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Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
Merritt Brunies led this orchestra at the Friars Inn at 1834 Wasbash Street at Van Buren in Chicago. They got the gig after Merritt’s brother George Brunies‘ band the Friar’s Society Orchestra vacated the job in 1924. Merritt’s band stayed on at the Friar’s Inn for three years before leaving for the Cinderella Ballroom.

Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra
Merritt Brunies and his Friars Inn Orchestra Left to Right: Gordon Pouliot, Bill Paley, Henry Brunies, Maurie Friedman, Merritt Brunies, Bill Creger, Norman Van Hook, Clarence Piper, Rip Logan.

The Brunies family produced several jazz musicians. Henry Brunies played trombone in the Friars Inn Orchestra and another of the Brunies brothers, Abbie was the leader of the Halfway House Orchestra back home in New Orleans.discography

TitleRecording DateRecording LocationCompany
Angry
(Merritt Brunies / Henry Brunies / Jules Cassard)
11-1924Chicago, IllinoisAutograph
610
Clarinet Marmalade
(Larry Shields / Henry Ragas)
6-1925Chicago, IllinoisAutograph
624
Flag That Train
(Richmond / McPhail / Rothschild)
5-1925Chicago, IllinoisAutograph
624
Flamin’ Mamie
(Rose / Whiteman)
2-26-1926Chicago, IllinoisOkeh
40579
Follow The Swallow
(Rose / Dixon / Henderson)
9-1924Chicago, IllinoisAutograph
Forever With You3-2-1926Chicago, IllinoisOdeon
03301
Hangin’ Around
(Gardner / Hamm)
2-26-1926Chicago, IllinoisOkeh
40579
(I Don’t Know Why)
Weep Over You

(Volly de Faut / Clarke / Straight)
11-1924Chicago, IllinoisAutograph
610
I’m As Blue As The Blue Grass Of Kentucky
(Keithley)
2-26-1926Chicago, IllinoisOkeh
40576
Masculine Women! Feminine Men!
(Lesilie / Monaco)
3-2-1926Chicago, IllinoisOkeh
40593
She’s Got ‘Em
(Davis / Warren)
11-14-1925Chicago, IllinoisOkeh
Test
Someone’s Stolen My Sweet Baby
(Brown / Clare / Pinkard)
3-2-1926Chicago, IllinoisOkeh
40593
Sugar Foot Stomp
(King Oliver)
11-14-1925Chicago, IllinoisOkeh
40526-B
Up Jumped The Devil
(Merritt Brunies / Henry Brunies)
9-1924Chicago, IllinoisAutograph
Up Jumped The Devil
(Merritt Brunies / Henry Brunies)
11-14-1925Chicago, IllinoisOkeh
unissued
Up Jumped The Devil
(Merritt Brunies / Henry Brunies / Hamm)
3-2-1926Chicago, IllinoisOkeh
40618
Want A Little Lovin’
Vocal Chorus by Lew King

(Davis / Warren)
11-14-1925Chicago, IllinoisOkeh
40526-A
When Autumn Leaves Are Falling
(Coslow / Silver)
2-26-1926Chicago, IllinoisOkeh
40576

ArtistInstrument
Henry BruniesTrombone
Merritt BruniesCornet
Bill CregerTenor Saxophone, Bassoon
Volly de FautClarinet / Alto Saxophone
Maurie FriedmanPiano
Lew KingVocals
Sumner LoganTenor Saxophone, C-Melody Saxophone
Dudley MecumPiano
Bill PaleyDrums
Clarence PiperAlto Saxophone, Banjo
Gordon PouliotViolin
Norman Van HookBass Brass

 

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