941 That's how you can tell they're Irish Harry's Tavern Band ; Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-060667 10-in. 2/19/1941 When I see the loving they waste on babies (I long for the cradle again) Harry's Tavern Band ; Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-060668 10-in. 2/19/1941 He took her for a sleigh ride (in the good old summertime) Harry's Tavern Band ; Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-063781 10-in. 4/17/1941 I wonder what's become of Sally? Dick Todd Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-063782 10-in. 4/17/1941 Say it isn't so Dick Todd Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-063783 10-in. 4/17/1941 Together Dick Todd Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-063784 10-in. 4/17/1941 Maria Elena Dick Todd Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D6VB-1666 10-in. 2/20/1946 I'm a-goin', Sue, I'm a-goin' Zeke Manners Band Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D6VB-2936 10-in. 9/26/1946 Inflation Zeke Manners Band Male vocal solo, with vocal ensemble and jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D6VB-2937 10-in. 9/26/1946 Met a Texas gal (in Cal-i-for-ni-a) Singing Lariateers ; Zeke Manners Band Vocal ensemble with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D7VC-7444 12-in. 9/30/1947 On Miami shore Al Goodman Orchestra ; Guild Choristers Instrumental ensemble, with mixed vocal group instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D7VC-7445 12-in. 9/30/1947 Themes from Gone with the wind Al Goodman Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 26-50 of 65 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gussak, Billy," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/114901.

Gussak, Billy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/114901.

"Gussak, Billy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/114901

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