Original Memphis Five - The Syncopated Times

The Original Memphis Five was founded in 1917 by Phil Napoleon and Frank Signorelli after playing in dance bands together at Coney Island in New York. They were one of the most prolific of the early White Jazz bands. Their first record was actually released as an Original Dixieland Jazz Band record with the blessing of Nick La Rocca. The Original Dixieland Jazz Band had just broken up after La Rocca’s nervous breakdown in 1922.

Frank Signorelli was the only member of the Original Memphis Five who had been in the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. They recorded under a variety of other names including Ladd’s Black Aces, Jazzbo’s Carolina Serenaders, Bailey’s Lucky Seven, The Southland Six and The Cotton Pickers.

Red Nichols, Miff Mole, and Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey also played in the band from time to time. None of the band members were from Memphis or even the south. The band was named after W.C. Handy‘s song “Memphis Blues“.

Thanks to Carl Rose, Dominic Combe, Wayne Brandtner and James Gallup for their help with this page. Additional thanks to Scott and Mark of Vintage Music Company.

Some elements of the above narrative have become outdated based on new research. To learn more on the career of the OM5, please check out the following six-part article:
http://www.vjm.biz/178-om5-part-1-internet.pdf
http://www.vjm.biz/179-om5-part-2.pdf
http://www.vjm.biz/181-om5-part-3-internet.pdf
http://www.vjm.biz/optima—part-4—internet.pdf
http://www.vjm.biz/186-original-memphis-five–.pdf
http://www.vjm.biz/187-original–memphis-five-.pdf
Two more parts of the article are yet to be published:
Part 7 will appear in the February 2021 issue of VJM
Part 8 will appear in the June 2021 issue of VJM.

Title	Recording Date	Recording Location	Company
A Blues Serenade	12-28-1926	New York, New York	Victor (LP only)
A Bunch Of Blues (H. Alf Kelly / J. Paul Wyer)	9-22-1923	New York, New York	Edison 512461-L
Africa (Hanley)	7-21-1924	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle Perfect 14298
Aggravatin’ Papa (Roy Turk / J. Russel Robinson)	2-1923	New York, New York	Vocalion A 14506
A Man Never Knows When A Woman’s Gonna Change Her	5-29-1924	New York, New York	Banner 1375
Anything (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	11-24-1931	New York, New York	Columbia 2588-D
Aunt Hager’s Blues (W.C. Handy)	1-11-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle Perfect
Bad News Blues (Akst / Davis)		New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle Perfect
Back O’ Town Blues (Bowen / Herbedeaux)	11-20-1923	New York, New York	Edison
Bass Ale Blues	9-17-1925	New York, New York	Victor 19805
Beale Street Blues (W.C. Handy)	4-5-1929	New York, New York	Vocalion
Beale Street Blues (G) (W.C. Handy)	4-5-1929	New York, New York	Vocalion
Bees Knees (Ray Lopez / Ted Lewis)	11-1922	New York, New York	Banner 1132
Big Boy (Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)	11-1922	New York, New York	Banner 1360
Blue Grass Blues	3-11-1924	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle Perfect
Buzz Mirandy (Dave Franklin / Henry Creamer)	6-10-1922	New York, New York	Banner 1082
Chicago (Fred Fisher)	8-28-1922	New York, New York	Arto
Chinese Blues (G)	1-21-1926	New York, New York	Bruswick 3039
Choo Choo Blues (I Gotta Hurry Home) (Ringle / Duke Ellington / Schafer)		New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 036151
Cuddle Up Blues (M.K. Jerome / Harry De Costa)	5-11-1922	New York, New York	Arto
Dancin’ Dan	12-28-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1292
Deedle Deedle Dum (A. Sherman / Sam Coslow / Irving Mills)	6-10-1922	New York, New York	Banner 1082
Don’t Pan Me When I’m Gone (Gus Butler)	6-20-1922	New York, New York	Banner 1062
Doo Wacka Doo	2-10-1925	New York, New York	Columbia 308-D
Evening (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 036151 B
Evil Minded Blues Vocal Chorus by Anna Meyers	12-4-1922	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020877
Farewell Blues (Paul Mares / Leon Roppolo / Elmer Schoebel)	2-7-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle
Fireworks	7-13-1929	New York, New York	Vocalion 15761
Forgetful Blues (Fred Hamm / Henry Winston)	3-4-1924	New York, New York	Banner 1346
Four O’Clock Blues (Johnny Dunn / Gus Horsley)	12-1922	New York, New York	Paramount 20192-A
Four O’Clock Blues (Johnny Dunn / Gus Horsley)	1-11-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020893
Four O’Clock Blues (Johnny Dunn / Gus Horsley)	2-1923	New York, New York	Vocalion B 14506
Got To Cool My Doggies Now (Shafer / Thompson / Willaims)	8-28-1922	New York, New York	Arto
Got To Cool My Doggies Now (Shafer / Thompson / Willaims)	9-11-1922	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020825 B
Great White Way Blues (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	11-1922	New York, New York	Arto
Great White Way Blues (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	12-4-1922	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle Perfect 14081-B
Great White Way Blues (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	2-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1178
Gypsy Blues (Noble Sissle / Eubie Blake)	4-1922	New York, New York	Arto
Harmony Blues	2-28-1923	New York, New York	Bell
Haunting Blues (Walter Hirsch / Henry Busse)	12-1922	New York, New York	Paramount 20192-B
He May Be Your Man, But He Comes To See Me Sometimes	10-19-1922	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle
Hen Pecked Blues	5-2-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020995
Hootin’ de Hoot		New York, New York	Cameo 481
House Of David Blues (Elmer Schoebel / Billy Meyers / Irving Mills )	9-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1282
Hot n’ Cold	12-1922	New York, New York	Arto
How Come You Do Me Like You Do (Gene Austin / Roy Bergere)	12-4-1924	New York, New York	Columbia 260-D
How Come You Do Me Like You Do? (Gene Austin / Roy Bergere)	8-16-1927	New York, New York	Bruswick 3630
How Come You Do Me Like You Do? (Gene Austin / Roy Bergere)		New York, New York	Victor 19480-A
I Ain’t Never Had Nobody Crazy Over Me	5-1923	New York, New York	Bell
If Your Man Is Like my Man (I Sympathize With You)	3-29-1923	New York, New York	Bell
I’m Going Back To Those Who Won’t Go Back On Me	7-21-1924	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle
I’m Going To Wear You Off My Mind (Charlie Johnson / Warren Smith / Lloyd Smith)	6-20-1922	New York, New York	Arto
I’m More Than Satisfied (Fats Waller / Ted Klages)	7-13-1929	New York, New York	Vocalion 15712
Indigo Blues	9-27-1922	New York, New York	Arto
Indiana Stomp	9-25-1925	New York, New York	Columbia 480-D
I Never Care About Tomorrow		New York, New York	Perfect 14276-B
I Never Miss The Sunshine	3-12-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020939
It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo’ (Wendell Hall)	6-4-1924	New York, New York	Columbia 155-D
I’ve Got A Song For Sale (That My Sweetie Turned Down) (Jack Nelson)	10-4-1923	New York, New York	Victor 19170-A
Ivy	1-11-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle Perfect
I Wish I Could Shimmie Like My Sister Kate (A.J. Piron)	6-14-1922	New York, New York	Arto 9153-A
I Wish I Could Shimmie Like My Sister Kate (A.J. Piron754)	8-1922	New York, New York	Banner 1104
I Wish I Could Shimmie Like My Sister Kate (A.J. Piron)	9-11-1922	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020825 A Perfect 14051-A
Jacksonville Gal	10-26-1925	New York, New York	Columbia 502-D
Jazz Me Blues (Tom Delaney)	11-24-1931	New York, New York	Columbia 2588-D
Jelly Roll Blues (Jelly Roll Morton)		New York, New York	Edison
Ji Ji Boo (H. White / W. White / Meyer)	10-2-1922	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020842
Kansas City Kitty (Lesilie / Walter Donaldson)	4-5-1929	New York, New York	Vocalion
Keep It Under Your Hat	4-20-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle
Last Go Round Blues Vocal Chorus by Anna Meyers	12-4-1922	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020877
Last Night On The Back Porch Chorus by Billy Jones (Lew Brown / Carl Schraubstader)	9-27-1923	New York, New York	Columbia 7-D
Laughing Cryin’ Blues	3-29-1923	New York, New York	Bell
Lonesome Mama Blues (Billie Brown)	5-10-1922	New York, New York	Banner 1068 Regal 9301-A
Lonesome Mama Blues (Billie Brown)	5-11-1922	New York, New York	Paramount 20131-A
Lovely Lee	8-16-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3630
Loose Feet (Spencer Williams)	12-1922	New York, New York	Vocalion A 14527
Lovey Come Back (Sam Lewis / Joseph Young)	12-20-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1292 Regal 9588-A
Loose Feet (Spencer Williams)	1-1923	New York, New York	Vocalion A 14527
Maybe She’ll Write Me, Maybe She’ll Phone Me (Turk / Snyder)	2-21-1924	New York, New York	Banner 1322
Meanest Blues (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		New York, New York	Victor 19480-B
Memphis Blues (W.C. Handy)	4-5-1929	New York, New York	Vocalion
Memphis Glide (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	4-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1193
Memphis Glide (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	5-2-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020981 B Perfect 14132-B
Military Mike	9-17-1925	New York, New York	Victor 19805
Mobile Blues (Fred Rose / Albert Short)	12-4-1924	New York, New York	Columbia 260-D
More	12-4-1923	New York, New York	Columbia 37-D
My Angeline	7-13-1929	New York, New York	Vocalion 15712
My Honey’s Lovin’ Arms	4-1922	New York, New York	Arto
My Honey’s Lovin’ Arms	11-21-1931	New York, New York	Columbia 2577-D
Nobodys Knows What A Red-head Mama Can Do	2-10-1922	New York, New York	Columbia 308-D
No One Knows What It’a All About (Rose / Woods)		New York, New York	Radiex 1246 Triangle
Off To Buffalo	12-28-1926	New York, New York	Victor (LP only)
Oh Baby (Don’t Say Maybe) (Buddy De Sylva / Walter Donaldson)		New York, New York	Perfect 14276-A
Oh, Sister! Ain’t That Hot? (Walter Donaldson)	9-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1282
Pacific Coast Blues	6-14-1922	New York, New York	Arto
Papa, Better Watch Your Step (Bud Cooper / Gilbert Wells)	5-2-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020995
Papa Blues (Pete Wendling / Max Kortland)	2-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1178
Papa Blues	3-12-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle
Pickles (Charles Rasoff)	5-25-1923	New York, New York	Columbia A3924
Railroad Man	11-1922	New York, New York	Arto
Red Head Gal		New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020939
Sad News Blues (Benny Davis / Harry Akst)	6-20-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle
Red Hot Mama (Bud Cooper / Gilbert Wells / Fred Rose)		New York, New York	Emerson 10782
Red Hot Mama (Bud Cooper / Gilbert Wells / Fred Rose)	6-4-1924	New York, New York	Columbia 155-D
Runnin’ Wild (Joe Grey / A. Harrington Gibbs)	12-1922	New York, New York	Banner 1143
Sad News Blues (Benny Davis / Harry Akst)	6-20-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle
Sad News Blues (Benny Davis / Harry Akst)	8-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1254
Shake Your Feet (Gene Buck / Dave Stamper)		New York, New York	Banner 1309 Regal 9601
She Wouldn’t Do (What I Asked Her To) (Gottlieb / Bouteje / Burt)	12-4-1923	New York, New York	Columbia 37-D
Shufflin’ Mose (Phil Napoleon / Lottman / Frank Signorelli / Smith)	4-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1193
Shufflin’ Mose (Phil Napoleon / Lottman / Frank Signorelli / Smith)	6-20-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle Perfect
Shufflin’ Mose (Phil Napoleon / Lottman / Frank Signorelli / Smith)	7-16-1923	New York, New York	Edison 51204-R
Shufflin’ Mose (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	1924	New York, New York	Columbia 50-D
Since Ma Is Playing Mah Jong (Billy Rose / Con Conrad)		New York, New York	Columbia 74-D
Snake Hips (Spencer Williams)	3-22-1923	New York, New York	Victor 19052-B
Snuggle Up A Bit (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		New York, New York	Perfect 14224-A
Sob Sister Sadie (Bob Bigelow / Charles Bates)	1-12-1925	New York, New York	Victor 19594-A
Souix City Sue (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	3-11-1924	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle Perfect
Souix City Sue (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	5-29-1924	New York, New York	Banner 1373
Souix City Sue (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	7-25-1924	New York, New York	Columbia 186-D
Static Strut (Jack Yellen / Phil Wall)	4-16-1926	New York, New York	Victor 20039-A
Steppin’ Out (Con Conrad / Howard Bowen)	12-7-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1296
St. Louis Gal (J. Russel Robinson)	12-4-1923	New York, New York	Columbia 50-D
St. Louis Gal (J. Russel Robinson)	11-21-1931	New York, New York	Columbia 2577-D
Stop Your Kiddin’ (Irving Mills / Frede Grofe / Jimmy McHugh)	10-19-1922	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle
Stop Your Kiddin’ (Irving Mills / Frede Grofe / Jimmy McHugh)	10-27-1922	New York, New York	Arto
Stop Your Kiddin’ (Irving Mills / Frede Grofe / Jimmy McHugh)	11-1922	New York, New York	Banner 1132
Stop Your Kiddin’ (Irving Mills / Frede Grofe / Jimmy McHugh)	11-6-1922	New York, New York	Vocalion A 1446
Struttin’ Jim	6-20-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle
Struttin’ At The Strutters’ Ball (Spencer Williams)	8-1922	New York, New York	Banner 1110-A Regal 9368-B
Superstitious Blues (Turk / Rososs / Mason)	7-21-1924	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle Perfect 14298 B
Sweet Lovin’ Mama (Wagner)	2-7-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle
Sweet Mama, Please Come Back To Me	2-12-1923	New York, New York	Arto
Sweet Papa Joe (Link / Britt / Russell)		New York, New York	Cameo 478
St. Louis Gal (J. Russel Robinson)	11-20-1923	New York, New York	Edison (rejected)
Struttin’ At The Strutters Ball	8-1922	New York, New York	Paramount
‘Taint Cold	8-16-1927	New York, New York	Bruswick 3039
‘Taint Cold	10-26-1925	New York, New York	Columbia 502-D
‘Taint Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do Vocal Chorus by Anna Meyers (Porter Grainger / E. Robbins)	10-19-1922	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020870
Tampeekoe	4-16-1926	New York, New York	Victor 20039-B
Teasin’ Squeezin’ Man of Mine (Dowell / Frank Signorelli / Phil Napoleon)	1923	New York, New York	Oriole 127-A
That Barking Dog, Woof! Woof! (Jack Austin)	11-6-1922	New York, New York	Vocalion B 1446
That Bran’ New Gal O’ Mine (Gus Van / Joseph Schenck / Harry Akst / Benny Davis)		New York, New York	Banner 309 Regal 9601
That Da Da Strain (Medina / Dowell)	9-27-1922	New York, New York	Arto
That Da Da Strain Vocal Chorus by Anna Meyers (Medina / Dowell)	10-19-1922	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020870
That Eccentric Rag (J. Russel Robinson)	2-7-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle
That Red-Head Gal (Van Schenck / Lodge)	3-12-1923	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle Perfect 14121-A
That Teasin’ Squeezin’ Man Of Mine (Edgar Dowell / Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	8-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1254
The Grass Is Always Greener	7-25-1924	New York, New York	Columbia 186-D
The Great White Way Blues (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	1-1923	New York, New York	Vocalion B 14527
The Great White Way Blues (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	7-16-1923	New York, New York	Edison 51204-L
The Jelly-Roll Blues (Jelly Roll Morton)	9-22-1923	New York, New York	Edison 51246-R
The Wicked Dirty Fives	10-27-1922	New York, New York	Arto
31st Street Blues (Hall / Giese / Davis)	8-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1336
Tin Roof Blues (Paul Mares / G. Mares / Ben Pollock / Leon Roppolo / Mel Stitzel)	10-4-1923	New York, New York	Victor 19170-B
Those Longing For You Blues (Frank Westphal)	5-10-1922	New York, New York	Banner 1068 Regal 9301-A20131-B
Throw Down Blues (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	2-4-1925	New York, New York	Victor 19594-B
Throw Down Blues (Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)	9-25-1925	New York, New York	Columbia 480-D
Wait’ll Til You See My Gal		New York, New York	Emerson 10782
Walk, Jenny, Walk Chorus by Billy Jones (Sam Wooding / Bob Shafer)	9-27-1923	New York, New York	Columbia 7-D
Whoa, Tillie! Take Your Time	12-1922	New York, New York	Arto
Who’s Sorry Now? (Ted Snyder)	3-22-1923	New York, New York	Victor 19052-A
Why Should I Weep About One Sweetie (James F. Hanley)		New York, New York	Columbia 74-D
You Can Have Him, I Don’t Want Him, Didn’t Love Him Anyhow Blues (Tracey / Dougherty)	10-2-1922	New York, New York	Pathé Actuelle 020842 B
Your Mama’a Gonna Slow You Down (Bud Cooper / Gilbert Wells)	11-1923	New York, New York	Banner 1296 Regal 9588-B
You’ve Got To See Mama Ev’ry Night	5-1923	New York, New York	Bell

Artist	Instrument
Ray Kitchingman	Banjo
Jimmy Lytell	Clarinet
Loren McMurray	Alto, Tenor Saxophone
Anna Meyers	Vocals
Miff Mole	Trombone
Phil Napoleon	Trumpet
Charles Panelli	Trombone
Jack Roth	Drums
Frank Signorelli	Piano
George White	Vocals

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