HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Ben Pollack

Birth of Jazz: Ben Pollack

Ben Pollack

Born in Chicago on 22 June 1903, early jazz drummer, Ben Pollack, began his career large with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings (NORK), his first recordings with that outfit on March 21, 1923, in Richmond, IN, toward 'Weary Blues' b/w 'Wolverine Blues' (Gennett 5102), et al. Three more full sessions with NORK followed to July before Pollack formed his own band called the Californians and made a test recording, probably for Golden Records in Los Angeles, in the summer of 1924. His next recordings with the Californians in Chicago on September 14, 1926, went unissued as well. His first releases as a leader were recorded December 9, 1926, yielding 'When I first Met Mary' on Victor 20394 (vocal: Joey Ray) and 'Deed I Do' on Victor 20408 (vocal: Pollack). Those were also the first issues for Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller who were in Pollack's band. Also joining Pollack's operation was Harry Goodman, Benny's brother, who played tuba or, where that may be incorrect, bass sax. Personnel rosters below are approximate where not exact. Most session data is Tom Lord except as noted.

'Sweet Lovin' Man' Ben Pollack (drums) w the New Orleans Rhythm Kings

Session 21 March 1923 in Richmond IN Pollack's first recording to issue

Matrix 11352 toward Gennett 5104 / Brunswick 2210 / Temple 534

2nd take on matrix 11352-A also issued on Gennett 5104

Cornet: Paul Mares Trombone: George Brunies

Clarinet: Leon Roppolo Piano: Mel Stitzel

Composition: Lil Hardin Armstrong / Walter Melrose

'That's a Plenty' Ben Pollack (drums) w the New Orleans Rhythm Kings

Session 21 March 1923 in Richmond IN

Matrix 11353 or 11353-A both issued on Gennett 5105

Cornet: Paul Mares Trombone: George Brunies

Clarinet: Leon Roppolo Piano: Mel Stitzel

Music: Lew Pollack 1914 Lyrics: Ray Gilbert

'Weary Blues' Ben Pollack (drums) w the New Orleans Rhythm Kings

Session 21 March 1923 in Richmond IN

Matrix 11355-B toward Gennett 5102

Cornet: Paul Mares Trombone: George Brunies

Clarinet: Leon Roppolo Piano: Mel Stitzel

Composition: Artie Matthews

'Deed I Do' Ben Pollack & His Californians

Session 17 Dec 1926 in Chicago Victor 20408

Cornet: Earl Baker / Harry Greenberg / Al Harris

Trombone: Glenn Miller Clarinet: Benny Goodman

Alto sax: Gil Rodin Tenor sax: Fud Livingston

Piano: Wayne Allen Violin: Victor Young / Al Beller

Banjo: John Kurzenknabe Tuba: Harry Goodman

Drums / vocal: Ben Pollack

Composition: Walter Hirsch / Fred Rose

Popular during the era when jazz bands were expanding into swing orchestras, Pollack is regarded by some as the Father of Swing due to some of the big names which passed through his band including Jimmy McPartland and Jack Teagarden. He took his orchestra from Chicago to New York in 1928 while riding high in the saddle. The Depression years found him touring the Midwest and Canada, still in business and recording prolifically throughout those years.

'Waitin' for Katie' Ben Pollack & His Orchestra

Session 7 Dec 1927 in Chicago Matrix 41342-2 1st of two takes Victor 21184

Cornet: Jimmy McPartland / Frankie Quartell / Al Harris

Trumpet / clarinet / alto sax: Benny Goodman Trombone / arrangement: Glenn Miller

Alto sax: Gil Rodin Tenor sax / flute: Larry Binyon

Piano: Vic Briedis Banjo / guitar: Dick Morgan

Tuba: Harry Goodman Drums / vocal w unknown trio: Ben Pollack

Composition: Ted Shapiro / Gus Kahn

'On with the Dance' Ben Pollack & His Park Central Orchestra

Session 5 March 1929 in NYC Victor 21944

Cornet: Jimmy McPartland Trumpet: Ruby Weinstein Trombone: Jack Teagarden

Reeds / flute: Benny Goodman / Gil Rodin / Larry Binyon

Piano: Vic Briedis Violin: Ed Bergman / Al Beller

Banjo / guitar: Dick Morgan Cello: Bill Schuman

Tuba: Harry Goodman Drums: Ray Bauduc Vocal: Ben Pollack

Music: James V. Monaco Lyrics: Edgar Leslie / Al Dubin Arrangement: Glenn Miller

'Ben Pollack & His Park Central Orchestra' Vitaphone short film 1929

Medley: 'California Echoes' / 'My Kind of Love' / 'Song of the Islands'

Filmed July 1929 toward release on 14 Sep 1929

Trumpet: Jimmy McPartland / Ruby Weinstein

Trombone / vibes / vocal: Jack Teagarden

Reeds / flute: Benny Goodman / Gil Rodin / Larry Binyon

Piano: Vic Briedis Violin: Ed Bergman / Al Beller

Guitar: Dick Morgan Cello: Bill Schuman

String bass: Harry Goodman Drums: Ray Bauduc Vocal: Ben Pollack

'My Kind of Love' (Louis Alter / Jo Trent) / 'Song of the Islands' (Charles King)

'Sweetheart We Need Each Other' Ben Pollack & His Park Central Orchestra

Session 22 Aug 1929 in NYC toward Victor 22101

Cornet: Jimmy McPartland / Trumpet: Ruby Weinstein

Trombone: Jack Teagarden

Reeds / flute: Gil Rodin / Larry Binyon

Piano: Vic Briedis Violin: Ed Bergman / Al Beller

Banjo / guitar: Dick Morgan Cello: Bill Schuman

Tuba: Harry Goodman Drums: Ray Bauduc Vocal: Scrappy Lambert

Composition: Joseph McCarthy / Harry Tierney

'Sing Song Girl' Ben Pollack & His Orchestra

Session 21 Jan 1931 in NYC toward Banner 32074

Trumpet: Charlie Spivak / Sterling Bose Trombone: Jack Teagarden

Reeds: Benny Goodman / Gil Rodin / Eddie Miller

Piano: Gil Bowers Violin: Alex Beller

Guitar: Nappy Lamare Tuba / bass: Harry Goodman

Drums: Ray Bauduc Vocal: Ben Pollack

Music: James Hanley (James Frederick) Lyrics: Joseph McCarthy

'The Beat of My Heart' Ben Pollack & His Orchestra w Doris Robbins (vocal)

Session 23 Feb 1934 in NYC toward Columbia 2905-D

Trumpet: Yank Lawson / Charlie Spivak Trombone: Joe Harris

Clarinet: Matty Matlock Alto sax: Gil Rodin / Deane Kincaide Tenor sax:/ Eddie Miller

Piano: Gil Bowers Violin: Alex Beller / Ray Cohen

Guitar: Nappy Lamare Bass: Harry Goodman Drums: Ray Bauduc

Composition: Harry Revel / Mack Gordon

'Deep Elm' Ben Pollack & His Orchestra

Session 18 Dec 1936 in Hollywod toward Columbia 2905-D

Trumpet: Charlie Spivak / Harry James / Shorty Sherock

Trombone: Bruce Squires / Glenn Miller

Reeds: Irving Fazola / Opie Cates / Dave Matthews

Piano: Freddie Slack Violin: Raymond Cohen

Guitar: Frank Frederico Bass: Thurman Teague Drums: Sammy Taylor

[Personnel: Discogs]

Composition: William Clay / Willard Robison

Of note in 1937 were titles released with both the Rhythm Wreckers and Connie Boswell. The Rhythm Wreckers were what young yodeling Whitey McPherson called his backup band. If born on 10 November 1923 [SHS] then McPherson was thirteen years old at the time of the recordings below. As for Pollack, in 1943 he performed on saxophone in the Bob Crosby Orchestra in the film, 'Presenting Lily Mars'. In addition to music Pollack was a businessman. He had his own record label called Jewel from 1945 to 1947 (not to be confused with the ARC label). He worked in several other films from 1951 to 1956, in the meantime holding his final recording session, insofar as traced by Lord, on 21 August 1952 in Los Angeles.

'St. Louis Blues' Ben Pollack leading the Rhythm Wreckers backing Whitey McPherson

Session 27 March 1937 in Los Angeles Matrix LA1291-A Vocalion 3566

Cornet: Muggsy Spanier Clarinet: Ben Kantor

Guitar / vocal: Whitey McPherson Steel guitar: Danny Stewart

Bass: Francis Palmer Drums: Ben Pollack (poss Graham Stevenson per Lord)

[Personnel: Praguefrank's / Lord has Garry McAdams at guitar]

Composition: William Handy 1914

'Blue yodel No.2' Ben Pollack leading the Rhythm Wreckers backing Whitey McPherson

Session 27 March 1937 in Los Angeles Matrix LA1292-A Vocalion 3566

Cornet: Muggsy Spanier Clarinet: Ben Kantor

Guitar / vocal: Whitey McPherson Steel guitar: Danny Stewart

Bass: Francis Palmer Drums: Ben Pollack (poss Graham Stevenson per Lord)

[Personnel: Praguefrank's / Lord has Garry McAdams at guitar]

Composition: Jimmie Rodgers 1928 [13 Blue Yodels of Jimmie Rodgers 1927-33]

'Alice Blue Gown' Ben Pollack & His Pick A Rib Boys

Session 11 Sep 1937 in Los Angeles Decca 1546

Trumpet: Muggsy Spanier Trombone: Ted Vesely Clarinet: Ben Kantor

Tenor sax: King Guion Piano: Bob Laine Guitar: Garry Adams

String bass: Francis Palmer Drums: Ben Pollack

Composition: Joseph McCarthy / Harry Tierney 1919

'When I Look At You' Ben Pollack w Bob Crosby & His Orchestra

From the MGM film 'Presenting Lily Mars' (1943)

Vocal: Judy Garland

Pollack on saxophone to Bob Crosby's left Drums: Ray Bauduc

Music: Walter Jurmann Lyrics: Paul Francis

'Gonna Stomp Mr. Henry Lee' Ben Pollack & His Californians

Session 21 Aug 1952 in Los Angeles Savoy XP8027

Pollack's last recording date in Lord's sessionography

Trumpet: Charlie Teagarden Trombone: Moe Schneider

Clarinet / tenor sax: Matty Matlock Piano: Ray Sherman

Guitar / banjo: Bill Newman Bass: Morty Corb Drums: Ben Pollack

Composition: Eddie Condon / Pete Kelly / George Rubens / Jack Teagarden

From the latter fifties into the early sixties Pollack ran the Pick-a-Rib restaurant at 8250 Sunset Blvd (Sunset Strip) where he led his Pick-a-Rib Dixieland band. This became the Body Shop strip club when Pollack sold the place to ramrod the Dixieland house band at the Knickerbocker Hotel at 1714 North Ivar Ave in Hollywood in 1963. In 1965 he and his sister, Esther, opened the Easy North Street bar at 2777 North Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. Six years later he hung himself by belt from a shower curtain rod in Palm Springs on 7 June 1971. Leaving a note mentioning financial and personal troubles, his death certificate listed his occupation as owner of the Easy North Street.

Sources & References for Ben Pollack:

Bruce Eder (All Music)

Christopher Popa (Big Band Library)

New York Times

Fred Spencer (Dixielandjazz Mailing List)

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Scott Yanow (Syncopated Times)

Musical Associates:

Whitey McPherson & the Rhythm Wreckers:

All Music Discogs Geneology RYM SHS

Pollack in Film: IMDb