Isham Jones

Isham Jones

Source: SecondHandSongs

Bandleader and composer, Isham Jones, grew up in a mining family in Michigan to trade coal for tenor saxophone. Born on 31 January 1894 in Coalton, Ohio, he put together his first orchestra in 1911 toward becoming one of the top hotel dance band leaders of the Roaring Twenties. Albeit Jones' ran a band for popular dance, he had no problem putting tails on his coat by mixing in little passages of jazz from early on. Tom Lord traces Jones to as early as 'My Sahara Rose' gone down in June 1920 toward issue on Brunswick 5012, that one of 14 titles recorded that month, two of which rose nicely on the popularity charts per 'A Young Man's Fancy' reaching #12 in September (Brunswick 5014) followed the next month by 'Kismet' on Brunswick 5021 at #4. Recording prolifically during his career, Jones placed 52 titles in the Top Ten from 1920 to 1938. 'Wabash Blues' rose to the top of the charts for six weeks in December 1921 to sell a million copies. Five more of Jones' titles rose to #1: 'On the Alamo' in May 1922, 'Swingin' Down the Lane' in August 1923, 'It Had to Be You' in July of 1924, 'Remember' in December 1925 and 'Star Dust' in December 1930. It was his orchestra that had backed Al Jolson on 'California, Here I Come!' when it reached #1 in May of 1924. Jones backed numerous vocalists such as Bing Crosby and the Three X Sisters in 1932. Clarinetist, Woody Herman, was a member of Jones' band in the mid thirties. Among major collaborators were composers and lyricists, Gus Kahn and Charles Newman.

'Alice Blue Gown'   Waltz by the Isham Jones Orchestra

Recorded c June 1920 in NYC   Brunswick 5014

Composition: Joseph McCarthy / Harry Tierney

'Do You Ever Think of Me'   Isham Jones Orchestra

Recorded c Dec 1920 in NYC   Matrices 4877/9   Brunswick 5049

Composition: Earl Burtnell

'Make Believe'   Isham Jones Orchestra

Recorded c Dec 1920 in NYC   Matrices 4894/95   Brunswick 5049

Composition: Nathaniel Shilkret

'Wabash Blues'   Isham Jones Orchestra   #1 Dec 1921

Recorded August 1921 in NYC   Matrices 6247/48   Brunswick 5065

Composition: Fred Meinken

'Ma!'   Isham Jones Orchestra

Recorded August 1921 in NYC   Matrix 6263   Brunswick 5065

Music: Con Conrad   Lyrics ('Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me'): Sidney Clare

'Henpecked Blues'   Isham Jones Orchestra

Recorded 2 May 1923 in NYC   Brunswick 2479

Composition: Jules Buffano

'Who’s Sorry Now'   Isham Jones Orchestra

Recorded 4 May 1923 in NYC   Matrix 10559   Brunswick 2438

Composition: Ted Snyder

'Oh! Harold'   Isham Jones Orchestra

Recorded 4 May 1923 in NYC   Matrix 10560   Brunswick 2479

Composition: Leland Roberts

'Swinging Down the Lane   Isham Jones Orchestra   #1 Aug 1923

Recorded 4 May 1923 in NYC   Matrix 10564   Brunswick 2438

Composition: Isham Jones / Gus Kahn

'Easy Melody'   Isham Jones Orchestra

Recorded 9 Oct 1923 in NYC   Brunswick 2500

Composition: Gene Rodemich / Larry Conley

'It Had to Be You'   Isham Jones Orchestra   #1 July 1924

Recorded 24 April 1924 in Chicago   Matrices 115/7-CH   Brunswick 2600

Music: Isham Jones   Lyrics: Gus Kahn

'In the Land of Shady Palm Trees'   Isham Jones Orchestra

Recorded 24 April 1924 in Chcago   Matrices 121/3-CH   Brunswick 2600

Composition: Lyman / Arnheim / Freed

'Never Again'   Isham Jones Orchestra   #5 June 1924

Recorded 17 Jan 1924 in Chicago   Brunswick 2577

Composition: Isham Jones / Gus Kahn   Arrangement: Fred Huffer

'Tell Me, Dreamy Eyes'   Isham Jones Orchestra   #8 Jan 1925

Recorded 16 Sep 1924 in Chicago   Brunswick 2738

Composition: Gus Kahn / Phil Spitalny / Stubby Gordon   Arrangement: Fred Huffer

'The Original Charleston'   Isham Jones Orchestra

Recorded 2 Oct 1925 in Chicago   Brunswick 2970

Composition: Cecil Mack / James P. Johnson

'Not a Cloud in the Sky'   Isham Jones Orchestra backing Eddie Stone

Recorded 12 May 1930 in Chicago   Matrix C-5742-A   Brunswick 4826

Composition: Isham Jones / Charles Newman

'What's the Use?'   Isham Jones Orchestra backing Frank Silvano  #2 1930

Recorded 12 May 1930 in Chicago   Matrix C-5743-A.B   Brunswick 4826

Composition: Isham Jones / Charles Newman

'I'll Be Blue, Just Thinking of You'   Isham Jones Orchestra backing Arthur Fields

Recorded c Aug 28 1930 in Chicago   Brunswick 4914

Composition: George Whiting / Pete Wendling

'Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia'   Isham Jones Orchestra backing Eddie Stone

Recorded 17 Aug 1932 in Camden NJ   Victor 24099

Composition: Frank Perkins / Mitchell Parish

'Always in My Heart'   Isham Jones Orchestra backing Dave Franks

Recorded 2 Sep 1932 in Camden NJ   Victor 24118

Composition: Fred Coots / Roy Turk

'Isham Jones and His Orchestra with Gypsy Nina and the Boylans'   Film

Vitaphone Short   Copyright 1933   Release 12 May 1934

Vocals: Eddie Stone   Announcer: Eddie Vogt

'The Blue Room'   Isham Jones Orchestra

Recorded 16 July 1934 in Camden NJ   Bluebird 6449

Composition: Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart

'On the Alamo'   Isham Jones Orchestra backing Curt Massey

Recorded 1947 in Hollywood CA   Coast 8022

This had charted at #1 in May of 1922 per Brunswick 2245

Music: Isham Jones 1911   Lyrics: Gus Kahn 1922

Jones died on 19 Oct 1956 of cancer in Hollywood, Florida.