Andy Kirk (musician) explained

Andy Kirk
Birth Name:Andrew Dewey Kirk
Birth Date:28 May 1898
Birth Place:Newport, Kentucky, U.S.
Death Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Genre:Jazz
Occupation:Band leader and saxophonist
Label:Brunswick, Decca

Andrew Dewey Kirk (May 28, 1898 – December 11, 1992) was an American jazz bandleader and saxophonist who led the Twelve Clouds of Joy, a band popular during the swing era.[1]

Life and career

He was born in Newport, Kentucky, United States.[2] Kirk grew up in Denver, Colorado, where he was tutored by Wilberforce Whiteman, Paul Whiteman's father.[3] Kirk started his musical career playing with George Morrison's band, but then went on to join Terrence Holder's Dark Clouds of Joy.[2] In 1929, he was elected leader after Holder departed.[2] Renaming the band Clouds of Joy, Kirk also relocated the band from Dallas, Texas, to Kansas City, Missouri.[2] Although named the Clouds of Joy, the band has also been known as the Twelve Clouds of Joy due to the number of musicians in the band.[2] They set up in the Pla-Mor Ballroom on the junction of 32nd and Main in Kansas City and made their first recording for Brunswick Records that same year.[2] Mary Lou Williams came in as pianist at the last moment, but she impressed Brunswick's Dave Kapp, so she became a member of the band.[4]

After their first recordings in 1929–1930, they grew popular as they epitomized the Kansas City jazz sound. In mid-1936, he was signed to Decca and made scores of popular records until 1946.[2] He presumably disbanded and reformed his band during that six-year recording layoff, as his 1929–1930 Brunswick appeared to have sold well enough to stay in the catalog through the period and 1933-34 pressings (with the mid-1930s label variations) have been seen.

In 1938, Kirk and band held the top spot of the Billboard chart for 12 weeks with "I Won't Tell a Soul (I Love You)", written by Hughie Charles and Ross Parker, featuring Pha Terrell on vocals.[5] In 1942, Kirk and His Clouds of Joy recorded "Take It and Git", which on October 24, 1942, became the first single to hit number one on the Harlem Hit Parade, the predecessor to the Billboard R&B chart. In 1943, with June Richmond on vocals, he had a number 4 hit with "Hey Lawdy Mama".

Clouds of Joy

The band at various times included Buddy Tate (tenor saxophone), Claude Williams (violin), Pha Terrell (vocals), Mary Lou's then husband, John Williams, Bill Coleman,[6] Ken Kersey, Dick Wilson, Don Byas, "Shorty" Baker, Howard McGhee, Jimmy Forrest, Ben Smith, Fats Navarro, Charlie Parker (briefly),[4] Reuben Phillips, Ben Thigpen, Henry Wells, Milt Robinson, Floyd Smith, Hank Jones, Johnny Lynch, Joe Williams, Big Jim Lawson, Gino Murray and Joe Evans.[7]

Their pianist, and the band's arranger, was Mary Lou Williams, who went on to become a prominent figure in jazz.[8]

In 1948, Kirk disbanded the Clouds of Joy and continued to work as a musician, but eventually switched to hotel management and real estate.[9] He also served as an official in the Musicians' Union.[4]

Death

He died of Alzheimer's disease in New York at the age of 94.[10]

Discography

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Taylor . J.R. . 2015 . 2013 . . Kirk, Andy . . Oxford . 10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2275950 . 978-1-56159-263-0 . subscription .
  2. Book: The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin Larkin. Guinness Publishing. 1992. First. 0-85112-939-0. 1384/5.
  3. Web site: Andy Kirk Biography - Music Artist Band Biographies - Artists Bands Bio - FREE MP3 Downloads . November 28, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130512122225/http://www.music.us/biography/artist/24431/andy_kirk.html . May 12, 2013 .
  4. Web site: Andy Kirk - Biography & History. AllMusic. April 21, 2019.
  5. Web site: Obsolete song artist page. Tsort.info. April 21, 2019.
  6. https://books.google.com/books?id=ma1BpsFE1WoC&pg=PA6 Feather, Leonard & Gitler, Ira The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz
  7. https://books.google.com/books?id=FK50ScZXeIoC&pg=PA71 Evans, Joe and Brooks, Christopher Follow your heart: moving with the giants of jazz, swing, and rhythm and blues
  8. Web site: Andy Kirk . Musicians.allaboutjazz.com. April 21, 2019.
  9. Web site: BBC Radio 2. Bbc.co.uk. April 21, 2019.
  10. Web site: Andy Kirk, 94, Big-Band Leader Known for the Kansas City Sound. Peter. Watrous. December 15, 1992. July 29, 2021. The New York Times.

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