All about McKinney's Cotton Pickers - Recordings

Shag Nasty McKinney's Cotton Pickers
John Nessbitt, Langston Curl (tp); Clode Jones (tb); Don Redmann, Milton Sinior (cl, as);
George Thomas, Prince Robinson (cl, ts); Todd Rhodes (p); Dave Wilborn (bj);
Ralf Escudero (brass bass); Cuba Austin (d)
Chicago, 11 July 1928
Four Or Five Times McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Chicago, 11 July 1928
Put It There McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Chicago, 11 July 1928
Crying And Sighing McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Chicago, 11 July 1928
Milenberg Joys McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Chicago, 11 July 1928
Cherry McKinney's Cotton Pickers
John Nessbitt, Langston Curl (tp); Clode Jones (tb); Don Redmann, Milton Sinior (cl, as);
George Thomas, Prince Robinson (cl, ts); Todd Rhodes (p); Dave Wilborn (bj);
Ralf Escudero (brass bass); Cuba Austin (d); Jean Napier (vcl)
Chicago, 12 July 1928
Forgetting You McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Chicago, 12 July 1928
Stop Kidding McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Chicago, 12 July 1928
Nobody's Sweetheart McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Chicago, 12 July 1928
Some Sweet Day McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Chicago, 12 July 1928
Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Chicago, 12 July 1928
Neckbones And Sauerkraut McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Chicago, 12 July 1928
It's Tight Like That McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redmann (cl,as,bars,arr,dir); John Nessbitt (tp,arr); Langston Curl (tp); Clode Jones (tb);
James Hoxley (cl, as); George Thomas (cl,ts,vcl); Prince Robinson (cl, ts); Todd Rhodes (p, celesta);
Dave Wilborn (bj, vcl); Ralph Escudero (brass bass); Cuba Austin (d,vib)
Chicago, 23 November 1928
It's A Precious Little Thing McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redmann (cl,as,bars,vcl,arr,dir); John Nessbitt (tp,arr); Langston Curl (tp); Clode Jones (tb);
James Hoxley (cl, as); George Thomas (cl,ts); Prince Robinson (cl, ts); Todd Rhodes (p, celesta);
Dave Wilborn (bj); Ralph Escudero (brass bass); Cuba Austin (d,vib)
New York or Camden, 8 April 1928
Save It, Pretty Mama McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redmann (vcl);
New York or Camden, 8 April 1928
I've Found A New Baby McKinney's Cotton Pickers
George Thomas (vcl);
New York or Camden, 8 April 1928
Do Something McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redman (arr, cl, vcl); George Thomas (cl, ts, vcl); Prince Robinson (cl, ts);
James Hoxley (cl, as); Claude Jones (tb); John Nisbitt, Langston Curl (tp);
Todd Rhodes (p); Dave Wilborn (bj, vcl); Ralph Escudero (brass bass); Cuba Austin (d)
New York, 9 April 1929
Beedle Um Bum McKinney's Cotton Pickers
New York, 9 April 1929
Selling That Stuff McKinney's Cotton Pickers
New York, 9 April 1929
Plain Dirt McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Arranged By - John Nesbitt; Coleman Hawkins (ts); Dave Wilborn (bj); Billy Taylor (b)
Thomas "Fats" Waller (celesta); Benny Carter , Coleman Hawkins , Theodore McCord (cl);
Joseph "Kaiser" Marshall (d); Thomas "Fats" Waller (p); Benny Carter (as); Claude Jones (tb);
Joe Smith , Leonard Davis , Sidney De Paris (tp)
New York, November 5, 1929
Gee, Ain't I Good To You McKinney's Cotton Pickers
New York, November 5, 1929
I'd Love It McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Coleman Hawkins (ts); Dave Wilborn (bj); Billy Taylor (b); Thomas "Fats" Waller (celesta);
Benny Carter , Coleman Hawkins , Theodore McCord (cl); Thomas "Fats" Waller (p);
Benny Carter (as); Claude Jones (tb); Joe Smith , Leonard Davis , Sidney De Paris (tp)
New York, November 6, 1929
The Way I Feel Today McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Arranged By - Don Redman; Donald "Don" Redman (voice)
New York, November 6, 1929
Miss Hannah McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Donald "Don" Redman (voice)
New York, November 6, 1929
Peggy McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Coleman Hawkins (ts); Dave Wilborn (bj); Billy Taylor (b); Thomas "Fats" Waller (celesta);
Benny Carter , Coleman Hawkins , Theodore McCord (cl); Thomas "Fats" Waller (p);
Benny Carter (as); Claude Jones (tb); Joe Smith , Leonard Davis , Sidney De Paris (tp)
New York, November 7, 1929
Wherever There's A Will, Baby McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Donald "Don" Redman (voice)
New York, November 7, 1929
If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight McKinney's Cotton Pickers
John Nesbitt, Langston Curl (tp); Joe Smith (cnt) Ed Cuffee (tb); Don Redmann (cl, ss, as);
Jimmy Dudley (cl, as); George Thomas, Prince Robinson (cl, ts); Todd Rhodes (p); Dave Wilborn (bj);
Ralf Escuderos (brass bass); Cuba Austin (d); George Thomas (vcl)
New York, 31 January 1930
I'll Make Fun for You McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Dave Wilborn (vcl)
New York, 31 January 1930
Words Can't Express (So Much Happines McKinney's Cotton Pickers
George Thomas (vcl)
New York, 31 January 1930
Then Someone's In Love McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Frank Marvin (vcl)
New York, 31 January 1930
Honeysuckle Rose McKinney's Cotton Pickers
John Nesbitt (tp); Joe Smith (cnt); Langston Curl (tp); Ed Cuffee (tb); Don Redman (cl,as,ss,bar);
Benny Carter (cl,as); George Thomas (cl,ts,vcl); Prince Robinson (cl,ts); Todd Rhodes (p,celeste-1);
Dave Wilborn (bj,vcl); Billy Taylor (tu); Cuba Austin (d,glockenspiel); Donald King (vcl);
Don Redman (arr)
New York, 3 February 1930
Zonky McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Dave Wilborn (vcl) Don Redman (arr)
New York, 3 February 1930
McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Trav'lin' All Alone George Thomas (vcl); John Nesbitt (arr)
New York, 3 February 1930
Baby, Won't You Pleas Come Home McKinney's Cotton Pickers
George "Buddy" Lee (tp); Joe Smith (cnt); Langston Curl (tp); Ed Cuffee (tb); Don Redman (cl,as,ss,bar);
Benny Carter (cl,as); George Thomas (cl,ts); Prince Robinson (cl,ts); James P. Johnson (p,celeste-1);
Dave Wilborn (bj); Billy Taylor (tu); Cuba Austin (d,glockenspiel); George Thomas (vcl);
Don Redman (arr)
Camden,New Jersay, 28 July 1930
Just a Shade of Corn McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Dave Wilborn (vcl); John Nesbitt (arr)
Camden,New Jersay, 28 July 1930
Okay Baby McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redman (sop,bar) George Thomas (vcl);
Camden,New Jersay, 29 July 1930
Blues Sure Have Got Me McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redman (bar) George Thomas (vcl); Don Redman (arr)
Camden,New Jersay, 29 July 1930
Hullabaloo McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Dave Wilborn (vcl); Don Redman (arr)
Camden,New Jersay, 30 July 1930
I Want A Little Girl (test) McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redman (ss); George Thomas (vcl)
New York, 30 July 1930
I Want A Little Girl McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redman (ss); George Thomas (vcl)
New York, 30 July 1930
Cotton Picker's Scat McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redman (arr); George Thomas and Ensemble (vcl)
New York, 30 July 1930
Talk To Me McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Rex Stewart, George "Buddy" Lee (cnt); Langston Curl (tp); Ed Cuffee (tb); James Dudley (cl,as);
Don Redman (cl,as); Benny Carter, Jimmy Dudley (cl,as); Prince Robinson (cl,ts); Todd Rhodes (p);
Dave Wilborn (g); Ralph Escudero (tu); Cuba Austin (d); Don Redman (vcl)
New York, 03 November 1930
Rocky Road McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redman (arr); Don Redman (vcl)
New York, 03 November, 1930
Laughing At Life McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redman (arr) Bill Coty (vcl)
New York, 4 November 1930
Never Swat A Fly McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Ed Cuffee (tb) Don Redman (arr); Bill Coty (vcl)
New York, 4 November 1930
I Want Your Love McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Todd Rhodes (vib) Don Redmann (arr); Dave Wilborn (vcl)
New York, 5 November 1930
Hello McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redmann (arr); Dave Wilborn (vcl)
New York, 5 November 1930
After All, You're All I'm After McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redmann (arr); Dave Wilborn (vcl)
New York, 5 November 1930
I Miss a Little Miss McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Todd Rhodes (clavinet) Don Redmann (arr); George Bias (vcl)
New York, 5 November 1930
You're Driving Me Crazy McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Clarence Ross (tp); Edward Inge (cl,as) Don Redmann (cl,ss,as); Buddy Lee (cn); Langston Curl (tp);
Ed Cuffee (tb); Quentin Jackson (tb); Prince Robinson (cl, ts); Todd Rhodes (p); Dave Wilborn (bj,g,vcl);
Billy Taylor (bb); Cuba Austin (d); Don Redmann (arr, speach); Lois Deppe (vcl)
Camden,NJ, December 17, 1930
To Whom It May Concern McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Don Redmann (arr); Lois Deppe (vcl)
Camden,NJ, December 17, 1930
Come a Little Closer McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Quentin Jackson (tb) Don Redmann (arr); Quentin Jackson (vcl)
Camden,NJ, December 18, 1930
It's A Lonesome Old Town McKinney's Cotton Pickers
George "Buddy" Lee, Clarence Ross, Landston Curl (tp); Ed Cuffe (tb); Don Redman (cl, ss, as);
Jimmy Dudley, Edward Inge (cl, as); Prince Robinson (cl, ts); Todd Rhodes (p); Dave Wilborn (g,bj);
Ralf Escudero (brass bass) Cuba Austin (d); Donald King (vcl)
Camden, New Jersey, 12 February 1931
It's A Lonesome Old Town (take 2) McKinney's Cotton Pickers

Camden, New Jersey, 12 February 1931
She's My Secret Passion McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Donald King (vcl)
Camden, New Jersey, 12 February 1931
She's My Secret Passion (take 2) McKinney's Cotton Pickers

Camden, New Jersey, 12 February 1931
Do You Believe In Love At Sight? McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Rex Stewart, Joe Smith, Adolphus "Doc" Cheatham (tp); Ed Cuffee, Quentin Jackson (tb);
Joe Moxley, Hilton Jefferson (cl,as); Prince Robinson (ts,cl); Todd Rhodes (p,vib,celeste);
Dave Wilborn (bj,g); Billy Taylor (tu,b); Cuba Austin (d); Benny Carter (arr); Quentin Jackson (vcl)
Camden, New Jersey, 8 September 1931
Do You Believe In Love At Sight? (take 2) McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Camden, New Jersey, 8 September 1931
Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Quentin Jackson (vcl)
Camden, New Jersey, 8 September 1931
Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (take 2) McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Camden, New Jersey, 8 September 1931

McKinney's Cotton PickersWilliam McKinney, showman-drummer, formed his Cotton Pickers in Springfield, Ohio in 1922, but it was not until the summer of 1928 that they commenced their short but illustrious recording career for Victor. In the autumn of 1931 , who did most of the arrangements, took a band of his own, including in it several of the Cotton Pickers. The Cotton Pickers were based originally in the Greystone Ballroom in Detroit, opposite Jean Goldkette'sexcellent White orchestra, but by the early part of 1929 we find them in Harlem at various nightspots. Their personnel varied as any personnel in a band this size, but in it's ranks were at one time such brilliant stars of the Harlem Jazz firmament as Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Lonnie Johnson, James P. Johnson, Joe Smith, Ed Cuffee, Claude Jones and Fats Waller. The original policy of the band was to play hot numbers, many of which were composed by Redman and/or other musicians in the band, but once in New York, with a recording contract from Victor that was demanding of all its artists a more commercial approach to work, the Cotton Pickers included a repertoire of the better popular hits of the day, giving them a rich and rare treatment, with warm section work and beautifully executed soli. Although the brass bass is supposed to be heavier than a string bass, in Billy Taylor's hands it is a living thing, giving adequate support to Wilborn's lively banjo and Austin's crisp drumming. (Redhotjazz)
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