Pha Terrell

Elmer "Pha" Terrell (May 25, 1910 in Kansas City, Missouri - October 14, 1945 in Los Angeles) was an American jazz singer. Terrell was working in nightclubs locally in Kansas City in the early 1930s as a singer, dancer, and emcee when he was discovered by Andy Kirk, who hired him to be the vocalist for his group the Twelve Clouds of Joy. Terrell sang with Kirk for eight years, from 1933 to 1941, and recorded with him extensively for Decca Records, singing hits such as 1936's "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" and 1938's "I Won't Tell a Soul (I Love You)". After 1941 Terrell moved to Indianapolis to play with Clarence Love's territory band, then moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a soloist. Terrell died of kidney failure in 1945.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 25, 1910 (Kansas City), Died October 14, 1945 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 55 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Role
Decca	64612	10-in.	9/9/1938	The gal that wrecked my life	Rodney Sturgis	vocalist
Decca	64613	10-in.	9/9/1938	Bless you, my dear	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64614	10-in.	9/9/1938	How can we be wrong?	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64615	10-in.	9/9/1938	Mess-a stomp-1	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64642	10-in.	9/2/1938	Toadie toddle	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64643	10-in.	9/2/1938	won't tell a soul (I love you)	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64644	10-in.	9/2/1938	What would people say?	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64645	10-in.	9/2/1938	How much do you mean to me?	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64695	10-in.	10/24/1938	Breeze	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64696	10-in.	10/24/1938	Ghost of love	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64697	10-in.	10/24/1938	What a life	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64698	10-in.	10/25/1938	Sittin' around and dreamin'	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64699	10-in.	10/25/1938	What's your story, morning glory?	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64777	10-in.	12/5/1938	Honey	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64778	10-in.	12/5/1938	September in the rain	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64779	10-in.	12/5/1938	Clouds	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64782	10-in.	12/6/1938	Goodbye	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64784	10-in.	12/6/1938	But it didn't mean a thinq	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	64785	10-in.	12/6/1938	Say it again	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	65188	10-in.	3/16/1939	You set me on fire	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	65189	10-in.	3/16/1939	I'll never learn	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	65250	10-in.	3/23/1939	S'posin'	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	65251	10-in.	3/23/1939	I'll never fail you	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	65252	10-in.	3/23/1939	Why don't I get wise to myself	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	66877	10-in.	11/15/1939	I'm getting nowhere with you	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist

(Results 26-50 of 55 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Terrell, Pha," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/346597.

Terrell, Pha. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/346597.

"Terrell, Pha." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.