Ben Thigpen
Ben Thigpen (November 16, 1908 – October 5, 1971) was an American jazz drummer. He is the father of drummer Ed Thigpen. He was born Benjamin F. Thigpen in Laurel, Mississippi. Ben Thigpen played piano as a child, having been trained by his sister Eva. He played in South Bend, Indiana with Bobby Boswell in the 1920s, and then moved to Chicago to study under Jimmy Bertrand. While there he played with many noted Chicago bandleaders and performers, including Doc Cheatham. He played with Charlie Elgar's Creole Band during 1927-1929 but did not record with them. Following this he spent time in Cleveland with J. Frank Terry, and then became the drummer for Andy Kirk's Clouds of Joy, where he stayed from 1930 to 1947. Much of his work is available on collections highlighting the piano work of Mary Lou Williams, who also played in this ensemble. After his time with Kirk, Thigpen's career is poorly documented. He led his own quintet in St. Louis and recorded with Singleton Palmer in the 1960s. |
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 126-143 of 143 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Decca | 71242 | 10-in. | 7/31/1942 | Unlucky blues | Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy | instrumentalist, drums | ||
Decca | 71535 | 10-in. | 12/3/1943 | Shorty boo | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
Decca | 71536 | 10-in. | 12/3/1943 | Fare Thee well honey | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
Decca | 71537 | 10-in. | 12/3/1943 | Baby don't you tell me no lie | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
Decca | 71538 | 10-in. | 12/3/1943 | Things 'bout comin' my way | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
Decca | 73161 | 10-in. | 11/27/1945 | Get together with the Lord | The Jubalaires ; Andy Kirk | instrumentalist, drums | ||
Decca | 73162 | 10-in. | 11/27/1945 | I know | The Jubalaires ; Andy Kirk | instrumentalist, drums | ||
Decca | 73163 | 10-in. | 11/27/1945 | Soothe me | The Jubalaires ; Andy Kirk | instrumentalist, drums | ||
Decca | 73264 | 1/3/1946 | He's my baby | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 73265 | 1/3/1946 | Alabama bound | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 73266 | 1/3/1946 | Soothe me | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 73267 | 1/3/1946 | Doggin' man blues | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 73590 | 5/23/1946 | I don't know what I'd do without you | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 73591 | 5/23/1946 | I'm so lonesome I could cry | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 73751 | 12/2/1946 | Now you tell me | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 73752 | 12/2/1946 | Louella | Andy Kirk Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 73753 | 12/2/1946 | So soon | The Four Knights | instrumentalist, drums | |||
Decca | 73754 | 12/2/1946 | I'm falling for you | The Four Knights | instrumentalist, drums |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Thigpen, Ben," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210119.
Thigpen, Ben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/210119.
"Thigpen, Ben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Ben Thigpen
Discogs: Ben Thigpen
Allmusic: Ben Thigpen
Grove: Ben Thigpen
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Thigpen, Ben, 1908-1971 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no93027233
Wikidata: Ben Thigpen - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2895580
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/51877503
MusicBrainz: Ben Thigpen - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/05ad19f4-2ce3-4f2c-9022-6c29b9bc9922
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