Big John Greer
John Marshall "Big John" Greer (November 21, 1923 – May 12, 1972) was an American blues tenor saxophonist and vocalist, best known for his recordings from 1948 to 1956, which included "Got You on My Mind" and "Bottle It Up and Go". Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States, Greer was a friend of Henry Glover from childhood, and both attended college at Alabama A&M together. Glover was playing in Lucky Millinder's band when Bull Moose Jackson left the group in 1948; Glover suggested that Greer be chosen as Jackson's replacement. Greer played with Bob Shad and appeared on Millinder's RCA recordings until 1950, when Millinder signed to King Records. Greer stayed with RCA and played with Wynonie Harris and Jackson among others. He sang lead vocals on his biggest hit, recorded in October 1951 "Got You On My Mind". In 1953, he switched to Groove Records, but did not make much impact on the American record charts there. In August 1954, he released "We Wanna See Santa Claus Do The Mambo", a Christmas hit to this day. In 1956, he finally signed with King, but only recorded for them for about a year. Greer also worked with Hal Singer and Bill Doggett. By 1957, Greer had developed extended troubles with alcoholism, and he moved back to his home town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he died in 1972 at age 48. |
Birth and Death Data: Born November 21, 1923 (Hot Springs), Died May 12, 1972
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1949 - 1951
Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, saxophone, leader, composer, songwriter
= 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 | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | E0VB-3088 | 10-in. | 1/12/1950 | A fool hasn't got a chance | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, instrumentalist, saxophone, leader | |
Victor | E0VB-3089 | 10-in. | 1/12/1950 | Rocking Jenny Jones | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | E0VB-3090 | 10-in. | 1/12/1950 | I'll never do that again | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, instrumentalist, saxophone, leader | |
Victor | E0VB-3091 | 10-in. | 1/12/1950 | I've just found love | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, saxophone, composer | |
Victor | E0VB-4895 | 10-in. | 7/6/1950 | Big John's a blowin' | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | E0VB-4897 | 10-in. | 7/6/1950 | Red juice | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
Victor | E0VB-4898 | 10-in. | 7/6/1950 | It's better to be taken for granted (than never to be taken at all) | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, songwriter | |
Victor | E0VB-6247 | 10-in. | 12/6/1950 | Once there lived a fool | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
Victor | E0VB-6248 | 10-in. | 12/6/1950 | Why did you go? | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Vocal trio, with jazz/dance band | composer, leader | |
Victor | E0VB-6249 | 10-in. | 12/6/1950 | Our wedding tune | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Female-male vocal duet, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
Victor | E0VB-6250 | 10-in. | 12/6/1950 | I want ya', I need ya' | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, songwriter | |
Victor | E1VB-1754 | 10-in. | 4/12/1951 | How can you forget | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | E1VB-1755 | 10-in. | 4/12/1951 | Clambake boogie | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, instrumentalist, saxophone, leader | |
Victor | E1VB-1756 | 10-in. | 4/12/1951 | When you love (you should love from the heart) | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, instrumentalist, saxophone, leader | |
Victor | D9VB-0020 | 10-in. | 1/3/1949 | Little girl, don't cry | Big John Greer ; Lucky Millinder Orchestra | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
Victor | D9VB-1251 | 10-in. | 4/8/1949 | Drinkin' wine, spo-dee-o-dee | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | D9VB-1252 | 10-in. | 4/8/1949 | Long tall gal | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | D9VB-1253 | 10-in. | 4/8/1949 | I found a dream | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | D9VB-1753 | 10-in. | 6/27/1949 | Big rock | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, saxophone, composer | |
Victor | D9VB-1754 | 10-in. | 6/27/1949 | If I told you once (I told you a thousand times) | Big John Greer ; The Rhythm Rockers (Big John Greer) | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Greer, Big John," accessed November 23, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/355356.
Greer, Big John. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 23, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/355356.
"Greer, Big John." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Big John Greer
Discogs: Big John Greer
Allmusic: Big John Greer
Grove: Big John Greer
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Greer, Big John, 1923-1972 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2006125352
Wikidata: Big John Greer - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q185356
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/39141811
MusicBrainz: Big John Greer - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/683aed33-85a4-48a0-a48d-17c8fa48cffd
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