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Kenny Clarke

Kenneth Clarke Spearman (January 9, 1914 – January 26, 1985), nicknamed Klook, was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. A major innovator of the bebop style of drumming, he pioneered the use of the ride cymbal to keep time rather than the hi-hat, along with the use of the bass drum for irregular accents ("dropping bombs").

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was orphaned at the age of about five and began playing the drums when he was eight or nine on the urging of a teacher at his orphanage. Turning professional in 1931 at the age of seventeen, he moved to New York City in 1935 when he began to establish his drumming style and reputation. As the house drummer at Minton's Playhouse in the early 1940s, he participated in the after-hours jams that led to the birth of bebop. After military service in the US and Europe between 1943 and 1946, he returned to New York, but from 1948 to 1951 he was mostly based in Paris. He stayed in New York between 1951 and 1956, performing with the Modern Jazz Quartet and playing on early Miles Davis recordings. He then moved permanently to Paris, where he performed and recorded with European and visiting American musicians and co-led the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band between 1961 and 1972. He continued to perform and record until the month before he died of a heart attack in January 1985.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 9, 1914 (Pittsburgh), Died January 26, 1985 (Montreuil)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1956

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums, vibraphone, leader, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-046832 10-in. 2/5/1940 Indian summer Sidney Bechet ; New Orleans Feetwarmers Jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-046833 10-in. 2/5/1940 One o'clock jump Sidney Bechet ; New Orleans Feetwarmers Jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-046834 10-in. 2/5/1940 Preachin' blues Sidney Bechet ; New Orleans Feetwarmers Jazz/dance quintet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-046835 10-in. 2/5/1940 Sidney's blues Sidney Bechet ; New Orleans Feetwarmers Jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D6VB-2792 10-in. 9/5/1946 Epistrophy 52nd Street Boys ; Kenny Clarke Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, drums, composer, leader  
Victor D6VB-2795 10-in. 9/5/1946 Royal roost 52nd Street Boys ; Kenny Clarke Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, drums, leader, composer  
Columbia 28617 10-in. 9/12/1940 I'm all for you Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia 28618 10-in. 9/12/1940 I hear music Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia 28619 10-in. 9/12/1940 The same old story Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia 28620 10-in. 9/12/1940 Practice makes perfect Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia 29987 10-in. 3/21/1941 Let's do it Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia 29988 10-in. 3/21/1941 Georgia on my mind Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia 29989 10-in. 3/21/1941 Romance in the dark Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia 29990 10-in. 3/21/1941 All of me Eddie Heywood Orchestra ; Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62217 10-in. 5/25/1937 Caravan Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62218 10-in. 5/25/1937 Edgar steps out Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62219 10-in. 5/25/1937 Laughing at life Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62220 10-in. 5/25/1937 Stomping at the Renny Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62450 10-in. 7/27/1937 Laughing at life Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62451 10-in. 7/27/1937 High, wide and handsome Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62452 10-in. 7/27/1937 Satan takes a holiday Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62573 10-in. 9/7/1937 Love me or leave me Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 62574 10-in. 9/7/1937 Blue skies Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 62575 10-in. 9/7/1937 So rare Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 62675 10-in. 10/11/1937 Queen Isabella Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62676 10-in. 10/11/1937 Old King Cole Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62677 10-in. 10/11/1937 Shindig Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62678 10-in. 10/11/1937 Let's love Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 62679 10-in. 10/11/1937 I know now Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 62680 10-in. 10/11/1937 Sweetheart Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 62681 10-in. 10/11/1937 When you and I were young, Maggie Edgar Hayes Quintet instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 63157 10-in. 1/14/1938 Meet the band Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 63158 10-in. 1/14/1938 Fugitive from a harem Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 63159 10-in. 1/14/1938 Swingin' in the promised land Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 63160 10-in. 1/14/1938 Barbary Coast blues Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 63294 10-in. 2/17/1938 Help me Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 63295 10-in. 2/17/1938 Without you Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 63296 10-in. 2/17/1938 You're my first thought every morning Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 63297 10-in. 2/17/1938 In the mood Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 63298 10-in. 2/17/1938 Star dust Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 63299 10-in. 2/17/1938 Sophisticated swing Edgar Hayes Orchestra instrumentalist, drums, vibraphone  
Decca 69114 10-in. 5/1/1941 I'm my baby's baby Buddy Johnson and his Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 69115 10-in. 5/1/1941 New Please Mr. Johnson Buddy Johnson and his Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 69116 10-in. 5/1/1941 It's the gold Buddy Johnson and his Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 69117 10-in. 5/1/1941 Troyon Club swing Buddy Johnson and his Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 69118 10-in. 5/1/1941 Southern exposure Buddy Johnson and his Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 69784 10-in. 10/6/1941 Jim Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 69785 10-in. 10/6/1941 This love of mine Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 73497 4/9/1946 Baby, I don't cry over you Billie Holiday instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 73498 4/9/1946 I'll look around Billie Holiday instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 73987 7/1/1947 This train Sister Rosetta Tharpe instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 73988 7/1/1947 Oh, when I come to the end of my journey Mary (Marie) Knight ; Sister Rosetta Tharpe instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 73989 7/1/1947 Didn't it rain Mary (Marie) Knight ; Sister Rosetta Tharpe instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 73990 7/1/1947 Stretch out Mary (Marie) Knight ; Sister Rosetta Tharpe instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 74006 7/16/1947 Another woman's man Monette Moore instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 74007 7/16/1947 Please Mr. Blues Monette Moore instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 74008 7/16/1947 Bad luck blues Cousin Joe instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 74009 7/16/1947 Box car shorty Cousin Joe instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84368 4/29/1953 Owl eyes-1 Mat Mathews Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84369 4/29/1953 Study in purple-1 Mat Mathews Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84370 4/29/1953 There's a small hotel Mat Mathews Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84371 4/29/1953 Laura-1 Mat Mathews Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84813 7/6/1953 Maya Mat Mathews Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84814 7/3/1953 Night and day Mat Mathews Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84815 7/6/1953 The nearness of you Mat Mathews Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84816 7/6/1953 Bags' groove Mat Mathews Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84885 7/20/1953 My kinda love Jackie Paris ; Tony Scott Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84886 7/20/1953 Time to go Tony Scott Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84887 7/20/1953 Opus one Jackie Paris ; Tony Scott Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84888 7/20/1953 The blues have got me Tony Scott Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 85766 1/25/1954 Lullaby of the leaves-1 Mat Mathews Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88140 6/14/1955 Just one of those things Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88141 6/14/1955 Sometimes I'm happy Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88142 6/14/1955 Something to live for-1 Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88143 6/14/1955 Love is here to stay Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88144 6/14/1955 I can't get started Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88145 6/14/1955 This will make you laugh Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88146 6/14/1955 Suppertime-2 Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88147 6/16/1955 My one and only love Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88148 6/16/1955 Yardbird suite Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88149 6/16/1955 Give me the simple life Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88150 6/16/1955 I'll remember April Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88151 6/16/1955 You took advantage of me Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 89232 1/24/1956 Spring it was Mat Mathews Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 107472 10/20/1949 My man (Mon homme) Sidney Bechet instrumentalist, drums  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Clarke, Kenny," accessed May 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103158.

Clarke, Kenny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103158.

"Clarke, Kenny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103158

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