HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Hal Kemp

Birth of Jazz: Hal Kemp

Hal Kemp

Born on 27 March 1904 in Marion, Alabama, James Hal Kemp was a big band director who indulged in jazz, albeit well-disciplined within a greater emphasis on popular dance. Kemp himself played reeds (clarinet and sax) and contributed to vocals. He wasn't a composer but particularly liked Harry Warren (1893-1981) whose music he often recorded. Kemp formed his first band during high school. He was a student at the University of North Carolina when he organized the Carolina Club Orchestra (CCO) which he then took to London to perform at the Piccadilly sponsored by band director and manager, Paul Sprecht [Moore]. It was in London that Kemp and his orchestra first recorded in August of 1924. The first two tracks in their initial session were 'Aren't You Ashamed?' (Columbia 3426) and 'Charleston Cabin' (Columbia 3448). Kemp returned to America in time for recordings in New York City in latter 1924. Later the next year he revamped the CCO with important comrades for some years to come including John Scott Trotter (piano and arrangement), Horace "Saxie" Dowell (tenor sax, clarinet, flute and vocals) and Robert "Skinnay" Ennis (drums and vocals). This new configuration began recording in April of 1926 as Hal Kemp's Orchestra.

'Red Hot Mama' Hal Kemp's Carolina Club Orchestra

Recorded Aug 1924 in London 3rd track of Kemp's 1st recording session Columbia 3446

Trumpet: Red Honeycutt / Monk Buie Trombone: Buck Weaver

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Kemp / Ben Williams / Joe Gillespie

Piano: Slatz Randall Banjo: William Waugh

Bass brass: Billy Wolfe Drums: Jimmy Brooks

Composition: Rose / Cooper / Wells

'Brown Sugar' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

Recorded 24 Feb 1927 in NYC Matrix E4592 Brunswick 3486

Trumpet: Wade Schlegel Trombone: Keith Roberts

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Kemp / Ben Williams / Saxie Dowell

Piano: John Scott Trotter Banjo: Olly Humphries

Tuba: Jimmy Mullen Drums: Skinnay Ennis

Composition: Harry Barris

'A Little Girl A little Boy A Little Moon' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

Recorded 24 Feb 1927 in NYC Matrix E4596 Brunswick 3486

Trumpet: Wade Schlegel Trombone: Keith Roberts

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Kemp / Ben Williams / Saxie Dowell

Piano: John Scott Trotter Banjo: Olly Humphries

Tuba: Jimmy Mullen Drums: Skinnay Ennis

Composition: Harry Warren / Robert King

'She's a Great Great Girl' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

Recorded 7 March 1928 in NYC Brunswick 3863

Vocals: Kemp / Saxie Dowell / Skinnay Ennis

Composition: Harry Woods

'Loveable' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

Recorded 20 April 1928 in NYC Matrix E27381 Brunswick 3937

Vocal: Skinnay Ennis

Music: Richard Whiting Lyrics: Saxie Dowell

'I Don't Care' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

Recorded 20 April 1928 in NYC Matrix E27382 Brunswick 3937

Composition: Saxie Dowell

'Oh Baby!' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

Recorded 1 June 1928 in NYC Brunswick 3954

Trumpet: Mickey Bloom / Bob Mayhew Trombone: Wendell "Gus" Mayhew

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Kemp / Ben Williams / Jack Mayhew / Saxie Dowell

Piano / arrangement: John Scott Trotter Violin: "Bromo" Sulser Banjo: Olly Humphries

Bass brass: Jimmy Mullen Drums / vocal: Skinnay Ennis

Composition: Owen Murphy

'Washington and Lee Swing' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

Recorded 28 Sep 1928 in NYC

Issued on 'The Hot Sides 1926-1931' Retrieval RTR79025 CD in 2011:

Amazon Challenger Discogs

Trumpet: Earl Geiger / Bob Mayhew Trombone: Wendell "Gus" Mayhew

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Kemp / Ben Williams / Jack Mayhew / Saxie Dowell

Piano / arrangement: John Scott Trotter Violin: "Bromo" Sulser Banjo: Olly Humphries

Bass brass: Jimmy Mullen Drums: Skinnay Ennis

Composition: Clarence Robbins / Mark Sheafe / Thornton Allen

Medley from 'His College Chums' The Hal Kemp Orchestra Film

Paramount release 16 March 1929

Featuring banjo w vocals by Eddie Peabody

'To Be In Love' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

C 13 May 1929 in NYC Brunswick 4388

Vocal: Skinnay Ennis

Music: Fred E. Ahlert Lyrics: Roy Turk

Kemp toured Europe again from May to August of 1930. During the Depression years he shifted from playing for the college audience to dance music. Kemp placed 29 titles in the Top Ten of the popularity charts from 'Moonlight Saving Time' at #2 in 1931 to 'It All Comes Back to Me Now' at #5 in 1941. Four of those topped the charts at #1 per 'There's a Small Hotel' (1936), 'When I'm with You' (1936), 'This Year's Kisses' (1937) and 'Where or When' (1937). TsorT lists his best-selling title overall as 'So You're the One' issued posthumously in 1941.

'Them There Eyes' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

18 Nov 1930 in NYC Brunswick 4992

Vocal: Skinnay Ennis

Composition: Doris Tauber / Maceo Pinkard / William Tracey

'Whistles' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

25 March 1931 in NYC Brunswick 6110

Trumpet: Jack Purvis / Earl Geiger Trombone: Wendell "Gus" Mayhew

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Kemp / Joe Gillespie or Ben Williams / Saxie Dowell

Piano / arrangement: John Scott Trotter Guitar: Gene "Pinky" Kintzle

String Bass: Paul Weston Drums / vocal: Skinnay Ennis

Composition: Phil Baxter

'Moonlight Saving Time' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

23 April 1931 in NYC Brunswick 6108 Charts: #2 1931

Vocal: Skinnay Ennis

Composition: Harry Richman / Irving Kahal

'I Found a Million Dollar Baby' Hal Kemp's Carolina Club Orchestra

15 May 1931 in NYC Matrix E-36687 Melotone M12177

Vocal: Skinnay Ennis

Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Mort Dixon / Billy Rose

'Sing a Little Jingle' Hal Kemp's Carolina Club Orchestra

15 May 1931 in NYC Matrix E-36688 Melotone M12177

Vocal: Skinnay Ennis

Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Mort Dixon

'Forty Second Street' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

C 1 Dec 1932 in Chicago Brunswick 6471 Charts: #7 1933

Vocal: Skinnay Ennis

Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin

'You're the Top' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

Radio transcription by World in NYC 14 Dec 1934

Issues: Circle CLP-25 in 1982 Circle CCD-25 in 1994

Trumpet: Earl Geiger / Russ Case Trombone: Ed Kusby (Kuczborski)

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Kemp / Harold Dankers / Ben Williams / Saxie Dowell

Piano: John Scott Trotter Guitar: Phil Fent

String Bass: Jack Shirra Drums / vocal: Skinnay Ennis

Composition: Cole Porter

'Thrilled' The Hal Kemp Orchestra backing Maxine Grey

3 May 1935 in NYC Brunswick 7437 Charts: #6 1935

Composition: Harry Barris / Mort Greene

'Breezy Rhythm' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

1936 film by Adolph Zukor issued in 1984 by Swing Time Video

Vocals: Maxine Grey / Skinnay Ennis / Saxie Dowell

Composition: Harry Barris / Mort Greene

'There’s a Small Hotel' The Hal Kemp Orchestra backing Maxine Grey

12 March 1936 in NYC Brunswick 7634 Charts: #1 1936

Composition: Rodgers / Hart

'I've Got a Date with an Angel' The Hal Kemp Orchestra

June 1937 in NYC Joyce 1092

Vocal: Skinnay Ennis

Composition: Clifford Grey / Jack Waller / Joseph Tunbridge / Sonny Miller

'In an 18th Century Drawing Room' The Hal Kemp Orchestra Film

Recorded 19 Dec 1939 Issued on 'Meet the Band Leaders' Swingtime Video SKL-17

Composition: Raymond Scott from 1st movement of Mozart's 'Piano Sonata No. 16' K 545

'Hal Kemp and His Orchestra' The Hal Kemp Orchestra Film

Directed by Jean Negulesco Released posthumously 14 June 1941 Vitaphone reel A191

Unfortunately, while on his way to a gig in San Francisco in 1940 Kemp had a head-on collision with a truck and died two days later in the prime of his life in the hospital on 21 December.

Sources & References for Hal Kemp:

Donald Clarke (Music Box)

Bruce Eder (All Music)

Encyclopedia

Christopher Popa (Big Band Library)

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Musical Associates:

Janet Blair (vocalist / 1921-2007)

Saxie Dowell (reeds / 1904-1974)

Skinnay Ennis (drummer / vocalist / 1907-1963)

Maxine Gray (also Grey / vocalist / c 1914-2006)