We continue with our corrections to the undocumented (and thus, often very incorrect) personnel listings in Johnson & Shirley’s American Dance Bands on Films and Records, successor to Brian Rust’s American Dance Band Discography.
The following listings, taken from Ed Kirkeby’s payroll books, correct ADBFR’s speculative personnel for the 1927 “Goofus Five” sessions at Okeh’s New York studio. Names in boldface are correct personnel, from the payroll books. Struck-out names are incorrect guesses that appear in ADBFR. See the previous posting for more information on the Kirkeby archival materials.
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New York: February 8, 1927
“Farewell Blues” (mx. 80402) / “I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate” (mx. 80403) / “Some of These Days” (mx. 80404)
Tpt: Chelsea Quealey Roy Johnston
Tbn: Abe Lincoln Ivan Johnston
Reeds: Sam Ruby, Bobby Davis, Adrian Rollini
Pno: Irving Brodsky Jack Russin
Bjo: Tommy Felline
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New York: April 14, 1927
“Muddy Water” (mx. 80730) / “The Wang Wang Blues” (mx. 80731) / “The Whisper Song” (mx. 80732) / “Arkansas Blues” (mx. 80733)
Tpt: Chelsea Quealey
Tbn: Abe Lincoln [none listed]
Reeds: Sam Ruby, Bobby Davis, Adrian Rollini
Pno: Irving Brodsky Jack Russin
Bjo / Gtr: Tommy Felline
Percussion: Herb Weil
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New York: June 15, 1927
“Lazy Weather” (mx. 81015) / “Vo-Do-Do-De-O Blues” (mx. 81016) / “Ain’t That a Grand and Glorious Feeling?” (mx. 81017)
Tpt: Chelsea Quealey
Tbn: Al Philburn Tommy Dorsey
Reeds: Bobby Davis, Sam Ruby, Adrian Rollini
Pno: Jack Russin
Bjo: Tommy Felline
Percussion: Herb Weil
Vocal: Ed Kirkeby
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New York: August 10 and 12, 1927
August 10: “Clementine” (mx. 81207) / “Nothin’ Does It Like It Used to Do-Do-Do” (mx. 81208)
August 12: “I Left My Sugar Standing in the Rain” (mx. 81219; originally scheduled for August 10 session)
Tpt: Chelsea Quealey
Tbn: Al Philburn [none listed]
Reeds: Bobby Davis, Sam Ruby, Adrian Rollini
Pno: Jack Russin
Bjo: Tommy Felline
Percussion: Herb Weil
Note: The vocalist (Beth Challis) was not on Kirkeby’s payroll.
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New York: November 3, 1927
“Blue Baby, Why Are You Blue?” (mx. 81772) / “Make My Cot Where the Cot-Cot-Cotton Grows” (mx. 81773) / “Is She My Girl Friend?” (mx. 81774)
Tpt: Henry Levine, Chelsea Quealey
Tbn: Al Philburn
Reeds: Bob Fallon, Pete Pumiglio, Spencer Clark
Pno: Jack Russin
Bjo: Tommy Felline
Percussion: Herb Weil
Note: The vocalist (Les Reis) was not on Kirkeby’s payroll.
