Dick McDonough

Dick McDonough

Source: 78 Record Spins

Born on 30 July 1904 in New York City, banjo and guitar player, Dick McDonough, was largely a session player in demand by a host of popular and jazz musicians. Participating in above 300 sessions, what follows herein can be but meager highlighting of a considerably fuller career as he progresses from banjo to jazz guitar. Though McDonough led his own orchestra from 1929 to 1937 and was a considerably accomplished guitarist to which we give a glance at each herein, this presentation less focuses on McDonough himself than winds a progress through early recording via some of the operations to which he contributed.

McDonough began to learn banjo and mandolin as a teenager, also a hockey player in high school. He attended Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and Columbia Law School in New York City where he began his professional career. McDonough debuts in Tom Lord's sessionography with Ross Gorman and his Earl Carroll Orchestra on August 2, 1925, for Columbia, those tracks, 'A Kiss in the Moonlight' and 'Somebody's Crazy About You', neither issued. McDonough's first released titles with Gorman were recorded on August 7 the same year, again with the Earl Carroll Orchestra for Columbia in NYC including the waltz, '(You Forgot to) Remember', and 'Oh! Boy, What a Girl'. Earl Carroll was a producer and composer who opened the Earl Carroll Theatre in New York City in 1922 where he presented the Earl Carroll Vanities beginning in 1923. McDonough's first session included Miff Mole and Red Nichols. McDonough and Mole recorded numerously together with Gorman and other operations into 1929. He and Nichols were also frequent companions into 1927 and later in 1932. Tim Gracyk, curator for 'Oh! Boy, What a Girl' below, mentions Paul Whiteman probably for reason that Gorman played clarinet in Whiteman's orchestra. Whiteman otherwise made no contribution to this recording that I can determine:

'Oh! Boy, What a Girl'   Ross Gorman and His Earl Carroll Orchestra

Recorded 7 Aug 1925 in NYC   Columbia 435-D

McDonough's 2nd recording to issue

Trumpet: Red Nichols / James Kozak / Donald Lindley

Trombone: Miff Mole

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Ross Gorman / Alfie Evans / Harold Noble / William McGill

Baritone sax: Barney Acquelina   Flute / piccolo: Nick Koupoukis

Violin: Jack Harris / Saul Sharrow   Guitar: Tony Colucci

 Banjo: Dick McDonough   Drums: David Grupp

Composition: Bud Green / Frank Wright / Frank Bessinger (lyrics)

'I'd Rather Be the Girl in Your Arms'   Ross Gorman and His Orchestra

Recorded 24 March 1926 in NYC   Columbia 615-D

Trumpet: Red Nichols / Donald Lindley / Harry Gluck

Trombone: Sunny Clapp

Clarinet / sax: Ross Gorman / Harold Noble

Sax: Bert Reynolds / Billy McGill   Piano: Fred Lightner

Violin: Saul Sharrow   Guitar: Tony Colucci

 Banjo: Dick McDonough   Drums: David Grupp

Composition: Harry Archer / Harlan Thompson

On 26 September 1926 McDonough sat in the Earl Carroll Vanities Orchestra led by Don Voorhees. McDonough worked with Voorhees' orchestra at least to 15 October 1926.

'Sunday'   Don Voorhees and His Earl Carroll Vanities Orchestra

Recorded 29 Nov 1926 in NYC   Edison 51890

Cornet: Red Nichols   Trumpet: Mike Mosiello / Leo McConville

Trombone: Miff Mole

Clarinet / sax: Phil Gleason / Fred Morrow / Paul Cartright

C melody sax: Bill Trone   Piano / violin: Joe Raymond

Guitar / banjo: Dick McDonough   Bass brass: Jack Hansen

Drums: Vic Berton   Vocal: Arthur Hart

Composition: Chester Conn / Benny Krueger / Ned Miller / Jule Styne

Come the Charleston Chasers on 4 January 1927 recording unissued titles. Their first to see release was recorded 27 January 1927. The Charleston Chasers recorded severally to as late as February 9, 1931.

'Someday Sweetheart'   The Charleston Chasers

Recorded 27 Jan 1927 in NYC   Columbia 861-D

Cornet: Red Nichols   Trombone: Miff Mole

Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey   Piano: Arthur Schutt

Banjo: Dick McDonough   Tuba: Joe Tarto   Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Benjamin & John Spikes

'Feelin' No Pain'   The Five Pennies

Recorded 15 Aug 1927 in NYC   Brunswick 3626-B

Cornet: Red Nichols   Trumpet: Leo McConville / Mannie Klein

Trombone: Miff Mole   Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell

Tenor sax: Fud Livingston   Bass sax / goofus: Adrian Rollini

Piano: Lennie Hayton   Guitar: Dick McDonough   Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Fud Livingston

Either McDonough or guitarist, Carl Kress, sat in Ben Selvin's orchestra on 26 May 1927 toward 'Just a Little Cuter' and 'Marionette'. McDonough supported Selvin on several occasions into 1931. McDonough and Kress got mixed together numerously in various bands to as late as 1937. They recorded duets together in 1934 and 1937.

It was 8 February 1929 when McDonough put away his first tracks with Benny Goodman supporting Jack Pettis. Goodman and McDonough got mixed numerously into 1931. McDonough would sit in the Benny Goodman Orchestra in 1933 and 1934.

'Sweetest Melody'   Jack Pettis and His Orchestra

Recorded 8 Feb 1929 in NYC   Matirx 401596-B   OKeh 41411

Trumpet: Bill Moore / Donald Bryan

Trombone: Jack Teagarden   Clarinet / alto sax: Benny Goodman

C melody sax: Jack Pettis   Piano: Al Goering

Guitar / banjo: Dick McDonough   Tuba: Merrill Kline   Drums: Dillon Ober

Composition: Al Goering / Irving Mills / Jack Pettis

'Bag o' Blues'   Jack Pettis and His Orchestra

Recorded 8 Feb 1929 in NYC   Matirx 401596-B   OKeh 41410

Trumpet: Bill Moore / Donald Bryan

Trombone: Jack Teagarden   Clarinet / alto sax: Benny Goodman

C melody sax: Jack Pettis   Piano: Al Goering

Guitar / banjo: Dick McDonough   Tuba: Merrill Kline   Drums: Dillon Ober

Composition: Al Goering / Irving Mills / Jack Pettis

McDonough's first title issued as an orchestra leader was recorded on 13 March 1929 toward 'Broadway Rose':

'Broadway Rose'   Dick McDonough and His Orchestra

McDonough's first session as leader recorded 13 March 1929 in NYC   Meritt 9

Trumpet: Mickey Bloom or Bob Mayhew   Trombone: Wendell Gus Mayhew

Clarinet / sax: Ben Williams / Horace Saxie Dowell

Piano / arrangement: John Scott Trotter

Guitar: Dick McDonough   Drums / vocal: Robert Skinnay Ennis

Composition: Martin Fried / Otis Spencer / Eugene West (lyrics)

McDonough first backed vocalist, Smith Ballew, on 15 April of 1929 toward 'Wake Up Chillun, Wake Up' and 'I Kiss Your Hand, Madame'. Ballew hired McDonough numerously to as late as 1933.

Come the Sunshine Boys who recorded unissued titles on 27 April 1929. Their initial issued titles went down on 6 May 1929. This ensemble run by Dan and Joe Mooney held a few further sessions into 1931. It was a Sunshine Boys session on 29 August 1929 that McDonough first got mixed with violinist, Joe Venuti, toward 'It's Unanimous Now' and 'That's Where I Come In' on Columbia 1963-D. McDonough and Venuti supported numerous sessions of various together to as late as 1935.

McDonough first supported band director, Victor Young, on 7 June 1929. Occasions followed including the Victor Young Orchestra to as late as 24 August 1934.

McDonough backed Annette Hanshaw on 18 October 1929. Further titles with Hanshaw went down in 1932 and 1933.

'The Right Kind of Man'   Annette Hanshaw

18 Oct 1929 in NYC   Okeh 41327

Trumpet: Phil Napoleon   Trombone: Charlie Butterfield

Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey   Piano: Irving Brodsky

Guitar: Dick McDonough   String bass: Joe Tarto    Drums: Stan King

Composition: Louis Wolfe Gilbert / Abel Baer

On 27 July 1931 McDonough backed Connie (vocal) and Martha (piano) Boswell on "I'm All Dressed Up with a Broken Heart' and 'What Is It?' released on Brunswick 6162. He and Red Nichols backed Connie on 'Dear Old Southland' and 'River, Stay 'Way From My Door' on 15 February 1932. On 19 February 1932 McDonough backed the Boswell Sisters, repeated often to as late as 15 June 1933 and later in 1936. The third of the Boswell Sisters vocal trio was Vet.

'Charlie Two-Step'   The Boswell Sisters

13 Sep 1932 in NYC   Brunswick 6418

Trumpet: Manny Klein   Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey   Flute / tenor sax: Larry Binyon  

Piano: Martha Boswell   Guitar: Dick McDonough

String bass: Artie Bernstein    Drums: Stan King

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael

McDonough first worked with the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra on 24 September 1932 backing vocalist, Jean Bowes, on 'Someone Stole Gabriel's Horn' and 'I'm Getting Sentimental Over You'. McDonough supported the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra into 1933.

'Sing (It's Good For You)'   Dorsey Brothers Orchestra backing Jean Bowes

27 Sep 1932 in NYC   Brunswick 6409

Trumpet: Bunny Berigan   Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey   Tenor sax: Larry Binyon  

Piano: Fulton McGrath   Guitar: Dick McDonough

String bass: Artie Bernstein    Drums: Stan King

Music: Hal Mooney   Lyrics: Hugh Prince   1932

'Stage Fright'   Dick McDonough w Carl Kress   Duet

31 Jan 1934 in NYC   Issue: 'Lost Chords' / Retrieval RTR 79018 / 1999

Composition: McDonough / Kress

'Honeysuckle Rose'   Solo guitar by Dick McDonough

22 Nov 1934 in NYC   Issue: '50 Years of Jazz Guitar' / Columbia CG 33566 / 1976

Composition: Fats Waller

Of McDonough's fourteen sessions as an orchestra leader as traced by Tom Lord the final arrived in New York City on 2 September 1937 backing vocalist, Howard Phillips, on several titles. Lord finds him participating in one last session on 19 November 1937 with Jimmy Ray and His Southern Serenaders Orchestra toward 'Pell Street Bells'.

'That Old Feeling'   Dick McDonough Orchestra backing Howard Phillips

2 Sep 1937 in NYC   Conqueror 8903 / Jerry Disc EVA 1700-2

Music: Sammy Fain   Lyrics: Lew Brown   1937

'Pell Street Bells'   Jimmy Ray and His Southern Serenaders Orchestra

Dick McDonough's last known session

19 Nov 1937 in NYC   Bluebird B7321

Composition: Will Gould / Fred Fisher

McDonough died young (age 34) of pneumonia on 25 May 1938 while at work at NBC Studios in New York City.