An Interracial Tune A Day (#2)

King Oliver and Frank Marvin.

Today’s post features what is essentially a King Oliver “ghost” band. Oliver apparently directed the ensemble, but he was a sugar fanatic, had serious tooth problems and wasn’t playing at this point. He hired two great trumpeters, Red Allen and Bubber Miley to take his place. Bubber’s the one playing the plunger mute.

The white performer is vocalist Frank Marvin, using the name Sonny Woods. Marvin participated in scores of interracial recordings, including with Duke Ellington, Fess Williams and others.

King Oliver, Henry “Red” Allen, Bubber Miley (tp) Jimmy Archey (tb) Bobby Holmes (cl) Glyn Paque (cl,as) unknown (cl,as) Walter Wheeler (cl,ts) Don Frye (p) Arthur Taylor (bj) Jean Stultz (g) Clinton Walker (tu) unknown (chimes-1) Carroll Dickerson (dir,vln-2) Frank Marvin (vcl) [alias Sonny Woods (vcl) New York, 10am-2pm, January 28, 1930.

• St. James infirmary (fm vcl,1)- Vic 22298, LPV529, RCA (G)10017, (F)430709;

• When you’re smiling (fm vcl,2)- Vic 22298, Jass 603, RCA (F)741057, Halcyon (E)HDL106

This is a South American release-the best quality I could find.

All entries are from my book “As Long as They Can Blow. Interracial Jazz Recording and Other Jive Before 1935.”