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 51-55 of 55 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Role
Decca	66878	10-in.	11/15/1939	I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	67011	10-in.	1/2/1940	Love is the thing	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	67012	10-in.	1/2/1940	Why go on pretending ?	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	67917	10-in.	7/8/1940	Now I lay me down to dream	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist
Decca	67918	10-in.	7/8/1940	There is no greater love	Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy	vocalist

(Results 51-55 of 55 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Terrell, Pha," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/346597.

Terrell, Pha. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/346597.

"Terrell, Pha." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.