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Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon (1895-1944)
Frankie Half Pint JaxonFrankie “Half Pint” Jaxon (March 3, 1896 or 1897 – May 15, 1953) was a vaudeville singer, comedian and female impersonator. His nickname of “Half Pint” referred to his 5’2″ height. He got his start in show business some time around 1910 as a singer in cafes, movie theatres and bars in Kansas City. He traveled extensively throughout the United States between 1916 and 1921 and in the early 1920s he often appeared on the bill with King Oliver and Freddie Keppard in Chicago at the Sunset Cafe (313-17 East 35th Street at the corner of Calmet Street ) and the Plantation Cafe (338 East Thirty-fifth Street at State Street).

Throughout the rest of the 1920s and 1930s he continued to tour the vaudeville circuit, and record. Jaxon also seems to have had a side career of providing staging for the lavish musical revues that Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters toured the country with. These shows were quite elaborate and could include comedy routines, dance numbers, multiple costume changes and even acrobats from time to time.

Frankie recorded with Tampa Red and Thomas A. Dorsey in the late 1920s under the name of the Black Hillbillies. In the 1930s he frequently was heard on radio in the Chicago area and led his own band called Frankie “Half Pint” Jaxon and his Quarts Of Joy.Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon (1895-1944)

Jaxon’s music is still a lot of fun to listen to. The almost always bawdy comedy is still fresh and filled with sexual double entendre. Jaxon often plays the role of a woman in the songs and one can imagine him being a very funny drag queen. His song “Operation Blues” is a good example of his kind of risqué hokum. In 1941 he retired from show business and worked at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and was transferred to Los Angeles in 1944 where he died in the veterans hospital.

Thanks to Uncle Dave Lewis for his help with this page.

Frankie “Half Pint” Jaxon and his Hot ShotsFrankie “Half Pint” Jaxon accompanied by the Harlem Hamfats
Frankie “Half Pint” Jaxon accompanied by Punches Delegates of Pleasure
The Black HillbilliesFrankie “Half Pint” Jaxon and his Quarts Of Joy

TitleDirectorYear
Black And Tan FantasyDudley Murphy1929
St. Louis BluesDudley Murphy1929

TitleRecording DateRecording LocationCompany
Be Your Natural Self4-17-1940New York, New YorkDecca
7786
Callin’ Corrine
(Frankie Jaxon)
5-19-1939New York, New YorkDecca
7619 B
Can’t You Wait Till You Get Home?
Piano Accompiment by Blanche Smith Walton

(Blanche Smith Walton / Frankie Jaxon)
7-12-1927Chicago, IllinoisGennett
6214-A
Black Patti
8040-A
Can’t You Wait?
(Frankie Jaxon)
2-13-1929Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1285
Chocolate To The Bone
(I’m So Glad I’m A Brownskin)

(Frankie Jaxon)
10-28-1930Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1583
Corinne
(Frankie Jaxon)
8-3-1927Chicago, IllinoisBlack Patti
8048
Corrine Blues
(Frankie Jaxon)
7-22-1929Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1424
Don’t Pan Me
(Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone)
5-19-1939New York, New YorkDecca
7638 B
Down At Jasper’s Bar-Be-Que
(Frankie Jaxon)
10-28-1928Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1226
Fan It
(Frankie Jaxon)
11-28-1928Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1257
Fan It Boogie
(Frankie Jaxon / Williams)
5-19-1939New York, New YorkDecca
7638 A
Gimmie A Pig’s Foot And A Beer
(Wesley Wilson)
4-17-1940New York, New YorkDecca
7795-B
Hit Ta Ditty Low Down
(Frankie Jaxon)
10-28-1928Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1226
How Can I Get It?
(Frankie Jaxon)
10-28-1928Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1257
I’m Gonna Dance Wit De Guy Wot Brung Me8-1-1927Chicago, IllinoisGennett
6244
I’m Going To Steal You
Piano Accompiment by Blanche Smith Walton

(Frankie Jaxon / Blanche Smith Walton)
7-12-1927Chicago, IllinoisGennett
6214-B
Black Patti
8040-B
I’m Gonna Steal You
(Frankie Jaxon)
4-22-1938Chicago, IllinoisDecca
7548 B
It’s Heated6-11-1929Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1539
Jive Man Blues6-11-1929Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1539
Let Me Ride Your Train4-17-1940New York, New YorkDecca
7786
Let’s Knock A Jug
(Frankie Jaxon)
2-13-1929Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1285
Operation Blues7-22-1929Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
unissued
Scuddlin’
(Frankie Jaxon)
10-28-1930Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1583
Some Sweet Day
(Frankie Jaxon)
4-22-1938Chicago, IllinoisDecca
7548 A
Something’s Goin’ On Wrong
(Perry Bradford / Williams)
3-5-1940New York, New YorkDecca
7742 B
She’s Got “It”8-1-1927Chicago, IllinoisGennett
6244
Take It Easy8-27-1929Chicago, IllinoisVocalion
1424
Take Off Them Hips
(Porter Grainger)
4-17-1940New York, New YorkDecca
7795-A
Turn Over4-17-1940New York, New YorkDecca
7806 B
Wasn’t It Nice?3-5-1940New York, New YorkDecca
7733
When They Play Them Blues
(Lil Armstrong / Frankie Jaxon)
3-5-1940New York, New YorkDecca
7742 A
Willie The Weeper
(Rymal / Melrose / Bloom)
7-22-1927Chicago, IllinoisBlack Patti
8048
You Can’t Put That Monkey On My Back
(Hy Heath / Billy Haley / Al Bernard)
5-19-1939New York, New YorkDecca
7619 A
You Can’t Tell4-17-1940New York, New YorkDecca
7806 A
You Know Jam Don’t Shake3-5-1940New York, New YorkDecca
7733

accompanied by

ArtistInstrument
Henry “Red” AllenTrumpet
Barney BigardClarinet
Wellman BraudBass
Sid CatlettDrums
Rupert ColeClarinet
Vance DixonClarinet, Piano
Thomas A. DorseyPiano
Jimmy FlowersPiano
Bill JohnsonBass
Freddie Keppard ?Cornet
Lil Hardin-ArmstrongPiano
Walter MartinWashboard
Punch MillerCornet
Arnett NelsonClarinet
Ikey RobinsonBanjo
Jasper TaylorWashboard
Count TurnerBanjo
Blanche Smith WaltonPiano
Hudson WoodbridgeGuitar

 

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