The Original Memphis Five

The Original Memphis Five was an early jazz quintet founded in 1917 by trumpeter Phil Napoleon and pianist Frank Signorelli. Jimmy Lytell was a member from 1922 to 1925. The group made many recordings between 1921 and 1931, sometimes under different names, including Ladd's Black Aces and The Cotton Pickers. Richard Cook and Brian Morton, writing for The Penguin Guide to Jazz, refer to the group as "one of the key small groups of the '20s".

The group formed around 1917. The name Original Memphis Five was first used in 1920, and applied to small groups of white musicians throughout the decade. The Ladd's Black Aces name was used from 1921 until 1924. Cook and Morton identify Jimmy Lytell and Miff Mole as standout musicians in the group. Jimmy Durante played piano with Ladd's Black Aces, while both Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey were members of the Original Memphis Five. Occasional vocalists were Anna Meyers, Annette Hanshaw and Vernon Dalhart (as George White).

Both Red Nichols and Miff Mole later led their own groups named Original Memphis Five. Phil Napoleon, however, would continue using the group name into the 1980s.

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1917

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1931

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 63 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 81379 10-in. 12/4/1923 More The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 81380 10-in. 12/4/1923 She wouldn't do (What I asked her to) The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 81393 10-in. 12/4/1923 St. Louis gal The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 81500 10-in. 1/25/1924 Why should I weep about one sweetie The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 81501 10-in. 1/25/1924 Since Ma is playing mah jong Billy Jones ; The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 81804 10-in. 6/4/1924 It ain't gonna rain no mo' The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 81805 10-in. 6/4/1924 Red hot mamma The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 81885 10-in. 7/25/1924 The grass is always greener (In the other fellow's yard) Joseph A. Griffith ; The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 140163 10-in. 12/4/1924 Mobile blues The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 140164 10-in. 12/4/1924 How come you do me like you do The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 140337 10-in. 2/10/1925 Doo wacka doo The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 140338 10-in. 2/10/1925 Nobody knows what a red-head mama can do The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W141050 10-in. 9/25/1925 Indiana stomp The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W141051 10-in. 9/25/1925 Throw down blues The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W141193 10-in. 10/26/1925 Jacksonville gal The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W141194 10-in. 10/26/1925 'Tain't cold The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 141195 10-in. 10/26/1925 'Tain't cold The Savannah Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 141196 10-in. 10/26/1925 Jacksonville gal The Savannah Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 141197 10-in. 10/26/1925 Hot aire The Savannah Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W151887 10-in. 11/24/1931 Jazz me blues The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W151888 10-in. 11/24/1931 St. Louis gal The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W151890 10-in. 11/24/1931 My honey's loving arms The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Brunswick E7367 10-in. 6/13/1928 I’m more than satisfied The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Brunswick E7368 10-in. 6/13/1928 My Angeline The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Brunswick E7369 10-in. 6/13/1928 Fireworks The Original Memphis Five Jazz/dance band Musical group  
(Results 26-50 of 63 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Original Memphis Five, The," accessed May 6, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/334996.

Original Memphis Five, The. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 6, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/334996.

"Original Memphis Five, The." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/334996

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