Harry Shields

Harry Shields (June 30, 1899 – January 19, 1971) was an early jazz clarinetist. Harry Shields was born in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, the younger brother of noted clarinetist Larry Shields. Harry spent almost his whole career in New Orleans. He played with the bands of Norman Brownlee, Sharkey Bonano, Tom Brown, Johnny Wiggs, and others. Many fellow musicians regarded Harry as superior to his more famous brother, Larry. Johnny Wiggs commented that Harry Shields was the only clarinetist he'd heard who could always play the right note without fail.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 30, 1899 (New Orleans), Died January 19, 1971 (New Orleans)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: clarinet, composer

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

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
OKeh	8900	10-in.	1/23/1925	Peculiar	Brownlee's Orchestra of New Orleans	Jazz/dance band	composer
OKeh	8901	10-in.	1/23/1925	Dirty rag	Brownlee's Orchestra of New Orleans	Jazz/dance band	composer
Decca	L 12580		12/29/1955	After you've gone	Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band		instrumentalist, clarinet
Decca	L 12581		12/29/1955	Over the waves	Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band		instrumentalist, clarinet
Decca	L 12582		12/29/1955	While we danced at the Mardi Gras	Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band		instrumentalist, clarinet
Decca	L 12583		12/29/1955	Breeze	Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band		instrumentalist, clarinet
Decca	L 12584		12/29/1955	Toot, toot, tootsie goodbye	Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band		instrumentalist, clarinet
Decca	L 12585		12/29/1955	It's a sin to tell a lie	Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band		instrumentalist, clarinet
Decca	L 12586		12/29/1955	Loveless love	Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band		instrumentalist, clarinet
Decca	L 12587		12/29/1955	Floatin' down to cotton town	Al Hirt and his New Orleans Jazz Band		instrumentalist, clarinet

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Shields, Harry," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107381.

Shields, Harry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107381.

"Shields, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.