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Red Mckenzie and his Mound City Blue Blowers
Here’s how Red Mckenzie tells of the birth of The Mound City Blue Blowers.

In 1923, Red was back in his home town, St. Louis, the ‘Mound City’ from which the Blue Blowers got their name:

Mound City Blue Blowers
The Mound City Blue Blowers in 1924. left to right: Dick Slevin, kazoo, Jack Bland, banjo, Eddie Lang, guitar, Red McKenzie, comb and paper.

“I was a bellhop in the Claridge, and across the street was a place called Butler Brothers Soda Shop. Dick Slevin worked there and there was a little colored shoe-shine boy who used to beat it out on the shoes. Had a phonograph going. I passed with my comb, and played along. Slevin would have liked to play a comb but he had a ticklish mouth, so he used a kazoo.

“He got fired across the street and got a job in a big soda store. He ran into Jack Bland, who owned a banjo (now known for his guitar), and one night after work they went to his room. He and Slevin started playing. They got me.

“Gene Rodemich’s was a famous band at that time. His musicians used to drop in at the restaurant where we hung out. They were impressed and told their boss. He took us to Chicago to record with his band, as a novelty.

“When we got to Chicago we went down Arkansaw Blues Mound City Blue Blowersto the Friars’ Inn. About 1924 it was. Volly de Faut and Elmer Schoebel were there. Isham Jones was at the place and he asked us what instruments we were playing. He had us come to his office next day, and set the date for Brunswick.

“That was the time 2-23-’24 we made “Arkansas Blues” and “Blue Blues“. They say it sold over a million copies. Brunswick put us in a cafe in Atlantic City called the Beaux Arts. I met Eddie Lang in Atlantic City. In New York, The Mound City Blue Blowers played the Palace in August, 1924.”

Subsequently, Red’s band played at the Stork Club in London. Upon returning to America McKenzie joined the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, but kept the band going on the side, with personnel changes. In 1935 he revived the Mound City Blue Blowers for a series of recording sessions.

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company
A Little Bit Independent
(Burke / Leslie)
12-12-1935 New York, New York Champion
40073
Arkansaw Blues
(Spencer Williams)
2-23-1924 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
2581-A
Barb Wire Blues
(Frankie Trumbauer)
7-9-1924 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
2648-A
Blue Blues
(Red McKenzie / Dick Slevin)
2-23-1924 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
2581-B
Blues In F
(Red McKenzie / Eddie Lang)
7-1925 New York, New York Brunswick
2908-A
Deep Second Street Blues
(McGauley / Red McKenzie / Eddie Lang)
12-10-1924 New York, New York Brunswick
2804-B
Eeney Meeney Miney Mo
(Johnny Mercer / Matty Malneck)
12-12-1935 New York, New York Champion
40073
Firehouse Blues
(Red McKenzie)
8-19-1929 New York, New York Columbia
1946-D
Georgia On My Mind
(Johnny Mercer / Hoagy Carmichael)
6-30-1931 New York, New York Okeh
41515
Gettin’ Told
(Red McKenzie / Eddie Lang)
2-9-1925 New York, New York Brunswick
2849-A
Hello Lola
(Red McKenzie / Means)
11-14-1929 New York, New York Victor
V-38100-B
Bluebird
B-10037-A
Bluebird
B-6270-A
High Society Blues
(A.J. Piron / Clarence Williams)
12-12-1935 New York, New York Champion
40103
Decca
1274 A
I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You
(Sam Thread)
6-30-1931 New York, New York Okeh
41526
I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me 6-30-1931 New York, New York Okeh
41515
I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music
(Franklin)
1-8-1936 New York, New York Champion
40091 B
Indiana
(Ballard MacDonald / James F. Hanley)
8-19-1929 New York, New York Columbia
1946-D
Indiana
(Ballard MacDonald / James F. Hanley)
5-9-1935 New York, New York Vocalion
2973 A
I’m Gonna Clap My Hands
(Riley / Farley)
2-17-1936 New York, New York Champion
40103
I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
(Joe E. Young / Fred E. Ahlert)
1-8-1936 New York, New York Champion
40082
I’m Shootin’ High
From 20th Century-Fox Production “King Of Burlesque”
Vocal Chorus by Nappy Lamare

(Jimmy McHugh / Ted Koehler)
12-12-1935 New York, New York Champion
40076 A
I’m Sittin’ High On A Hill Top
(Kahn / Johnston)
11-8-1935 New York, New York Champion
40059
I’ve Got My Fingers Crossed
From 20th Century-Fox Production “King Of Burlesque”
Vocal Chorus by Nappy Lamare

(Jimmy McHugh / Ted Koehler)
12-12-1935 New York, New York Champion
40076 B
Mama Don’t Allow It
(Davenport)
1-8-1936 New York, New York Champion
40091 A
Muskrat Ramble
(Kid Ory)
12-12-1935 New York, New York Decca
1274 B
Nervous Puppies
(Red McKenzie)
3-7-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3484-B
Never Had A Reason To Believe In You
(Red McKenzie / Billings)
9-25-1929 New York, New York Victor
V-38087-B
Bluebird
B-6270-B
On Treasure Island
(Burke / Leslie)
11-8-1935 New York, New York Champion
40060-A
One Hour
(Red McKenzie / Gene Krupa)
11-14-1929 New York, New York Victor
V-38100-A
Victor
40060
Bluebird
B-6456-A
Play Me Slow
(Hagen / O’Flynn)
2-9-1925 New York, New York Brunswick
2849-B
Red Hot!
(Ted Koehler / Frankie Trumbauer / Bradley / Sherman)
3-14-1924 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
2602-B
Red Sails In The Sunset
(Grosz / Kennedy)
11-8-1935 New York, New York Champion
40060-B
(If I Had) Rhythm In My Nursery Rhymes
(Lunceford / Chaplain)
1-8-1936 New York, New York Champion
40082
Saddle Your Blues To A Wild Mustang
Vocal Chorus by Billy Wilson

(Billy Reid / George Whitting / Buddy Bernier)
2-17-1936 New York, New York Champion
40099 B
San
(Lindsay McPhail / Walter Michaels)
3-14-1924 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
2602-A
She’s Latin From Manhattan
(Al Dubin / Harry Warren)
5-9-1935 New York, New York Vocalion
2957
Spreadin’ Rhythm Around
(McHugh / Koehler)
2-17-1936 New York, New York Champion
40098
Tailspin Blues
(Red McKenzie)
9-25-1929 New York, New York
Bluebird
B-6456-B
The Broken Record (A)
(Cliff Friend / Charlie Tobias / Boyd Bunch)
1-3-1936 New York, New York Pan
The Broken Record (B)
(Cliff Friend / Charlie Tobias / Boyd Bunch)
1-3-1936 New York, New York Champion
40081 B
Montgomery Ward
5022-B
The Darktown Strutters Ball
(Shelton Brooks)
6-30-1931 New York, New York Okeh
41526
Columbia
36281
The Music Goes Round And Round
(Mike Reilley / Ed Farley)
1-3-1936 New York, New York Champion
40081 A
Montgomery Ward
5022-A
Tiger Rag
(Nick LaRocca)
12-10-1924 New York, New York Brunswick
2804-A
Thanks A Million
(Kahn / Johnston)
11-8-1935 New York, New York Champion
40059
Wah-Hoo!
Vocal Chorus by Billy Wilson

(Cliff Friend)
2-17-1936 New York, New York Champion
40099 A
What Do I Care What Somebody Said
(Clare / Wood)
7-3-1927 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3484-A
What’s The Reason (I’m Not Pleasing You)
(Poe / Greer / Tomlin / Hatch)
5-9-1935 New York, New York Vocalion
2957
Wigwam Blues
(Red McKenzie / Dick Slevin / Jack Bland)
7-1925 New York, New York Brunswick
2908-B
You Ain’t Got Nothing I Want
(Red McKenzie / Dick Slevin)
7-10-1924 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
2648-B
You Hit The Spot
(Gordon / Revel)
2-17-1936 New York, New York Champion
40098
You’ve Been Taking Lessons
(From Somebody New)

(Tharpe / Watts)
5-9-1935 New York, New York Vocalion
2973 A

Artist Instrument
Dave Barbour Guitar
Ray Baudac Drums
Josh Billings Drums
Jack Bland Banjo
Bunny Berigan Trumpet
Gil Bowers Piano
Eddie Condon Banjo, Vocals
Forrest Crawford Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Spooky Dickenson Vocals
Jimmy Dorsey Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Pops Foster Banjo, Vocals
Harry Goodman Bass
Bob Haggart Bass
Coleman Hawkins Tenor Saxophone
Stan King Drums
Gene Krupa Drums
Nappy Lamare Guitar, Vocals
Yank Lawson Trumpet
Eddie Lang Guitar
Carmen Mastren Guitar
Red McKenzie Comb, Vocals
Eddie Miller Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Glenn Miller Trombone
Al Morgan Bass
Pete Peterson Bass
Al Philburn Trombone
Pee Wee Russell Clarinet
Jack Russin Piano
Dick Slevin Kazoo
Frank Signorelli Piano
Muggsy Spanier Cornet
Mort Stuhlmaker Bass
Jack Teagarden Trombone, Vocals
Dave Tough Drums
Sid Trucker Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Frankie Trumbauer C-Melody Saxophone
Sid Weiss Bass
Billy Wilson Vocals
Bruce Yantis Violin

Title Director Year
The Opry House Vitaphone 1929

 

A special thanks to Wayne Brandtner for his contributions to this page.

St Louis Cotton Club Band 1925

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