HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Rube Bloom

Birth of Jazz: Rube Bloom

Rube Bloom

Born on 24 April 1902 in New York City, pianist and bandleader, Rube (Reuben) Bloom, began recording with the band of Sam Lanin circa 8 May 1924 in New York City toward 'Oh! Baby' / 'Big Boy' on Okeh 40111 [Lord]. Bloom laid tracks with numerous groups that year, including Bix Beiderbecke's Sioux City Six toward 'Flock' o' Blues' / 'I'm Glad' (Gennett 5569). Thus began one of Bloom's more important musical relationships, being Frank Trumbauer, followed by violinist, Joe Venuti. Bloom would contribute to tracks by Venuti's Blue Four in 1928. Bloom also punched twenty-two piano rolls for Aeolean. Bill Edwards' rollography begins with 'Don't Wait Too Long' in December of 1925 and ends with 'Jumping Jack' in October 1928. Personnel rosters below are approximated per Lord.

'Georgia Blues' Rube Bloom (piano) w Sam Lanin's Arkansas Travelers

Recorded 21 May 1924 Matrix 72553=C Okeh 40124

Trumpet: Roy Johnston Trombone: Miff Mole

Clarinet / tenor sax: Chuck Miller C melody sax: Frank Trumbauer

Drums: Ward Archer

Composition: Billy Higgins / Benton Overstreet

'Lost My Baby Blues' Rube Bloom (piano) w Sam Lanin's Arkansas Travelers

Recorded 21 May 1924 Matrix 72554=A Okeh 40124

Trumpet: Roy Johnston Trombone: Miff Mole

Clarinet / tenor sax: Chuck Miller C melody sax: Frank Trumbauer

Drums: Ward Archer

Composition: Ray Hibbeler

'Down and Out Blues' Rube Bloom (piano) w the Hottentots

Recorded 11 Nov 1925 Matrix E1678 Vocalion 15161

Cornet: Red Nichols Trombone: Miff Mole Clarinet: Dick Johnson

Drums: Vic Berton Arrangement: Louis Katzman

Composition: Arthur L. Sizemore / W. Earthman Farrell

'Camel Walk' Rube Bloom (piano) w the Hottentots

Recorded 11 Nov 1925 Matrix E1681/2 Vocalion 15161

Cornet: Red Nichols Trombone: Miff Mole Clarinet: Dick Johnson

Drums: Vic Berton Arrangement: Louis Katzman

Composition: Bob Schafer / Cecil Mack / Tim Brymm / Chris Smith

'Sapphire' Piano solo by Rube Bloom

Recorded 2 Nov 1927 Okeh 40931

Composition: Bloom

'The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)' Ruth Etting

Piano: Rube Bloom Violin: Murray Kellner

Recorded 11 Nov 1927 Columbia 1196-D

Composition: Irving Berlin

Lord has Bloom sitting in Ben Selvin's orchestra for the first time in February of 1928. Bloom remained Selvin's pianist for another four years through numerous sessions. In the meantime Bloom ran his own Bayou Boys, recording with them for the first time on 1929 per 'The Man from the South' and 'St. James Infirmary' issued on Columbia 2103. Numerous of his compositions were taken to the Top Ten of the popularity charts by various artists. Ted Weems & His Orchestra topped the charts in 1930 with 'The Man from the South' written with Harry Woods. Fats Waller took 'Truckin'' composed with Ted Koehler to #1 in 1935. It was 'Day in, Day Out' by Bob Crosby & His Orchestra in 1939, collaborating with Johnny Mercer. The Glenn Miller Orchestra rode 'Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)' to the peak in 1940, that also with Mercer.

'Jumping Jack' Rube Bloom (piano) w Sam Lanin & His Famous Players

Recorded 26 Sep 1928 Okeh 41121

Trumpet: Leo McConville / Jack Purvis Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet / alto sax: poss Jimmy Dorsey / Fud Livingston

Tuba: Hank Stern Drums: Stan King

Composition: Bloom / Bernie Seaman / Marvin Smolev

'Just an Hour of Love' Rube Bloom (piano) backing Irene Bordoni

Recorded 22 Sep 1929 in NYC Columbia 2027-D

Music: Eddie Ward Lyrics: Alfred Bryan

'The Man from the South' Rube Bloom & His Bayou Boys

Recorded 16 Jan 1930 in NYC Matrix 149771-4 Columbia 2103-D

Trumpet: Manny Klein Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet: Benny Goodman Bass sax: Adrian Rollini

Piano: Bloom Drums: Stan King Vocals: Roy Evans / Bloom

Composition: Bloom

'St. James Infirmary' Rube Bloom & His Bayou Boys

Recorded 16 Jan 1930 in NYC Matrix 149772-2 Columbia 2103-D

Trumpet: Manny Klein Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet: Benny Goodman Bass sax: Adrian Rollini

Piano: Bloom Drums: Stan King Vocals: Roy Evans

Composition

'Mysterious Mose' Rube Bloom & His Bayou Boys

Recorded 9 April 1930 in NYC Columbia 2186-D

Trumpet: Manny Klein Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet / alto sax: Benny Goodman Tenor sax: Babe Russin Bass sax: Adrian Rollini

Piano: Bloom Drums: Stan King Vocals: Roy Evans

Composition: Walter Doyle

'There's a Wah Wah Gal in Agua Caliente' Rube Bloom & His Bayou Boys

Recorded 24 May 1930 in NYC Columbia 2218-D

Trumpet: Manny Klein Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet: Benny Goodman Tenor sax: Babe Russin Bass sax: Adrian Rollini

Piano: Bloom Guitar: Dick McDonough Drums: Stan King

Ukulele / vocals: Eddie Walters

Composition: Walter Donaldson

Bloom had backed other vocalists from Annette Hanshaw, Ethel Waters and Grace Johnson to Lee Morse and Johnny Mercer before retiring as a performer in the thirties, though continuing to compose. Sessionographies trace his final recordings to four piano solos on 18 December 1934 capped with 'Aunt Jemena's Birthday' issued on Victor 25227. Compositions are traced by Edwards to as late as 'Ev'rybody's Twistin'' with Ted Koehler issued on Reprise by Frank Sinatra in 1962. Bloom died in the city of his birth, NYC, on 30 March 1976.

Sources & References for Rube Bloom:

Cafe Songbook

Bill Edwards (compositions / sessions / rollography)

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Compositions: Music Brainz Music VF SHS

Rube Bloom in Film: IMDb

Recordings by Bloom: Catalogs:

All Music

Discogs (Rube Bloom)

Discogs (Rube Bloom & His Bayou Boys)

RYM