Joe Sullivan

Joe Sullivan

Source: Red Hot Jazz (defunct)

Born on 4 November 1906 in Chicago, pianist, Joe Sullivan, began to study classical piano at age five. He first started to play professionally at age 17 when he was issued his first musician's union card. In 1922 he began study at the Chicago Conservatory of Music, where he continued through 1923. He first recorded in two sessions in December of 1927 in Chicago as a member of McKenzie and Condon's Chicagoans: 'Sugar'/'China Boy' (Okeh 41011) and ''Nobody's Sweetheart'/'Liza' (Okeh 40971). The Chicagoans consisted of Sullivan at piano along with Condon at banjo, Jimmy McPartland (cornet), Frank Teschmacher (clarinet), Bud Freeman (tenor sax), Jim Lannigan (tuba / bass) and Gene Krupa at drums. These were the first recordings for all performers involved excepting McPartland who had begun his recording career three years earlier when he replaced Bix Beiderbecke in the Wolverine Orchestra. If McKenzie participated on these tracks in any way they wouldn't have been his first either, he also first recording in 1924. Sullivan often worked alongside Krupa into the early thirties, often with Freeman into the sixties.

'Knockin' a Jug'   Joe Sullivan backing Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra

Recorded 5 March 1929 in NYC   Matrix 401689-B   Okeh 8703

Trumpet: Louis Armstrong   Trombone: Jack Teagarden

Tenor sax: Happy Caldwell   Piano: Joe Sullivan

Guitar: Eddie Lang   Drums: Kaiser Marshall

Composition: Louis Armstrong / Eddie Condon

'Basin Street Blues'   Louisiana Rhythm Kings

Recorded 11 June 1929 in NYC   Matrix E30030-A   Vocalion 15815

Cornet / arrangement: Red Nichols   Trombone / vocal: Jack Teagarden

Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell   Tenor sax: Bud Freeman   Piano: Joe Sullivan

Drums: Dave Tough

Composition: Spencer Williams

Sullivan recorded his first title with Bing Crosby in Los Angeles on 27 August of 1933: 'I Guess It Had to Be That Way' (Brunswick 01597). He held his initial name session performing piano solos on 26 September 1933. His first tracks with Crosby's brother, Bob, went down in New York City in September 1936. Another big name trumpeter with whom he worked was Benny Carter in 1939 and 1945.

'I Guess It Had To Be That Way'   Jimmy Grier Orchestra backing Bing Crosby

Recorded 27 Aug 1933 in Los Angeles   Matrix LA-3-A   Brunswick 6644

Trumpet: Walter Holzhaus / Ben Cohen   Trombone: Homer Menge

Clarinet / sax: James Briggs / Frank Schumacher / Art Grier

Violin: Dick Webster / Werner Callies / Dwight Muma   Piano: Joe Sullivan

Guitar: Richard Ebrecke    Bass: Paul King   Drums: William Madeas

Composition: Arthur Johnston / Sam Coslow

'Gin Mill Blues'   Piano solo by Joe Sullivan

Recorded 26 Sep 1933 in NYC   Matrix 265140-2   Columbia 2876-D

Composition: Sullivan

'Little Rock Getaway'   Piano solo by Joe Sullivan

Recorded 8 August 1935 in NYC   Matrix DLA225-B   Decca 600

Composition: Sullivan

'The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise'   Joe Sullivan w the Bob Crosby Orchestra

Recorded 29 August 1939 in NYC   Matrix 66222-A   Decca 2734

Music: Ernest Seitz 1918   Lyrics: Gene Lockhart

'Andy's Blues'   Piano solo by Joe Sullivan

Recorded 25 March 1941 in NYC   Matrix R4053   Commodore 540

Composition: Sullivan

'Summertime'   Piano solo by Joe Sullivan

Recorded 28 March 1941 in NYC   Matrix R4061   Commodore 540

Music: George Gershwin 1934   Lyrics: DuBose Heyward

'Royal Garden Blues'   Joe Sullivan (piano) w Henry Red Allen

Recorded 17 Feb 1951 by Radio WNYC FM at the Stuyvescent Casino in NYC

Issued on limited edition Red Allen RA-CD-11 (not found at this writing)

Personnel (incomplete):

Trumpet: Henry Red Allen   Trombone: Sandy Williams

Clarinet: Buster Bailey   Drums: Arthur Herbert

Composition: Clarence Williams / Spencer Williams 1919

'St. Louis Blues'   Joe Sullivan (piano) w Henry Red Allen

Recorded 17 Feb 1951 by Radio WNYC FM at the Stuyvescent Casino in NYC

Issued on limited edition Red Allen RA-CD-11 (not found at this writing)

Personnel (incomplete):

Trumpet: Henry Red Allen   Trombone: Sandy Williams

Clarinet: Buster Bailey   Drums: Arthur Herbert

Composition: WC Handy 1914

'When the Saints Go Marching In'   Joe Sullivan (piano) w Henry Red Allen

Recorded 17 Feb 1951 by Radio WNYC FM at the Stuyvescent Casino in NYC

Issued on limited edition Red Allen RA-CD-11 (not found at this writing)

Personnel (incomplete):

Trumpet: Henry Red Allen   Trombone: Sandy Williams

Clarinet: Buster Bailey   Drums: Arthur Herbert

Composition: Wikipedia

Tom Lord traces Sullivan to as late as 28 December 1963, performing piano solos on Ralph J. Gleason's 'Jazz Casual' television program. Those were issued in 2001 on an album shared with Earl Hines per Koch Jazz KOC CD-8565 in 2001.

Ralph J. Gleason's 'Jazz Casual' television program   Live piano solos by Joe Sullivan

Recorded 28 Dec 1963 in San Francisco for NET/PBS TV

Issued on Koch Jazz KOC CD-8565 in 2001

Sullivan's stomping grounds had largely been Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City until his death on 13 October 1971 in San Francisco, California.