HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Lee Wiley

Birth of Swing Jazz: Lee Wiley

Lee Wiley

Born on 9 October 1908 in Gibson, Oklahoma, Lee Wiley was a contralto part Cherokee who left home at age fifteen to become a radio star in New York City. Unfortunately, that didn't go far, as she was injured while falling from a horse. The 1963 film, 'Something About Lee Wiley', has that taking place in Oklahoma. Wiley is otherwise said to have begun her professional career singing at KVOO Radio in Tulsa. Unable to construct a clear sequence of events during Wiley's teenage years, I note that DAHR nevertheless has her in session for the first time with the Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Orchestra (MPO) as early as 27 July of 1928 in Camden, New Jersey, for an unissued recording of 'The Sawdust Paradise'. Numerous trials of that went down until a master was achieved on 30 July with Wiley singing the solo. Paramount released the silent version of the associated lost film, 'The Sawdust Paradise', in September 1928 [IMDb]. The fate of Wiley's recording with the MPO is also unknown.

Eventually signing up with violinist and bandleader Leo Reisman, Wiley's first recording with him per DAHR and Tom Lord went down on 15 June 1931: 'Take It from Me' on Victor 22757. Come 'Time on My Hands' unissued on 19 October, again on the the 26th toward Victor 22839. 'Got the South in My Soul' went down on 15 June toward Victor 24048. That was composed by Victor Young with lyrics by Ned Washington with Wiley. A radio transcription was made of that with Rudy Vallée and his Connecticut Yankees on 13 October 1932, getting issued in 1977 and 1980 on the album, 'On the Air' (Totem 1021). The cartoon, 'Three's a Crowd', released in December of 1932 included a version of 'Got the South in My Soul' sung by the character, Uncle Tom.

'Take It from Me' Lee Wiley w Leo Reisman and His Orchestra

Wiley's first-known recording to issue

30 June 1931 in NYC 69993-1 Victor 22757

Known personnel:

Trumpet: Bubber Miley Trombone: Ernie Gibbs / Chuck Campbell

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Jessie Smith (flute) / Burt Williams

Violin: Reisman / Lew Conrad

Piano: Raymond Pugh Celeste: Jack Shilkret Drums: Harry Sigman

Composition: Thomas Fats Waller / Stanley Adams

'Time On My Hands' Lee Wiley w Leo Reisman and His Orchestra

26 Oct 1931 in NYC 70291-4 Victor 22839

Known personnel probably much the same as above

Composition: Harold Adamson / Mack Gordon / Vincent Youmans

Come Victor Young and his Serenaders on 21 January 1933 for 'You're an Old Smoothie' (Brunswick 6484) and 'I'll Leave These Reminders For You' (Merritt 24). 'A Tree Was a Tree' went down on 24 February possibly with pianist, Joe Mareso, issued years later in 1991 on the compilation, 'The Complete Young Lee Wiley 1931-1937' (Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1023-2). That also holds songs performed in her next session with the Dorseys on 7 March: 'You've Got Me Crying Again' and 'I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues'.

'Got the South in My Soul' Lee Wiley w Leo Reisman and His Orchestra

15 June 1932 in NYC 73011-1 Victor 22839

Known personnel probably much the same as above

Composition: Victor Young / Ned Washington / Lee Wiley

'I Got a Right to Sing the Blues' Lee Wiley w the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

7 March 1933 in NYC

Either B-13123-1 issued on Jass Nineteen (1989)

Or B-13123-2 issued on Philomel 1000 (1978)

Trumpet: Bunny Berigan Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet: Jimmy Dorsey Piano: Fulton McGrath

Violin: Joe Venuti Guitar: Dick McDonough

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Stan King

Composition: Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler

Wiley also worked with the Casa Loma Orchestra as well as Paul Whiteman's operation. Other big names with whom she bumped shoulders were Bunny Berigan and Max Kaminsky. Her most significant musical associate was guitarist, Eddie Condon with whom she first recorded on November 5, 1938, yielding 'Sugar' from a performance for the BBC at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. Condon and Wiley would record with Fats Waller ten days later in Kaminsky's orchestra. They then made some private recordings in Hollywood in 1939: 'You're So Indiff'rent', 'All I Remember Is You' and 'I Can't Give You Anything But Love'. Wiley started recording with Condon's bands in 1942 ('Stormy Weather' et al), heavily in 1944 and 1945, again in 1949 for television. In the meantime she had appeared in the short film, 'Woody Herman & His Orchestra', released in July of 1940.

'I've Got a Crush on You'

Lee Wiley w Max Kaminsky and His Orchestra featuring Fats Waller (piano)

15 Nov 1939 in NYC WP 26270-A Liberty Music Shop L 282

See also the album 'Eight Show Tunes from Scores by George Gershwin' on LMS-1004 (1950)

Or B-13123-2 issued on Philomel 1000 (1978)

Trumpet: Kaminsky Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell Tenor sax: Bud Freeman

Guitar: Eddie Condon ? Bass: Artie Shapiro Drums: George Wettling

Composition: George & Ira Gershwin

'Don't Blame Me' Lee Wiley w Eddie Condon (guitar)

Eddie Condon's Blue Network Show 22 (AFRS 20)

14 Oct 1944 at the Ritz Theatre in NYC See 'Jazum-26' of 1973

Trumpet: Max Kaminsky / Billy Butterfield Trombone: Benny Morton

Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell / Edmond Hall

Tenor sax: Bud Freeman Baritone sax: Ernie Caceres

Piano: Jess Stacy Bass: Bob Casey Drums: George Wettling

Music: Jimmy McHugh Lyrics: Dorothy Fields 1932

'When Your Lover Has Gone' Lee Wiley w Eddie Condon (guitar)

Eddie Condon's Blue Network Show 32 (AFRS 30)

30 Dec 1944 at the Ritz Theatre in NYC See 'Jazum-53' of 1973

Trumpet: Max Kaminsky Trombone: Benny Morton

Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell Baritone sax: Ernie Caceres

Piano: Jess Stacy Bass: Jack Lesberg Drums: George Wettling

Composition: Einar Aaron Swan 1931

Live at the Storyville Club in Boston Lee Wiley

Sequence per Tom Lord:

'Oh Look At Me Now' 24 Sep 1951 Uptown Records UPCD 27.46

'Deed I Do' 24 Sep 1951 Uptown Records UPCD 27.46

'That's For Sure' 27 Sep 1951 Memories Lightest LWIL403

'S' Wonderful' 27 Sep 1951 'Lee Wiley Sings' Yadeon 503

Cornet: Muggsy Spanier Piano: George Wein

Bass: John Field Drums: Barrett Deems

'Manhattan' Lee Wiley

30 Sep 1951 in NYC 1 of 2 takes

See compilations on Memories-Lightest LWIL403 or Uptown Records UPCD 27.46

Trumpet: Billy Butterfield Piano: Joe Bushkin

Bass: Mort Stuhlmaker Drums: George Wettling Unknown string quartet

Composition: Rodgers & Hart

'How Deep Is The Ocean' Lee Wiley

4 Dec 1951 in NYC CO 47238

See 'Lee Wiley Sings Irving Berlin' on Columbia 4-39804

Piano: Stan Freeman or Cy Walter

Composition: Irving Berlin

In 1954 Wiley appeared at the first Newport Jazz Festival with Bobby Hackett. She recorded her last studio album, 'Back Home Again', in 1971 for Bill Borden's Monmouth-Evergreen label. She last performed in 1972 at Carnegie Hall where the Newport Jazz Festival had that year been temporarily relocated. See 'Lee Wiley at Carnegie Hall' issued in 1995.