Red McKenzie

Red McKenzie

Source: Wikipedia

Born on 14 October 1899 in St. Louis, Missouri, vocalist, Red McKenzie, also played the comb (with paper, preferably newspaper). On Red's first recording in Chicago in 1924 he played the comb with a trio consisting of Jack Bland (banjo) and Dick Slevin (kazoo). These were the original Mound City Blue Blowers whose first two releases were 'Arkansas Blues' and 'Blue Blues' in 1924 on Brunswick 2581. Tom Lord's sessionography has Bland remaining with the Blowers on banjo or guitar to as late as 1931. Slevin remained into 1925. He wasn't replaced but joined the Blowers once again in 1929 in the Vitaphone film short, 'Opry House'.

'Arkansaw Blues'   Red McKenzie (comb) w the Mound City Blue Blowers

Recorded 23 Feb 1924 in Chicago   Matrix CH-77   Brunswick 2581

Banjo: Jack Bland    Kazoo: Dick Slevin

First recording by the Mound City Blue Blowers

Composition: Spencer Williams as 'Arkansas Blues'

McKenzie became frontman for Eddie Condon's Chicagoans in 1928. He didn't begin singing until 1931, pairing up with Condon again from 1944 to 1947.

'From Monday On'   Red McKenzie (vocal) w His Music Box

Recorded 28 May 1928 in Chicago   Okeh 41071

Violin: Joe Venuti   Guitar: Eddie Lang   Banjo: Eddie Condon

Composition: Harry Barris / Bing Crosby

'St. Louis Blues'   Red McKenzie w His Mound City Blue Blowers

From the film 'Nine O'Clock Folks'   Vitaphone 1220   Released 28 June 1931

Guitar: Eddie Condon / Jack Bland   Suitcase: Frank Josh Billings

Composition: W.C. Handy

'Georgia on My Mind'   Red McKenzie (vocal) w His Mound City Blue Blowers

Recorded 30 June 1931   Matrix 404966-C   OKeh 41515

Issued as the Celestial Beings on Parlophone

Trumpet: Muggsy Spanier    Clarinet: Jimmy Dorsey   Tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins

Piano: Jack Russin    Guitar: Jack Bland   Banjo: Eddie Condon

Bass: Al Morgan    Drums: Frank Josh Billings

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael / Stuart Gorrell

'Dark Town Strutter's Ball'   Red McKenzie (vocal) w His Mound City Blue Blowers

Recorded 30 June 1931   Matrix 404994-A   OKeh 41526

Issued as the Celestial Beings on Parlophone

Trumpet: Muggsy Spanier    Clarinet: Jimmy Dorsey   Tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins

Piano: Jack Russin    Guitar: Jack Bland   Banjo: Eddie Condon

Bass: Al Morgan    Drums: Frank Josh Billings

Composition: Shelton Brooks

'Sing an Old Fashioned Song'   Red McKenzie (vocal) w His Rhythm Kings

Recorded 20 Jan 1936   Decca 667

Trumpet: Bunny Berigan

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Possibly Paul Ricci / Forrest Crawford / Babe Russin

Piano: Frank Signorelli    Guitar: Carmen Mastren ?

Bass: Sid Weiss    Drums: Stan King

Composition: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxShelton Brooks

'I Can Pull a Rabbit Out of My Hat'   Red McKenzie (vocal) w His Rhythm Kings

Recorded 3 April 1936   Decca 790

Trumpet: Bunny Berigan   Clarinet: Sid Trucker

Piano: Frank Signorelli    Guitar: Dave Barbour

Bass: Pete Peterson    Drums: Stan King

Composition: Matty Malneck / Mack David

'Sentimental Baby'   Red McKenzie (vocal) w Eddie Condon's All-Stars   Radio

'Eddie Condon Blue Network Show' 19 (AFRS 17)

Recorded 23 Sep 1944 at Town Hall NYC

Available on CD or LP per Jazzology JCE-1009/1010

Cornet: Bobby Hackett / Muggsy Spanier   Trumpet: Max Kaminsky

Trombone: Miff Mole   Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell / Edmond Hall

Baritone sax: Ernie Caceres   Piano: Jess Stacy   Guitar: Eddie Condon

Bass: Sid Weiss    Drums: Gene Krupa

Composition: Jack Palmer

'If I Had My Life to Live Over'   Red McKenzie (vocal) w Dave Rhodes Rhythm

Recorded Feb 1947 in NYC   Matrix NSC228-1   National 9026

Trumpet: Max Kaminsky   Clarinet / tenor sax: Peanuts Hucko

Piano: Dave Rhodes   Drums: Dave Tough

Personnel unspecified: Harold Wax / Andy Cailla / Lew Brown

Composition: Henry Tobias / Larry Vincent / Moe Jaffe

'Heartaches'   Red McKenzie (vocal) w Dave Rhodes Rhythm

Recorded Feb 1947 in NYC   Matrix NSC231-4   National 9026

Possibly McKenzie's final issued recording

Trumpet: Max Kaminsky   Clarinet / tenor sax: Peanuts Hucko

Piano: Dave Rhodes   Drums: Dave Tough

Personnel unspecified: Harold Wax / Andy Cailla / Lew Brown

Composition: Al Hoffman / John Klenner

Liking his alcohol beyond good measure, McKenzie died of liver cirrhosis on 7 February 1948 in New York City.