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George McClennon was a dancer and novelty clarinetist who was very active in African-American theatre and vaudeville from 1910 up until his death in 1937. McClennon’s records are a very good example of a style of playing the clarinet called “gas pipe”. “Gas pipe” clarinet players used the instrument to produce all kinds of honks, growls, squeaks and effects that sounded like animal noises, laughter and so forth. This style of playing was meant to be humorous and McClennon upped the entertainment value by performing comic acrobatic dances while he played.

McClennon died in 1937 in Chicago of tuberculosis. He was the adopted son of Bert Williams and like his adopted father he often performed in blackface makeup. George McClennon earliest records were released under the name of the Harlem Trio in 1923 and 1924.

ddd discography

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company
Anyone Want To Try My Cabbage?
(Andy Razaf / Fats Waller)
5-7-1925 New York, New York Okeh
8236
Bologny
(George McClennon)
6-11-1925 New York, New York Okeh
8337
Box Of Blues
(George McClennon)
9-1926 New York, New York Okeh
8143-B
Cut Throat Blues
(George McClennon)
5-2-1925 New York, New York Okeh
8214
Cotton Club Stomp
(George McClennon)
9-1926 New York, New York Okeh
8397-A
Dark Alley Blues
(George McClennon)
9-1926 New York, New York Okeh
8143-A
Disaster
(Troy / Banks)
8-1926 New York, New York Okeh
8406-A
Everybody But Me
(Troy / Dowell)
6-11-1925 New York, New York Okeh
8337
Home Alone Again Blues
(John Holmes / Fats Waller)
5-7-1925 New York, New York Okeh
8236
Larkin Street Blues
(Heywood)
5-2-1925 New York, New York Okeh
8214
Michigan Water Blues
(Clarence Williams)
9-1926 New York, New York Okeh
8150-A
Narrow Escape
(Easton)
9-29-1926 New York, New York Okeh
8406-B
New Orleans Wiggle
(A. J. Piron / Peter Bocage)
9-1926 New York, New York Okeh
8150-B
Pig’s Foot Blues
(George McClennon)
8-1926 New York, New York Okeh
8397-B
Stolen Kisses (Are The Sweetest)
(Williams)
6-18-1926 New York, New York Okeh
8329
While You’re Sneaking Out
(Somebody Else Is Eazin’ In)

(Dowell)
6-18-1926 New York, New York Okeh
8329

Artist Instrument
Buddy Christian Banjo
Bob Fuller Clarinet
Eddie Heywood, Sr. Piano
Charlie Irvis Trombone
John Lindsay Trombone
George McClennon Clarinet
Tom Morris Cornet
Clarence Williams Piano
unknown Cornet, Trombone, Banjo, Bass Brass, Piano, Drums

 

St Louis Cotton Club Band 1925

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