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Red was the leader of the Mound City Blue Blowers, in which he played comb, kazoo, and sang. Later, he went on to play with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra.

While working as a bellhop in St. Louis he and some friends would get together and play on the street and he was “discovered” and taken to Chicago to record in 1924.

They recorded “Arkansas Blues” and “Blue Blues“. The record sold over a million copies.

While playing in Atlantic City Red met Eddie Lang who joined the band and played with them in London. After his return to America, Red became active as a Jazz Promoter, more than as a Jazz musician. Red worked as a talent scout and set up the first Okeh Recording date for Beiderbecke, Eddie Lang and Frankie Trumbauer which featured the famous recording “Singing the Blues“.

Red McKenzie Bunny Berigan
Red McKenzie and Bunny Berigan, with Forrest Crawford, Morty Stuhlmaker, Eddie Condon, and Joe Bushkin at the piano.

In 1927, he promoted a Paramount Recording session at which a group of Chicagoans recorded the “Friar’s Point Shuffle”. In 1928, Okeh Records cut four sides with his group called McKenzie and Condon’s Chicagoans.

During the 1930s Red was often seen in New York’s 52nd Street jazz club area. But, Red was musically inactive and moved back to his home town of St. Louis and worked in a brewery throughout most of the Depression.

In 1944, he returned to New York and played with Eddie Condon and had one last recording date in 1947, before dying of cirrhosis of the liver.

sss band or session leader

Red McKenzie and his Mound City Blue Blowers
McKenzie and Condon’s Chicagoans
McKenzie’s Candy Kids
Red McKenzie and his Music Box
Red McKenzie and his Orchestra
Red McKenzie with the Spirits of Rhythm
Red McKenzie and his Rhythm Kings
Red McKenzie accompanied by Ernie Caceres’ Orchestra

TitleRecording DateRecording LocationCompany
It’s All Forgotten Now10-5-1934New York, New YorkDecca
243 A
It’s The Talk Of The Town9-1-1933New York, New YorkVocalion
2534
Murder In The Moonlight7-12-1935New York, New YorkDecca
507 A
This Time It’s Love9-1-1933New York, New YorkVocalion
2534
What’s The Use Of Getting Used To You?10-5-1934New York, New YorkDecca
243 A

TitleCompanyYear
The Opry HouseVitaphone1929
Nine O’Clock FolksVitaphone1930

 

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