Jean Goldkette
Source: Michihisa Ishikawa
Born on 18 March 1893 in France, then spending his childhood in Greece and Russia, bandleader, Jean Goldkette, emigrated to the United States with an uncle in 1911. Trained in classical piano at the Moscow Conservatory, he is said to have been a prodigy which abilities he maintained even as he made his fame in jazz as a bandleader rather than performer. Goldkette is reported to have made at least one piano roll in Chicago in 1916, 'La Seduccion' on Imperial 6130. Having arrived to Detroit in 1916 to compose, arrange and teach music, the next year he joined the AFM (American Federation of Musicians) Local #5. On 17 June 1918 he made a trial recording in NYC of 'Aunt Patsy' with saxophonist, Duane Sawyer. This appears in Victor ledgers without a matrix number, nothing else about it known [DAHR]. Goldkette did, however, issue recordings in 1918, backing Sawyer on 'Sinbad' and 'Going Up' per Gennett 8512-B. When this session went down is obscure but the disc was advertised in the 31 August 1918 edition of the Saturday Evening Post [see also multiple undated Sawyer in the Gennett Sound Recording Collection of 1917-1930].
Goldkette became a U.S. citizen by joining the U.S. Army in 1918 toward the end of World War I. Upon discharge in 1920 he headed for Chicago where he formed his first orchestra to perform at the roof garden of the La Salle Hotel. That configuration included himself at piano, two violins, xylophone, cello and Sawyer at saxophone.
La Salle Hotel in Chicago
La Salle & Madison Street
23 stories with 1000 rooms erected in 1908/09
Where Goldkette formed his first orchestra in 1920
Source: Wikipedia
Sometime in 1920 or 1921 Goldkette acquired employment as music director of the Detroit Athletic Club where he gathered together a band of twelve members. Remaining musical director of the DAC for nearly twenty years, this is probably where Goldkette's orchestra did its first recordings for Victor in Detroit.
Detroit Athletic Club
Built 1915 at 241 Madison Street
Where Goldkette formed his first orchestra in Detroit c 1920/21
Probably where Goldkette did his recording for Victor
Source: Wikipedia
Goldkette purchased the Graystone with Charles Horvath toward its grand opening on 27 Feb 1922 [At Detroit Forum / Music Origins Project / Setlist]. This is where the Jean Goldkette Orchestra performed when not as the Victor Recording Orchestra. Costing about six quarters for a couple to buy entrance to this dance venue, the Graystone would be Detroit's major ballroom for decades to come.
Graystone Ballroom in Detroit
Primary Roaring Twenties dance venue completed 1922
Woodward & Kenfield
Co-owned by Goldkette & where his main orchestra performed
Source: Historic Detroit
Goldkette also acquired residency at the rooftop of the Book-Cadillac Hotel perhaps as early as 1924, that skyscraper of 33 stories built to completion the year before. Albeit Goldkette was a fine pianist, arranger and director he soon less performed with his orchestra than worked at the business of locating venues for bands that he formed, to become more than twenty of them under the umbrella of 'Jean Goldkette's Orchestras and Attractions' which office was located at the Book-Cadillac where Owen A. Barlett directed Goldkette's Book-Cadillac Orchestra.
Book-Cadillac Hotel in Detroit
Completed 1923 at 1114 Washington Blvd
Where Goldkette's Book-Cadillac Orchestra performed rooftop
Where Goldkette ramrodded his orchestral empire
Source: Wikipedia
Goldkette made his earliest known recordings to issue with his orchestra in March of 1924. Gone down in Detroit on the 27th were 'In the Evening' (Victor 19308), 'Where the Lazy Daisies Grow' (Victor 19308), 'My Sweetheart' (Victor 19313) and 'Eileen' (Victor 19327). The next day witnessed 'Fox Trot Classique' (Victor 19345) and 'Cover Me Up with Sunshine' (Victor 19317) with 'Chanson Bohemienne' unissued. Dates later in November in Detroit saw such as 'I Want to See My Tennessee' (Victor 19548) and the waltz, 'Honest and Truly' (Victor 19528). It was 1924 that Goldkette's band became the official Victor Recording Orchestra. Personnel rosters herein are gleaned from various sources not always in agreement and are "in the neighborhood" per session.
'In the Evening' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 27 March 1924 in Detroit Matrix 29807-3 Victor 19308
Goldkette Orchestra's first recording to issue
Trumpet: Fuzzy Farrar / Ray Lodwig / Tex Brewster
Trombone: Bill Rank / Tommy Dorsey
Reeds (clarinet / sax): Doc Ryker / Jimmy Dorsey / Don Murray
Piano: Paul Mertz / Dewey Bergman
Violin: Joe Venuti Banjo: Howdy Quicksell
Tuba: Irish Henry Drums: Charles Horvath
Composition: Walter Donaldson
'I Didn't Know' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 24 Nov 1924 in Detroit Victor LPM-2323 (1961)
Cornet: Bix Beiderbecke Trumpet: Fuzzy Farrar / Tex Brewster
Trombone: Bill Rank / Tommy Dorsey
Reeds (clarinet / sax): Doc Ryker / George Williams / Don Murray
Piano: Dewey Bergman / Paul Mertz
Violin: Joe Venuti Banjo: Howdy Quicksell
Tuba: Irish Henry Drums: Charles Horvath
Composition: Clarence Jones / Will Rossiter Williams
Lord's jazzography drops Goldkette in 1925 but has him recording numerously in 1926 in NYC and Chicago commencing with 'The Rose Brought Me You' and 'After I Say I'm Sorry' on 27 January in NYC, those unreleased. 'After I Say I'm Sorry' went down again on the 28th with 'Dinah' for issue on Victor 19947. Though Goldkette's orchestra was purposed to popular hotel dance he employed numerous big names in early jazz including Bix Beiderbecke, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Pee Wee Russell and Spiegle Willcox. Beiderbecke had joined Goldkette's operation in 1924 upon leaving the Wolverines. Jazz thus found its way into Goldkette's music albeit to measure. Per above, among Goldkette's multiple dance bands was his Book-Cadillac Hotel Orchestra which he recorded as in 1926. Goldkette also put together the Cotton Pickers and Glen Gray's Orange Blossoms, which would become the Casa Loma Orchestra under Gray.
'Dinah' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 28 Jan 1926 in NYC Victor 19947
Trumpet: Fuzzy Farrar / Ray Lodwig
Trombone: Spiegle Willcox / Bill Rank
Reeds (clarinet / sax): Doc Ryker / Jimmy Dorsey / Don Murray
Piano: Lou Longo Violin: Joe Venuti Banjo: Howdy Quicksell
String Bass: Steve Brown Drums: Chauncey Morehouse
Composition: Harry Akst / Sam Lewis / Joe Young
'I'd Love To Call You My Sweetheart'
Jean Goldkette's Book-Cadillac Hotel Orchestra led by Owen A. Bartlett
Session: 1 Oct 1926 in NYC Victor 20257
Cornet: Horace Houck Trombone: Duke Sellers
Alto sax: Bartlett / Mike Ploven Tenor sax: Paul Mason
Piano: Paul Mertz Violin: Mike Ploven / Paul Mason
Pipe organ: Jesse Crawford Banjo: Stuart Henner
Tuba: Irish Henry Drums: Al Kelly
Composition: Joe Goodwin / Larry Shay / Paul Ash
'I'd Rather Be the Girl in Your Arms' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 15 Oct 1926 in NYC Victor 20273
Vocal: Al Lynch
Composition: Walter Donaldson / Abe Lyman
'My Pretty Girl' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 1 Feb 1927 in NYC 2nd of two takes
Take 1: Matrix 37587-1 issued on Victor 20588
Take 2 (this above): Matrix 37587-2 issued on X EVA-10 (45 rpm) & 10" X LVA-3017
Cornet: Bix Beiderbecke Trumpet: Fuzzy Farrar / Ray Lodwig
Trombone: Bill Rank / Spiegle Willcox / Lloyd Turner
Reeds (clarinet / sax): Doc Ryker / Frank Trumbauer / Danny Polo / Don Murray
Piano: Paul Mertz or Irving Riskin Violin: Joe Venuti / Eddy Sheasby
Guitar: Eddie Lang Banjo: Howdy Quicksell
String Bass: Steve Brown Drums: Chauncey Morehouse
Composition: Harry Akst / Sam Lewis / Joe Young
X LVA-3017 ('Big Band Jazz of the Twenties'): Discogs Riverside Jazz Records
'Sunny Disposish' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 3 Feb 1927 in NYC One of two takes:
Matrix 37599-2 issued on Victor 20492
Matrix 37599-3 issued on French Victor 741093
Guitar: Eddy Lang
Vocal quartet: Lewis James / Charles Harrison / Elliott Shaw / Wilfred Glenne
Composition: Phil Charig / Ira Gershwin
'Clementine (From New Orleans)' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 15 Sep 1927 in NYC Victor 20994 W film of c 1925
Cornet: Bix Beiderbecke Trumpet: Fuzzy Farrar / Ray Lodwig
Trombone: Lloyd Turner / Bill Rank / Spiegle Willcox
Saxophone: Doc Ryker / Frank Trumbauer (C melody) / Don Murray
Piano: Irving Riskin Violin: Joe Venuti
Guitar: Eddie Lang Banjo: Howdy Quicksell
String Bass: Steve Brown Drums: Chauncey Morehouse
Composition: Harry Warren Arrangement: Bill Challis Direction: LeRoy Shield
Film: New Orleans Jazz Museum Collection
'So Tired' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 12 Dec 1927 in Kansas City Victor 21150
Cornet or trumpet: Nat Natoli / Andy Secrest / Sterling Bose
Trombone: Lorin Schulz / Red Gingler
Reeds (clarinet / sax): Larry Tice / Bob Hutsell / Reggie Byleth (Severance) / Ray Porter
Piano: Harry Bason / Hoagy Carmichael Violin: Myron Schulz
Accordion / arrangement: Harold Stokes Banjo: Joe Galbraith
Tuba: Harold George Drums: Mel Miller Vocal: Hoagy Carmichael Direction: LeRoy Shield
Composition: Arthur Sizemore / George Little
'Here Comes the Show Boat' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 14 Dec 1927 in Kansas City 2nd of two takes
Take 1: Matrix 41377-3 issued on Timeless CBC 1-084 (2003)
Take 2 (this above): Matrix 41377-4 issued on Victor 21166
Cornet or trumpet: Nat Natoli / Andy Secrest / Sterling Bose
Trombone: Lorin Schulz / Red Gingler
Reeds (clarinet / sax): Larry Tice / Bob Hutsell / Reggie Byleth (Severance) / Ray Porter
Piano: Harry Bason Violin / direction: Myron Schulz
Accordion / arrangement: Harold Stokes Banjo: Joe Galbraith
Tuba: Harold George Drums: Mel Miller
Vocals: Myron Schultz / Ray Porter / Harold Stokes
Composition: Walter Donaldson / Abe Lyman
Goldkette's industry in business was with an appetite to attempt more than he could chew. Beginning to experience inability to pay his musicians, many migrated to the orchestra of Paul Whiteman in 1927. Beiderbecke joined them, though perhaps more for reason that he didn't read music, which was a necessity with Goldkette's type of operation. Goldkette held his last known studio session for the next thirty years on 27 July 1929 in Chicago. The last recorded to see issue was 'An Old Italian Love Song'.
'Painting the Clouds with Sunshine' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 14 June 1929 in NYC Victor 22027
Vocal: Frank Munn
Composition: Al Dubin / Joe Burke
'Birmingham Bertha' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 27 July 1929 in Chicago Matrix 55516-2 Victor 22077
Trumpet: John Nesbitt / Langston Curl Trombone: Claude Jones
Alto sax / arrangement: Don Redman Tenor sax: George Thomas
Piano: Harry Bason Violin / direction: Myron Schulz
Accordion: Harold Stokes Banjo: Dave Wilborn
Tuba: Ralph Escudero Drums: Cuba Austin Vocal: Kay Palmer
Composition: Harry Akst / Grant Clarke
'An Old Italian Love Song' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 27 July 1929 in Chicago Matrix 55517-3 Victor 22123
Trumpet: Nat Natoli Trombone: Claude Jones
Alto sax / arrangement: Don Redman Tenor sax: George Thomas
Piano: Harry Bason Violin / arrangement: Victor Young
Accordion: Harold Stokes Banjo: Dave Wilborn
Tuba: Ralph Escudero Drums: Cuba Austin Vocal: Van Fleming
Composition: Charles Harrison / Walter Hirsch / Harry Sosnik / E. Clinton Keithley
Goldkette's organization at the Graystone had been the major light of the Roaring Twenties in Detroit since at least 1922. This wasn't to last, as in 1935 he declared bankruptcy and left the industry of popular dance. He didn't, however, cease to form orchestras, for in the latter thirties he returned to classical piano and organized the American Symphony Orchestra in 1939 to debut at Carnegie Hall. Three decades after his last recordings in 1929 he returned to popular genre once more, putting together an orchestra toward the 1959 album, 'dance hits of the 20's in stereo', which are thought his final tracks.
'Dinah' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 13 July 1959 in NYC
Album: 'dance hits of the 20's in stereo' on RCA Camden CAS 548 1959
Trumpet: Jimmy Maxwell Davis / Yank Lawson / Doc Severinsen / Mel Davis
Trombone: Will Bradley / Urbie Green / Jack Satterfield
Clarinet: Hank D'Amico
Alto sax: Toots Mondello / Deane Kincaide Tenor sax: Milt Yaner / Al Klink
Piano: Irving Brodsky Violin: Felix Orlewitz
Guitar: George Barnes Banjo: Dave Wilborn
Bass / tuba: Ward Lay Drums: Chauncey Morehouse Arrangement: Sy Oliver
Composition: Harry Akst / Sam Lewis / Joe Young
'Charleston' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 13 July 1959 in NYC
Album: 'dance hits of the 20's in stereo' on RCA Camden CAS 548 1959
Trumpet: Jimmy Maxwell Davis / Yank Lawson / Doc Severinsen / Mel Davis
Trombone: Will Bradley / Urbie Green / Jack Satterfield
Clarinet: Hank D'Amico
Alto sax: Toots Mondello / Deane Kincaide Tenor sax: Milt Yaner / Al Klink
Piano: Irving Brodsky Violin: Felix Orlewitz
Guitar: George Barnes Banjo: Dave Wilborn
Bass / tuba: Ward Lay Drums: Chauncey Morehouse Arrangement: Sy Oliver
Composition: Cecil Mack / Jimmy Johnson
'Varsity Drag' Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra
Session: 13 July 1959 in NYC
Album: 'dance hits of the 20's in stereo' on RCA Camden CAS 548 1959
Trumpet: Jimmy Maxwell Davis / Yank Lawson / Doc Severinsen / Mel Davis
Trombone: Will Bradley / Urbie Green / Jack Satterfield
Clarinet: Hank D'Amico
Alto sax: Toots Mondello / Deane Kincaide Tenor sax: Milt Yaner / Al Klink
Piano: Irving Brodsky Violin: Felix Orlewitz
Guitar: George Barnes Banjo: Dave Wilborn
Bass / tuba: Ward Lay Drums: Chauncey Morehouse Arrangement: Sy Oliver
Composition: Cecil Mack / Jimmy Johnson
Goldkette moved to California beaming in the sun in 1961, only to die of heart attack the following year on 24 March 1962 in Santa Barbara.
Sources & References for Jean Goldkette:
Josh Duffee (The Detroit Athletic Club to the Graystone)
Josh Duffee (John Jean Goldkette - The Prince of Jazz)
VF History (notes)
Recordings: Catalogs:
Recordings: Compilations:
Bix Beiderbecke with Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra (1924-1927 / 2003)
(1924-1928 / 2002)Recordings: Select:
dance hits of the 20's in stereo
(last known recordings on RCA Camden CAS 548 / 1959)Recordings: Sessions:
Scott Alexander (Red Hot Jazz):
Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra (1924-29)
Goldkette’s Book-Cadillac Orchestra (1926)
DAHR (Discography of American Historical Recordings):
Jean Goldkette (1929)
Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra (1926/28)
Goldkette’s Book-Cadillac Orchestra (1926)
Tom Lord: leading 44 of 44 sessions 1924-59
Brian Rust:
Jazz and Ragtime Records, 1897-1942: Google Books
Jazz and Ragtime Records, 1917–1934: ininet
Further Reading:
Gennett Records and Starr Piano by Charlie Dahan & Linda Irmscher / Arcadia Publishing / 2016
Jean Goldkette’s Post-Bix Recordings: The Don Redman Arrangements by Nick Dellow w Albert Haim:
Classical Main Menu Modern Recording
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