[78-L] Jelly Roll Morton's first records and piano rolls

[David Lewis]

For anything Morton I generally go with Mike Meddings' excellent, comprehensive site:
http://www.doctorjazz.co.uk/page10.html

 

Morton was probably born closer to 1890 than any earlier date. His first record was made in June 1923 for Paramount in Chicago, "Big Fat (i.e. Foot) Ham." Morton claimed that he'd made a record for the Spike Brothers in Los Angeles "in 1918." If he really did make one for them, 1922 would be a more likely date. But there is no evidence of such release.

 

His earliest known piano roll is "Mr. Jelly Roll" for Vocalstyle in Cincinnati; that was released in September 1924. Morton did begin to copyright music early on, from 1915 or so, when he was in his mid-twenties. That Morton was publishing his music even before the ODJB made their first records is an achievement in itself. But the notion of his having made any records before he left New Orleans -- more or less for good -- in 1909 or 1910 is ridiculous.

   
Uncle Dave Lewis uncledavelewis at hotmail.com


 		 	   		  
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