Tiny Bradshaw
Source: Same Old Song
Tiny Bradshaw was a drummer and vocalist born in Youngstown, Ohio, on 23 September 1907. He bridged big band swing to R&B with a side of boogie woogie. He had a degree in psychology from Wilberforce University before beginning to play professionally with the Collegians. Trading Ohio for New York City in 1932, he there worked in a few bands until forming his own swing orchestra in 1934. The eight sides on which he recorded vocals that year for Decca began with 'Shout Sister Shout' and 'Mister, Will You Serenade?'. His next recording dates didn't follow until ten years later in 1944, though the two sessions listed in Lord's sessionography aren't exact.
'I Ain't Got Nobody' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
3 Oct 1934 in NYC Matrix 38786-A Decca 456
Personnel as of Bradshaw's 1st session 2 week's earlier on 19 Sep 1934:
Trumpet: Lincoln Mills / Lester "Shad" Collins / Lawrence Maddox
Trombone: George Matthews / Eugene Green
Clarinet / tenor sax: Edgar Courance / Happy Caldwell
Alto sax: Bobby Holmes / Russell Procope
Piano: Clarence Johnson Guitar: Bob Lessey
Bass: Ernest Williamson Drums: Arnold Bolden Vocal: Bradshaw
Music: Spencer Williams Lyrics: Roger A. Graham 1915
It was sometime in 1944 in New York City that Bradshaw performed vocals on 'After You've Gone' and 'Straight Up and Fly Right' along with a couple instrumentals for Regis. Circa August found him broadcasting vocals for the AFRS (Armed Forces Radio Service) in Hollywood, 'Jubilee' #93: 'San Fernando Valley', 'Ready, Set, Jump', et al. Singer, June Richmond, was also featured on a couple of titles.
Medley Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra w Honey Bradshaw
'One Night Stand' radio broadcast AFRS #826 18 Jan 1945 at the Savoy Ballroom in NYC
Including: 'Bradshaw Bounce' / 'St. Louis Blues' / 'I Hope to Die'
'Remember When' / 'All of Me' / 'I Miss Your Kiss'
Moving from swing toward jump blues found Bradshaw's tractor gaining traction into higher gear, he to record such as 'Butterfly' and 'School Day Blues' in 1945, 'These Things Are Love' and 'If I Had a Million Dollars' in 1947, and 'Gravy Train' and 'Teardrops' in 1949. His first session in 1950 on February 8 in Cincinnati wrought such as 'Boodie Green Boogie' and 'After You've Gone', at which point Bradshaw's early fifties heyday commenced with such as 'Well Oh Well' reaching #2 on the R&B chart for 21 weeks in 1950. That was followed by 'I'm Going to Have Myself a Ball' at #5 the same year, 'Walkin' the Chalk Line' in September 1951, 'Soft' at #3 in January of 1953 and 'Heavy Juice' at #9 in August 1953. Bradshaw's last sessions were held on January 16, 1958, for release that year on the King label: 'Short Shorts' backed with 'Bushes'. Vocals not otherwise credited on titles below are by Tiny:
'Bride and Groom Boogie' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra backing Jack Fine
Sometime 1946-47 Matrix A1668 Manor 1181
Composition: Jack Fine
'Well Oh Well Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
8 Feb 1950 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K5847-2 King 4357
Composition: Lois Mann / Henry Bernard / Bradshaw
'I'm Gonna Have Myself a Ball' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
8 June 1950 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K5920 King 4397
Composition: Henry Glover / Sally Nix / Bradshaw
'Walk That Mess' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
28 Sep 1950 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K5971 King 4427
Composition: Henry Glover / Bradshaw
'Bradshaw Boogie' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
16 Jan 1951 in NYC Matrix K5971 King 4457
Trumpet: Leslie Ayres Alto sax: Orrington Hall (baritone)
Tenor sax: Red Prysock Piano: Jimmy Robinson
Guitar: Willie Gaddy Bass: Eddie Smith Drums: Calvin Shields
Composition: Henry Glover / Lois Mann
'The Train Kept a Rollin'' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
25 July 1951 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K9068 King 4497
Composition: Bradshaw / Lois Mann
'Soft' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
6 Oct 1952 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K9175-1 King 4577
Trumpet: Lester Bass Trombone: Andrew Penn
Tenor sax: Red Prysock / Rufus Gore Piano: Jimmy Robinson
Bass: Clarence Mack Drums: Philip Paul
Composition: Bradshaw
'Heavy Juice' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
19 Jan 1953 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K9238-1 King 4621
Trumpet: Lester Bass Trombone: Andrew Penn
Tenor sax: Red Prysock / Curtis Ross Piano: Jimmy Robinson
Bass: Clarence Mack Drums: Philip Paul
Composition: Ralph Bass / Bradshaw / Red Prysock
'The Gypsy' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
5 April 1954 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K9393-1 King 4727
Trumpet: Bill Hardman Trombone: Andrew Penn
Tenor sax: Sil Austin / Rufus Gore Piano: Jimmy Robinson
Bass: Sam Jones Drums: Philip Paul
Composition: Billy Reid
'Spider Web' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
5 April 1954 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K9396-1 King 4727
Trumpet: Bill Hardman Trombone: Andrew Penn
Tenor sax: Sil Austin / Rufus Gore Piano: Jimmy Robinson
Bass: Sam Jones Drums: Philip Paul
Composition: Ray Barrow
'Cat Nap' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
5 April 1954 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K9553-1 King 4777
Trumpet: Bill Hardman Trombone: Andrew Penn
Tenor sax: Rufus Gore Tenor / baritone sax: Leon Burns / Lovejoy Goverson
Piano: Jimmy Robinson Guitar: Clifford Bush
Bass: Sam Jones Drums: Philip Paul
Composition: Al Sears
'Short Shorts' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
16 Jan 1958 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K10033-1 King 5114
Flute: Whitfield Osborne Alto sax: Ray Felder
Piano: Jon Thomas Guitar: Clifford Bush
Bass: Clarence Mack Drums: Philip Paul
Composition: Tom Austin / Bob Gaudio
'Bushes' Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
16 Jan 1958 in Cincinnati OH Matrix K10034-1 King 5114
Flute: Whitfield Osborne Alto sax: Ray Felder
Piano: Jon Thomas Guitar: Clifford Bush
Bass: Clarence Mack Drums: Philip Paul
Composition: Henry Glover
Bradshaw died relatively young at age 51 upon multiple strokes on November 26 of 1958 in Cincinnati.
Sources & References for Tiny Bradshaw:
Marc Myers (JazzWax) VF History (notes) Wikipedia
Associates Musical:
Henry Glover (1921-91 / trumpet / composer / record producer):
DAHR Discogs Steve Huey (All Music) Marc Myers (JazzWax)
RYM TIMS (This Is My Story) Wikipedia Zero to 180
Audio of Bradshaw: Internet Archive YouTube
Compositions: Music Brainz Music VF SHS
Iconography: Find a Grave Wikimedia Commons
Recordings by Bradshaw: Catalogs:
(vinyl) 45 Worlds (shellac) All MusicDiscogs RYM Spontaneous Lunacy
Recordings by Bradshaw: Compilations:
Tiny Bradshaw: Breaking Up the House (Charly R&B CRB 1092 / 1985)
A Tribute to the Late Tiny Bradshaw: The Great Composer (King K-12-653 / 1960)
The Very Best of Tiny Bradshaw: Well Oh Well (2004)
Recordings by Bradshaw: Sessions:
DAHR (1934) Tom Lord: 22 sessions 1934-58
Further Reading: Usage of Bradshaw in film: IMDb
Other Profiles: From the Vaults TIMS (This Is My Story)
Classical Main Menu Modern Recording
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