HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Early Jazz & Red Nichols

Birth of Jazz: Red Nichols

Red Nichols

Born on 8 May 1905 in Ogden, Utah, Dixieland cornetist, Red Nichols was popular for his foxtrots, the most common form of ballroom dance during the Roaring Twenties when Nichols made his name. He worked with at least two of the three Lanin brothers, Sam (1891-1977), Howard (1897-1991) and Lester (1907-2004), the former of which were bandleaders significant to that period. The most important bands with which Nichols is associated are the Red Heads originating with Sam in 1925, the Stompers which he led alongside trombonist, Miff Mole, beginning in 1926 and the Five Pennies begun with guitarist, Eddie Lang, in the band also in 1926. Jimmy Dorsey contributed clarinet and alto sax to both the Stompers and Five Pennies. Both bands also included pianist, Edward Schutt, and drummer, Vic Berton. Nichol's recording career exceeded forty years from 1922 to 1963.

Nichols scratched his first records as a member of the Syncopating Seven on November 22, 1922, putting down 'Chicago', 'Struttin' at the Strutter's Ball' and 'Toot-Toot-Tootsie' on Gennett Records. Those were private recordings not commercially issued, though pressed in sufficient number to distribute 25 copies to each member of the band. There are only two known copies of those yet extant as of 1980. 'Chicago' and 'Toot-Toot-Tootsie' saw later release in 1980 as the Syncopating Five on 'Real Rare Red' per Broadway 110. Audio of 1922 'Chicago'. Audio of 1922 'Toot-Toot-Tootsie'.

On 25 May 1923 Nichols was in the Arcadia Orchestra of Howard Lanin to back Smith Ballew on 'My Sweetie Went Away' and 'I Cried For You' toward release on Gennett 5167. Come Bailey's Lucky Seven in December of 1923, putting down such as 'I'm Goin' South' on Gennett 5324. So-called Bailey was actually Sam Lanin who had organized the Lucky Seven as Gennett's own studio band in 1922. Largely recruited from the Original Memphis Five, this operation of revolving musicians recorded for Gennett into 1926. It was with Bailey's Lucky Seven that Nichols first teamed with Miff Mole. Their initial two tracks together with the Seven were issued from a session held on August 25, 1924: 'Cold Mama Burns Me Up' and 'Go, Emmaline'. Nichols plays cornet or trumpet on every title herein. Personnel rosters may be neither complete nor exact.

'My Sweetie Went Away' Red Nich0ls w Howard Lanin's Arcadia Orchestra

Recorded 23 May 1923 in NYC Matrix 8385-B Gennett 5167 B

Nichols' 1st recording to commercial issue

Cornet: Red Nichols Trombone: Chuck Campbell Clarinet: Gilbert Dutton

C melody sax: Ray Stilwell Piano: Russell Stubbs Drums: Dusty Roads

Composition: Lou Handman / Roy Turk

'I Cried for You' Red Nich0ls w Howard Lanin's Arcadia Orchestra

Recorded 23 May 1923 in NYC Matrix 8386-B Gennett 5167 A

Nichols' 2nd recording to commercial issue

Cornet: Red Nichols Trombone: Chuck Campbell Clarinet: Gilbert Dutton

C melody sax: Ray Stilwell Piano: Russell Stubbs Drums: Dusty Roads

Composition: Abe Lyman / Arthur Freed / Gus Arnheim

'A Smile Will Go a Long Long Way'

Red Nichols w Bailey's Lucky Seven (Sam Lanin's Lucky Seven)

Recorded c 7 Dec 1923 in NYC Matrix 8649-A Gennett 5324

Nichols' 4th recording to commercial issue

Cornet: Red Nichols Trumpet: Phil Napoleon or Earl Oliver

Trombone: Miff Mole Piano: Frank Signorelli

Banjo: Nick Lucas, Tony Colucci or John Cali Drums: Jack Roth

Composition: Benny Davis / Harry Akst

Mole and Nichols first recorded with Sam Lanin's Red Heads on February 26, 1925, of which band Nichols became leader later that year. The Red Heads held sessions to as late as circa September of 1927. Tom Lord has Nichols recording for Sam Lanin a last time on 20 July 1928, that with the latter's orchestra toward 'Old Man Sunshine' and 'My Darling'. It was with Mole that Nichols put together their Stompers to hold their first session on October 13, 1926. This outfit recorded only severally in 1926 and 1927, but was Nichol's first enterprise as a leader independent of Lanin. Nichols' Five Pennies, however, quickly followed independent of Mole, that band's first session to include Eddie Lang on 8 December 1926 toward two tracks each of 'Washboard Blues' and 'That's No Bargain'. Mole participated in the Five Pennies' second session on 20 December to reap 'Buddy's Habits' and two takes of 'Boneyard Shuffle'.

'Poor Papa' Red Nichols w Sam Lanin's Red Heads

Recorded c 4 Feb 1926 in NYC Pathé Actuelle 36387 / Perfect 14568 B

Trumpet: Red Nichols Trombone: Miff Mole Clarinet / alto sax: Alfie Evans

Piano: Arthur Schutt Drums: Vic Berton Vocal: Alfie Evans

Music: Harry Woods Lyrics: Billy Rose

'Barcelona' Red Nichols w Sam Lanin's Broadway Bell-Hops

Recorded 16 July 1926 in NYC Harmony 223-H

Trumpet: Red Nichols / Hymie Farberman Trombone: Miff Mole

Clarinet / alto sax: Dick Johnson / Lucien Smith

Clarinet / tenor sax: Chuck Muller Tuba: prob Joe Tarto

Personnel: See Harmony 223-H at Classic Jazz Online

Composition: Tolchard Evans / Gus Kahn

'Hurricane' Red Nichols w Sam Lanin's Red Heads

Recorded c 14 Sep 1926 in NYC Prob 1st of 2 takes matrix 107095-A

Pathé Actuelle 36536 [36436 in Lord is a typo] / Perfect 14747 B

Cornet: Red Nichols Trombone: Miff Mole Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey

Alto sax: prob Fred Morrow Piano: Arthur Schutt

Guitar: Dick McDonough Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Paul Mertz / Red Nichols

'Washboard Blues' Red Nichols w Sam Lanin's Red Heads

Recorded 8 Dec 1926 in NYC 2nd take of 2 Matrix E-20993-3

Brunswick 3407 A Charts: #13 1927

Cornet: Red Nichols Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey

Piano: Arthur Schutt Guitar: Eddie Lang Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael / Fred Callahan / Irving Mills

'Boneyard Shuffle' Red Nichols w Sam Lanin's Red Heads

Recorded 8 Dec 1926 in NYC 1st take of 2 Matrix E-21597 Brunswick 3477

Trumpet: Red Nichols Trombone: Miff Mole Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey

Piano: Arthur Schutt Guitar: Eddie Lang Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael / Irving Mills

In one combination or another Nichols would record scores of records over the years with the Five Pennies. Albeit a jazzy operation the Five Pennies didn't perform too shabbily on the pop charts. 'Bugle Call Rag' reached a respectable #14 in 1927. 'Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider' followed at #1 the same year. Besides Brunswick, Nichols also recorded for Edison, Victor, Bluebird, Variety and Okeh while working with just about every big name in jazz. Among those was drummer, Gene Krupa, who first recorded with Nichols as a couple of Miff Mole's Little Molars on 6 July 1928 toward 'Windy City Stomp' and 'Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble'. Krupa backed Nichols in various configurations into the summer of 1931. They reunited nearly thirty years later when Nichols contributed to several tracks in the film, 'The Gene Krupa Story', in 1959.

'Bugle Call Rag' Red Nichols w the Five Pennies

Recorded 3 March 1927 in NYC Brunswick 3490 Charts: #14 1927

Cornet: Red Nichols Trombone: Miff Mole Clarinet / alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey

Violin: Joe Venuti Piano: Arthur Schutt Guitar: Eddie Lang Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Jack Pettis / Billy Meyers / Elmer Schoebel

'Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider' Red Nichols w the Five Pennies

Recorded 15 August 1927 in NYC

2 takes both of which were issued as Brunswick 3626 Charts: #1 1927

Cornet: Red Nichols Trumpet: Leo McConville Trombone: Miff Mole

Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell Tenor sax: Fud Livingston

Bass sax: Adrian Rollini Piano: Lennie Hayton

Banjo: Dick McDonough Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Eddie Leonard

'Five Pennies' Red Nichols w the Charleston Chasers

Recorded 6 Sep 1927 in NYC Take 2 of 2 Matrix 144625-3 Columbia 1229-D

Trumpet: Red Nichols / Leo McConville Trombone: Miff Mole

Clarinet / tenor sax: Pee Wee Russell Piano / cello: Lennie Hayton

Banjo / guitar: Dick McDonough Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Red Nichols

'Sugar Foot Strut' Red Nichols w the Charleston Chasers

Recorded 6 Sep 1927 in NYC Take 2 of 2 Matrix 144626-3 Columbia 1260-D

Trumpet: Red Nichols / Leo McConville Trombone: Miff Mole

Clarinet / tenor sax: Pee Wee Russell Piano / cello: Lennie Hayton

Banjo / guitar: Dick McDonough Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Billie Pierce / Charles Schwab / Henry Myers

'I Ain't Got Nobody' Red Nichols w the Arkansas Travelers

Recorded 14 Sep 1927 in NYC Harmony 505-H

Cornet: Red Nichols Trombone: Miff Mole

Clarinet: Fud Livingston Piano: Arthur Schutt Drums: Vic Berton

Music: Spencer Williams Lyrics: Roger Graham

'Slippin' Around' Red Nichols w Red & Miff's Stompers

Recorded 12 Oct 1927 in NYC Take 1 of 2 Matrix BVE40168-1 Victor 21397

Cornet: Red Nichols Trombone: Miff Mole Clarinet / alto sax: Pee Wee Russell

Clarinet / tenor sax / arrangement: Fud Livingston Piano: Lennie Hayton

Guitar: Carl Kress Tuba: Jack Hansen Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Miff Mole

'Sugar' Red Nichols w Red Nichols' Stompers

Recorded 26 Oct 1927 in NYC Take 1 of 2 Matrix BVE40168-1 Victor 21056

Cornet: Red Nichols Trumpet: Bo Ashford Trombone: Bill Rank

Clarinet / tenor sax: Pee Wee Russell Alto sax: Max Farley

C melody sax: Frank Trumbeaur Bass sax: Adrian Rollini

Piano / arrangement: Arthur Schutt Guitar: Carl Kress Tuba: Jack Hansen

Drums: Vic Berton Vocals: Jim Miller / Charlie Farrell

Composition: Frank Crum / Jack Yellen / Milton Ager / Red Nichols

'Margie' Red Nichols w the Five Pennies

Recorded 1 June 1928 in NYC Brunswick 3961

Cornet: Red Nichols Trumpet: Mannie Klein Trombone: Miff Mole

Clarinet: Fud Livingston C melody sax: Dudley Fosdick Bass sax: Adrian Rollini

Piano: Arthur Schutt Guitar: Carl Kress

Bass: Art Miller Drums: Chauncey Morehouse

Music: Con Conrad / Joseph Robinson Lyrics: Benny Davis

'Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble' Red Nichols w Miff Mole & His Little Molers

Recorded 6 July 1928 in NYC OKeh 41445

Cornet: Red Nichols Trombone: Miff Mole Clarinet: Frank Teschmacher

Piano: Joe Sullivan Banjo: Eddie Condon Drums: Gene Krupa

Composition: Spencer Williams

Mole stuck to Nichols until a final session on 5 February 1929 to harvest 'Chinatown My Chinatown' for Brunswick with 'On the Alamo' unissued. But Mole wasn't the only big name trombonist to play with the Five Pennies. Glenn Miller, who had arranged for the Stompers, assumed Mole's spot in time for the Five Pennies' next session on 16 February 1929 to document "I Never Knew' and 'Who's Sorry Now?' for Brunswick. Miller contributed to the Pennies into the summer of 1931. Another famous trombonist was Jack Teagarden who joined the Five Pennies on 18 April 1929 toward 'Indiana', 'Dinah" and 'On the Alamo' for Brunswick. Teagarden is found on numerous tracks with the Pennies through the years and would record with Nichols to as late as 1957. IMDb has the Five Pennies appearing in the short film, 'Red Nichols and His Five Pennies', in September 1929.

'Rose of Washington Square' Red Nichols w the Five Pennies

Recorded 12 June 1929 in NYC Brunswick 4778

Cornet: Red Nichols Trumpet: Manny Klein / Tommy Thunen

Trombone: Jack Teagarden Trombone / Arrangement: Glenn Miller

Clarinet / tenor sax: Pee Wee Russell Tenor sax: Bud Freeman

Piano: Joe Sullivan Banjo: Eddie Condon

Bass: Art Miller Drums: Dave Tough

Composition: Ballard MacDonald / James Hanley

'Red Nichols and his Five Pennies' Film short

Directed by Murray Roth Released 16 Sep 1929

Cornet: Red Nichols Trumpet: Tommy Thune / John Egan

Trombone: Herb Taylor Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell

Piano: Irving Brodsky Banjo / lute: Eddie Condon Drums: George Beebe

Multiple titles by the Five Pennies occupied the Top Ten of the popularity charts. In 1930 'Strike Up the Band' climbed to #7, 'Embraceable You' to #2 and 'I Got Rhythm' to #5. In 1931 'Blue Again' came to #10 as well as 'The Peanut Vendor' at #5.

'I Got Rhythm' Red Nichols & His Orchestra

Recorded 23 Oct 1930 in NYC Brunswick 4957 Charts: #5 1930

Trumpet: Charlie Teagarden / Red Nichols / Ruby Weinstein

Trombone: Glenn Miller Clarinet: Benny Goodman Alto sax: Sid Stoneburn

Tenor sax / flute: Larry Binyon Piano: Jack Russin Banjo: Teg Brown

Violin: Ed Bergman / Ed Selinsky Drums: Gene Krupa Vocal: Dick Robertson

Composition: George & Ira Gershwin

'Haunting Blues Red Nichols w the Five Pennies

Recorded 1 or 2 Dec 1931 in NYC 1 of 2 takes per Lord Brunswick 4957

Trumpet: Red Nichols Clarinet: Jimmy Dorsey Guitar: Eddie Lang

Violin: Joe Venuti Piano: Arthur Schutt Drums: Vic Berton

Composition: Walter Hirsch / Henry Busse

Another famous figure in Nichols' circle was Bob Hope for whose CBS radio show, 'The Atlantic Family' sponsored by Atlantic Oil, Nichols' supplied the music on numerous episodes from 14 December 1935 to 3 September 1936 [Haendiges]. The Five Pennies appeared in the film, 'Red Nichols & His World Famous Pennies', in January 1936. Music VF traces their last charting title to 'Tears From My Inkwell' at #13 in 1939.

'Red Nichols & His World Famous Pennies' Film short by Vitaphone

Directed by Joseph Henabery Released 4 Jan 1936

'Tears From My Inkwell' Red Nichols & His Orchestra

Recorded 12 March 1939 in NYC Bluebird B-10200-A Charts: #13 1939

Trumpet: Red Nichols / Don Stevens / J. Douglas Wood

Trombone: Martin Croy / Robert Gebhart

Clarinet / alto sax: Harry Yolonsky / Ray Schult

Clarinet / tenor sax: Bobby Jones / Billy Shepard

Piano / arrangement: Billy Maxted Guitar: Tony Colucci

Bass: Jack Fay Drums: Victor Angle Vocal: Bill Darnell

Composition: Harry Warren / Mort Dixon

Nichols had long been zigzagging back and forth between the East and West coasts when in 1942 he moved to San Leandro, California, with his showgirl wife, Willa Stutsman. Occasioning this move were the needs of their daughter, age sixteen, stricken with polio. Dorothy would recover, though during this time Nichols found it needful to work in a San Francisco shipyard, one plus of which was opportunity to make a contribution to the War effort (World War II) of which he'd been otherwise denied.

Tom Lord has Nichols recording nothing from June of 1940 in NYC to 20 February of 1944 when he is traced to a session in Chicago with Glen Gray's Casa Loma Orchestra followed by radio broadcasts with the same from the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City. Los Angeles, however, became home to Nichols' reformed Five Pennies for the next twenty years. In the early fifties he made a goodwill tour of Europe for the State Department. The last Five Pennies recording sessions were held on 22 and 28 of October 1963 toward the album, 'Blues and Old-Time Rags', issued on Capitol ST 2065.