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:

“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 to 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