HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Washboard Rhythm Kings

Birth of Jazz: Washboard Rhythm Boys

The Washboard Rhythm Kings (WRK) were a jazz group that recorded in rapidly shifting configurations as well as under multiple names and associated ensembles. Vocals included scat as personnel ranged from well-regarded musicians at the time to the yet unknown. Going by Brian Rust's 'Jazz and Ragtime Records 1897 – 1942' at Mainspring Press, one finds the WRK preceded by the Washboard Serenaders consisting of Harold Randolph (kazoo), Clarence Profit (piano), Teddy Bunn (guitar) and Bruce Johnson (washboard) recording 'Kazoo Moan' / 'Washboards Get Together' (Victor 38127) on 24 March 1930. Gladys Bentley contributed vocals to the latter. Henry Red Allen's trumpet replaced Randolph's kazoo on the 31st for 'Turtle Blues' / 'Tappin the Time Away' (Victor 38610).

'Kazoo Man' Washboard Serenaders

24 March 1930 Matrix 59548 HMV JK 2011

Kazoo: Harold Randolph Piano: Clarence Profit

Guitar: Teddy Bunn Washboard: Bruce Johnson

Composition: Teddy Bunn / Bruce Johnson

'Washboards Get Together' Washboard Serenaders

24 March 1930 Matrix 59549 Victor V-38127 / Bluebird B-5790

Kazoo: Harold Randolph Piano: Clarence Profit

Guitar: Teddy Bunn Washboard: Bruce Johnson Vocal: Gladys Bentley

Composition: Teddy Bunn / Bruce Johnson

Rust has Bunn, Johnson and Allen joined by Wilton Crawley (clarinet), Charlie Holmes (alto sax), Jelly Roll Morton (piano) and Pops Foster (bass) as the Washboard Rhythm Kings on 30 June 1930 toward 'I'm Her Papa, She's My Mama' / 'New Crawley Blues' (Victor 23344).

It was Bunn and Johnson with Clarence Profit at piano, others uncertain, as the Alabama Washboard Stompers on 13 October 1930 for 'If I Could Be with You One Hour Tonight' / 'Pig Meat Stomp' (Vocalion 1546) and 'The Porter's Love Song' (Vocalion 1630). Those featured vocals by Jake Fenderson excepting 'Pig Meat Stomp', an instrumental.

'I Want a Little Girl' Alabama Washboard Stompers

3 Feb 1931 in NYC Matrix VO1005 Vocalion 1586

Vocal: Jake Fenderson

Composition: Billy Moll / Murray Mencher

Rust has the WRK recording as the Five Rhythm Kings on 2 April 1931, band members unidentified but again with vocals by Jake Fenderson on 'Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone' / 'Minnie the Moocher' per Victor 23269 [Discogs]. DAHR differs with Dallie Foster at vocals.

'Minnie the Moocher' Five Rhythm Kings

2 April 1931 in Camden NJ Matrix BRC-64087 Victor 23269

Vocal: Jake Fenderson (Dallie Foster per DAHR)

Composition: Cab Calloway / Irving Mills

'Please Tell Me' Washboard Rhythm Kings

4 June 1931 in Camden NJ Matrix BRC-68217 Victor 23283

Issued as Georgia Washboard Stompers on Bluebird B-5027

Guitar: Teddy Bunn Vocal: Jake Fenderson

Composition: Sam Fried

'You Rascal You' Washboard Rhythm Kings

4 June 1931 in Camden NJ Matrix BRC-68218 Victor 23283

Guitar: Teddy Bunn Vocal: Jake Fenderson

Composition: Sam Fried

'Call of the Freaks' Five Rhythm Kings

4 June 1931 in Camden NJ Matrix BRC-68220 Victor 23279

Guitar: Teddy Bunn Vocals: Jake Fenderson / The Melody Four

Composition: Sid Barbarian

The WRK recorded as the Chicago Hot Five on 9 July 1931, that with Eddie Miles at piano and Steve Washington on banjo for 'Star Dust' / 'You Can't Stop Me from Loving You' (Victor 23285 / Zonophone EE-284) with vocals by Miles and Henderson. It was the Chicago Hot Five on 23 September 1931 with Miles and Washington joined by Dave Page (trumpet), Ben Smith (alto sax), Carl Wade (tenor sax) and Jimmy Spencer (drums / washboard) for 'Wake Em Up' (Victor 23300). That was released on Bluebird 1829 as the Georgia Washboard Stompers.

'Stardust' Chicago Hot Five

9 June 1931 in Camden NJ Matrix BRC-68265 Victor 23285

Piano / vocal: Eddie Miles Banjo: Steve Washington

Music: Hoagy Carmichael Lyrics: Mitchell Parish

'Many Happy Returns of the Day' Washboard Rhythm Kings

13 Sep 1931 in Camden NJ Victor 22814 / Bluebird B-8228

Trumpet: Dave Page Alto sax: Ben Smith Tenor sax: Carl Wade

Piano: Eddie Miles

Banjo / guitar: Steve Washington Drums / washboard: Jimmy Spencer

Music: Al Dubin / Joe Burke

'Tiger Rag' Washboard Rhythm Kings

6 July 1932 in Camden NJ Matrix 72694 Bluebird B-6084 HMV B.6289

Composition: Larry Shields / Nick LaRocca (ODJB)

Rust has WRK recording as the Washboard Rhythm Boys on 18 October 1932 toward titles including 'If You Were Only Mine' / 'Ash Man Crawl' (Victor 23367) with vocals by Washington and Bella Benson respectively.

'Hummin' to Myself' Washboard Rhythm Boys

6 July 1932 in Camden NJ Matrix 72695 Victor 24065

Vocal: Steve Washington

Composition: Herbert Magidson / Monty Siegel / Sammy Fain

'It Don't Mean a Thing' Washboard Rhythm Kings

5 Oct 1932 Vocalion 1724

Composition: Duke Ellington / Irving Mills

'I'm Gonna Play Down by the Ohio' Washboard Rhythm Boys

6 July 1932 in Camden NJ Matrix BS-59033-1 Victor 23364 / Bluebird B-5028

Composition: Sam Fried

'Blue Drag' Washboard Rhythm Kings

14 Dec 1932 Vocalion 1732

Composition: Josef Myrow

The Washboard Rhythm Kings performed in three films as the Washboard Serenaders beginning with 'That's the Spirit' in 1933. 'Carnival Time' was released on 22 January 1936 followed by 'The Black Network' in April of 1936.