HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Putney Dandridge

Birth of Swing Jazz: Putney Dandridge

Putney Dandridge

Born 13 January 1902 in Richmond, Virginia, pianist and vocalist, Putney Dandridge was a musician who showed a lot of promise during his early career, then vanished presumably due to poor health. Putney had begun his professional career in 1918, spending a decade or so taking solo shows on tour before forming his own band in Ohio in the early thirties. Jan Evensmo finds Dandridge making his first recording as a vocalist for the Six Jolly Jesters on 29 October 1929 ('Goin' Nuts' for Vocalion). He next performed piano and vocals with tap dancer, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, in the film, 'Harlem Is Heaven' in the spring of 1932. He then performed in the film, 'Scandal', in 1933. He first released his own recordings in 1935. Going down on March 25 toward Vocalion 2935 in New York City were 'You're a Heavenly Thing' and 'Mr. Bluebird' [Lord]. Members of his band are thought to have been Herman Autrey (trumpet), Gene Sedric (tenor sax), Al Casey (guitar), Henry Turner (bass) and Harry Dial (drums).

'Goin' Nuts' Putney Dandridge (scat vocal) w the Six Jolly Jesters

29 Oct 1929 in NYC Matrix 31371-A Vocalion V.1041

Trumpet: Cootie Williams / Freddie Jenkins Trombone: Joe Nanton

Piano: Duke Ellington Guitar: Teddy Bunn Drums: Sonny Greer

Washboard: Bruce Johnson Kazoo: Harold “Blinky” Randolph

'Harlem Is Heaven' Putney Dandridge (piano) w Bill "Bojangles" Robinson Film

Film directed by Irwin Franklyn Released 27 May 1932

Three performances (2 appearances) by Dandridge:

9:29 at piano w Bill Bojangles Robinson

36:54 at piano backing Robinson on 'Step Dance' ('Stair Dance Medley')

40:12 at piano backing Robinson on 'Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t?'

IMDb Wikipedia

'You're a Heavenly Thing' Putney Dandridge (piano / vocal)

25 March 1935 Matrix 17173-1 Vocalion 2935

Trumpet: Herman Autrey Tenor sax: Gene Sedric

Guitar: Al Casey Bass: Henry Turner Drums: Harry Dial

Composition: Joe Young / Jack Little

'Mr. Bluebird' Putney Dandridge (piano / vocal)

25 March 1935 Matrix 17174-1 Vocalion 2935

Trumpet: Herman Autrey Tenor sax: Gene Sedric

Guitar: Al Casey Bass: Henry Turner Drums: Harry Dial

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael

Putney recorded as one of Adrian Rollini's Tap Room Gang on 14 June 1935. Roy Eldridge blew trumpet in Putney's orchestra in New York City on 25 June 1935. Come another jazz hot shot in Henry Red Allen the next month in August.

'Nagasaki'

Putney Dandridge (piano / vocal) w Adrian Rollini and His Tap Room Gang

14 June 1935 Matrix 92266-1 Victor 25208

Trumpet: Wingy Manone Clarinet / alto sax: Joe Marsala

Bass sax / vibes: Rollini

Guitar: Carmen Mastren Bass: Sid Weiss Drums: Sam Weiss

Composition: Harry Warren / Mort Dixon 1928

'Honeysuckle Rose'

Putney Dandridge (piano / vocal) w Adrian Rollini and His Tap Room Gang

14 June 1935 Matrix 92267-1 Victor 25208

Trumpet: Wingy Manone Clarinet / alto sax: Joe Marsala

Bass sax / vibes: Rollini

Guitar: Carmen Mastren Bass: Sid Weiss Drums: Sam Weiss

Composition: Fats Waller / Andy Razaf 1929

'Chasing Shadows' Putney Dandridge (vocal)

25 June 1935 Matrix 17730-1 (1st of 2 takes) Vocalion 2982

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge Tenor sax: Chu Berry

Piano: Harry Grey Guitar: Carmen Mastren

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Bill Beason

Composition: Abner Silver / Benny Davis

'Shine' Putney Dandridge (vocal)

2 Aug 1935 Matrix 17938-1 Vocalion 3024

Trumpet: Henry Red Allen Clarinet: Buster Bailey

Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Lawrence "Larry" Lucie

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Walter Johnson

Composition: Cecil Mack / Ford Dabney / Lew Brown

'Double Trouble' Putney Dandridge (vocal)

21 Oct 1935 Matrix 18185-1 Vocalion 3082

Trumpet: Shirley Clay Alto sax: Charlie Holmes

Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Clarence Holiday

Bass: John Kirby Drums: Walter Johnson

Composition: Leo Robin / Richard Whiting / Ralph Rainger

'It's the Gypsy In Me' Putney Dandridge (vocal)

1 Sep 1936 in NYC Matrix 19796-1 Vocalion 3315

Piano: Clyde Hart Bass: John Kirby

Composition: Charlie Tobias / Dave Franklin

Dandridge is found in only sixteen sessions [Evensmo] from 1929 to 1936 before he went ghost. Wikipedia notes that he may have dropped out of the music business due to bad health. Evensmo and Tom Lord trace him to as late as 10 December 1936 in New York City for Vocalion. His band consisted of Doc Cheatham (trumpet), Tom Mace (clarinet), Teddy Wilson (piano), Allan Reuss (guitar), Ernest Hill (bass) and Sidney Catlett (drums) toward 'I'm in a Dancing Mood', 'With Plenty of Money and You', 'That Foolish Feeling' and 'Gee, You're Swell'.