Local Bands and Musicians
Local Bands and Musicians
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The Greater Albany area was rich with local talent. In this section, we will highlight local bands and musicians. Click on the pages under the Musicians tab for further information.
We tracked musical activity during the height of the Swing Era, 1938 - 1942. Here is a list of musicians and orchestras that were active locally during the Era.
Continue to scroll down this page to find a Roster of Bands compiled by Bill Schilling.
Photos on this page, from top to bottom:
Unidentified local group circa 1930s.
Paul Parker and His Orchestra at the Hunter Inn, East Greenbush.
The Melody Men with Clarance Lanahan at piano.
At the top of this page, click on the BANDS AND MUSICIANS tab for profiles of select, individual bands.
Click on the link for select bands below:
Local Bands and Musicians:
Butch Robertshaw Orchestra
Pete Emma Band
Alvin Sless Orchestra with Cameo Kirby
Chick Roberts Band
Doc Zanello and His Orchestra
Jimmy McGriff's Society Band
Matt Bruder and His Hi-Hatters
Gladys Van Deusen's Band
Paul Parker and His Orchestra
Jerry Shaw Orchestra
Howard Seim Orchestra
Freddie Engel and His Orchestra
Jerome (Ruff) Van Deusen
Gordie Randall and His NBC Orchestra
Hughie Flynn
Milton "Chick" Chiboucas
Jake Small Orchestra
Skip DeSair's Band
Melody Men
Gus Dorval's Orchestra
Bill Schilling gathered band rosters from multiple sources. Here is his list:
Rosters of Bands
In chronological order
Rod Allen Band c late 1920’s
source: Swingtime Magazine
John Keal, sax (s.a D’Angelo early 1930’s)
Bill Finke, tpt
Don McCann, sax
Walt Redden, d
Rod Allen, banjo, leader
John Finke, p
Pat Conte, violin
King Jazz May 28, 1926
source: unknown newspaper ad
King Jazz (Frank Graves), violin, leader
Mike Pantone, banjo (s.a. King Jazz Nov. 19, 1927)
Peter Emma, p (s.a. King Jazz Nov. 19, 1927, King Jazz c1931)
Hank Becker, d (s.a. King Jazz Nov. 19, 1927)
Francis Delaney, sax (s.a. King Jazz Nov. 19, 1927)
Marvin Chamberlain, tpt
King Jazz Nov. 19, 1927
source: Albany Evening News, same date
King Jazz (Frank Graves), violin, leader
Peter Emma, p (s.a. King Jazz May 28, 1926, King Jazz c1931)
Mike Pantone, b (s.a. King Jazz May 28, 1926)
Francis Delaney, sax (s.a. King Jazz May 28, 1926)
Henry Becker, d (s.a. King Jazz May 28, 1926)
Al Phillips, tpt
Bud Delearoth (sp?), sax
Roseland Aces at Taylor’s, Lake Luzerne 1928
source: Billboard, 7/14/1928
Freddie Engel, d, co-leader
Charles Miller, tpt, co-leader
Rudy Fischer, sax (s.a. Francis Murphy 1940)
Roy Stein, sax
Irving Doling, p (s.a. Francis Murphy 1940)
Henry Shulman, violin
Jimmy Norman, g, banjo
Howard Berg, tmb
George Decker, b
King Jazz WOKO Orchestra c1931
source: https://www.flicker.com/photos/albanygroup/
King Jazz (Frank Graves), leader, violin
Vincent Nolan, tmb
Shields Bruce, tpt (s.a. Murphy 1940, Murphy late 1940’s)
Charles Parsons, d
Peter Emma, p, acc (s.a. King Jazz May 28, 1926)
Thomas Howard, sax
Elmer Hoffman, sax
Mort Stulmaker, b
Pat Rielly (real name: John Zwink), vocalist
Jimmy D’Angelo Orchestra at Danceland c early 1930’s
source: Swingtime Magazine
Frank Delaney, sax
Mickey Senna, tmb
Michael O’Brien, d
Bucky LaPoint, tpt
John Keal, sax (s.a. Rod Allen c late 1920’s)
Chuck Lowenstein, tpt
Ben Stulmaker, p
Dominick Catoggio, g (s.a. Murphy late 1940’s)
Lee Gellers, sax
Andy Buechs, sousaphone
Jimmy D’Angelo, leader, violin
Lew Rider Orchestra c late 1930’s
source: Swingtime Magazine
Walt Reittinger, d
Joe Zipkin, sax
Harry Bergstein, tmb
Ray Hahn, tpt
Bill Hahn, b
Lew Rider, sax, leader
Doug Boulson, tpt
Freddie Morris, p
Ezra Moscrip, sax
Tip Corning Orchestra, April 22, 1935
source: AF or M, Local 14 records
John B. Wey, Jr.
Herman Greseus
Jack Kulp
Robert M. Gray
Richard B. Gordon
James E. Feeney
Elmer M. Freeman
Dana B. Lockart
Erastus Corning, Jr. (Mayor Corning’s cousin)
Tommy Tucker Orchestra, 1935-1938 (1936: no A.C. Berdahl)
source: AF of M, Local 14 records
Gerald L. Duppler (aka Tommy Tucker)
Carlisle W. Hall
B.B. Holmes
Ray Hoskins
Bruce Stanley
A.C. Berdahl
A. Iossi
Jack Drummond Orchestra, November 19, 1936
source: AF of M, Local 14 records
Jack Drummond
Milton Chiboukis, drums
James Winters
Fred D. Harum
Rudolph DeLeonardis
John Costas, violin ?
Horton Family Orchestra, October 10, 1937
source: AF of M, Local 14 records
Aub Horton
Ann Marie Horton
Maxine Horton
Shirley Horton
Madelon Horton
Jack Lawyer’s Brown Buddies at 68 Club, January 1939
source: NY Age, Jan. 14, 1939
Jack Lawyer, alto sax
Johnny Williams, tenor sax (s.a Jack Lawyer 1940)
Eggie (Egbert) Reid, p (s.a. Jack Lawyer 1940)
Freddie Francis, tpt (s.a. Jack Lawyer 1940)
Jimmy Wormworth, d (s.a. Jack Lawyer 1940)
Howard Thompson, tpt (s.a. Jack Lawyer 1940)
Rookie Davis’ Debonaires at Club Morocco, April 1939
source: NY Age, March 4, 1939, p.10
Rookie Davis, leader
Benny Moreland
Gus Roberson (Robinson?) (s.a. Hollywood Tavern Band 1941?)
Horace Clayton
Tommy Waters
Ernest Parkham
Bernie Roberson, banjo? piano? (Banjo Bernie? s.a. Rookie Davis, 1941)
Jack Lawyer’s Brown Buddies at University Grill, January 1940
source: NY Age, Jan. 6, 1940
Jack Lawyer, alto sax
Johnny Williams, tenor sax (s.a. Jack Lawyer 1939)
Jimmy Wormworth, d (s.a. Jack Lawyer 1939)
Bubbles (Howard) Thompson, tpt (s.a. Jack Lawyer 1939)
Freddie Francis, tpt (s.a. Jack Lawyer 1939)
Egbert Reid, p (s.a. Jack Lawyer 1939)
Gwendolyn Tynes, voc ?
Francis Murphy at Riley’s Lakehouse 1940 summer season
source: Times Union, May 26, 1940
Sheilds Bruce, tpt (s.a. King Jazz c1931, Murphy late 1940’s)
Bob Starr, tmb
Harold Hermance, sax
Rudy Fischer, sax (s.a. Roseland Aces 1928)
Albert Lanese, sax (s.a. Murphy late 1940’s)
Leslie Bernard, d
Al DelGiacco, b
Irving Doling, p (s.a. Roseland Aces 1928)
Charles Blanchard, voc
Francis Murphy, tpt, leader
Burdon Lake Casino Band 1941
source: Times Union ads w.o. June 1-7, 1941
Hughie Barrett, leader
John “Lefty” Shevak, g
Eddie Apple, sax
Joe Cosco 1941 at Show Boat
source: Times Union ads w.o. June 1-7, 1941
Joe Cosco, b, leader (s.a. Debonaires 1941)
Frankie Cusato, acc (s.a. Debonaires 1941)
Joe DelGiacco, g (s.a. Debonaires 1941)
George Miller, d
Eddie Terrosa, tpt
Sid Olshein, p
Debonaires 1941 at Rudd’s
source: Times Union ads May 4-10, 1941
Joe Cosco, b, leader (s.a. Joe Cosco 1941)
Frankie Cusato, acc (s.a. Joe Cosco 1941)
Joe DelGiacco, g (s.a. Joe Cosco 1941)
Four Silhouettes 1941 at DeWitt Clinton
source: Times Union ads, March & April, 1941
Jack Yates, p, solovox
Fred Knapp, b
Dick Dickson, g
Roe DeJon, violin
Hillside Inn Trio 1941
source: Times Union ads w.o. June 22-28, 1941
Ray Rossi, clarinet
Pope Grimes, d
Doug Duke, p
Hollywood Tavern Band 1941
source: TU 7/30/1941 p.11
Gus Robinson (Roberson?), d (s.a. Rookie Davis 1939?)
Billy Douglas, tpt
Sam Davis, p
Ruth Moore Mason, p (new in Nov [NY Age, Nov. 8, 1941])
Italian Band 1941 (this is very likely the LoPresti Marching Band that would play at such
events as the San Gennaro Festival in Albany’s Little Italy)
source: AF of M, Local 14 records
Antonio LoPresti
Tony Aldi
Henry Faruni
Luigi Catenaro
Ralph Gasse
V.A. Pelgrini
Cesare Giglio
Bassi
Rapazzo
Rookie Davis’ Debonaires at Broadway Hotel, October 1941
source: NY Age, Oct 11, 1941
Earl Jackson, reeds
Frank (Pat) Patton, alto sax
King Oliver, tenor sax & arr.
Jesse Brown, tpt
Tommy Crauston, tmb
Lonnie Giles, bass
Banjo Bernie, piano (s.a. Rookie Davis 1939)
Melvin Butler, guitar
Milo Murdoch, drums
new additions later that month:
Walter Hesseley, drums
Ernest Thompson, tpt
Ted Crowell, sax (had been w Jay McShann in KC)
Francis Murphy at Riley’s Lakehouse c late 1940’s-early 1950’s
source: from the collection of Jack Hotchkiss via Bill Schilling
Chet Potts, p
Dominick Catoggio, b (s.a. D’Angelo c early 1930’s)
Pat DeBlaisio, d
Buddy Bedell, sax
Shields Bruce, tpt (s.a. King Jazz c1931, Murphy 1940)
Al Lanese, sax (s.a. Murphy 1940)
Francis Murphy, tpt, leader
Godfrey “Gopper” Reiche, sax
unidentified tmb
Bands and Musicians
Bands and Musicians
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