Barrett Deems

Barrett Deems (March 1, 1914 – September 15, 1998) was an American swing drummer from Springfield, Illinois, United States. He worked in bands led by Jimmy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Red Norvo, and Muggsy Spanier. In High Society, a 1956 film, performing drum solo during a scene on the back of the bus. Louis Armstrong and His All Stars play the song "Now You Has Jazz", the movie's star, Bing Crosby, introduces the band members, including Deems, who then performs a short drum solo. Deems was married twice. He died of pneumonia in Chicago aged 84 in September 1998. He left behind his wife, Jane Johnson who is living as of 2022 and resides in Illinois.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 1, 1914 (Springfield), Died September 15, 1998 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939 - 1968

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 189 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Role
Decca	64950	10-in.	1/25/1939	Flip	Joe Venuti and his Orchestra	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	64951	10-in.	1/25/1939	Something	Joe Venuti and his Orchestra	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	64952	10-in.	1/25/1939	Flop	Joe Venuti and his Orchestra	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	64953	10-in.	1/25/1939	Nothing	Joe Venuti and his Orchestra	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	86652		8/13/1954	Skokiaan, part 1	Louis Armstrong	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	86653		8/13/1954	Skokiaan, part 2	Louis Armstrong	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	86738		9/1/1954	Muskrat ramble	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	86739		9/1/1954	Medley: Tenderly	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	86740		9/1/1954	You'll never walk alone	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	87839		4/25/1955	Yeh!	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	87840		4/25/1955	Mm-Mm	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	87841		4/25/1955	Baby, your sleep is showing	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	87842		4/25/1955	Tin roof blues	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	87843		4/25/1955	Pretty little Missy	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	88050		1/21/1955	When it's sleepy time down South ; (Back home again in) Indiana ; The gypsy	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	88051		1/21/1955	Jeepers creepers ; Margie	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	88052		1/21/1955	Tin roof blues	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	88053		1/21/1955	My bucket's got a hole in it	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	88054		1/21/1955	Rose room	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	88055		1/21/1955	Me and Brother Bill	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	88056		1/21/1955	Struttin' with some barbecue (Up a) Lazy river ; Old man Mose (false start)	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	88057		1/21/1955	T'aint' what you do ; Lover come back to me	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	88058		1/21/1955	Perdido	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	88059		1/21/1955	Blues for bass	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	88060		1/21/1955	Don't fence me in ; Basin Street blues ; When it's sleepy time down ; South (closing theme)	Louis Armstrong All-Stars	instrumentalist, drums

(Results 1-25 of 189 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Deems, Barrett," accessed November 24, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/311654.

Deems, Barrett. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/311654.

"Deems, Barrett." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 November 2024.