Wednesday 4 November 2020

Joe Sullivan born 4 October 1906

Michael Joseph O'Sullivan (November 4, 1906 – October 13, 1971) was an American jazz pianist.

Sullivan was the ninth child of Irish immigrant parents. He studied classical piano for 12 years and at age 17, he began to play popular music in silent-movie theaters, on radio stations, and then with the dance orchestras where he was exposed to jazz. Forsaking a more conventional high school education, Sullivan attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music in 1922 and 1923 and became known around town as a gifted, although budding, jazz musician. He fell in easily with members of the Austin High School Gang, Muggsy Spanier, drummers George Wettling and Gene Krupa, banjoist Eddie Condon and renowned cornetist/ pianist Bix Beiderbecke. These musical associations quickly led to paying jobs in the scores of Chicago’s neighborhood dance halls and nearby resort towns.

Shortly after his 17th birthday Sullivan obtained his first card from the musician’s union and thereby created new and more regular employment opportunities for himself. He found immediate work in silent-movie theaters, with several radio stations, and soon with the dance orchestras of Louis Panico, Sig Meyers and Enoch Light.

With money in his pockets and a growing reputation, Joe Sullivan was more easily able to absorb the Southside Chicago jazz scene in the company of his cronies. He regularly heard Joe “King” Oliver, Jimmie Noone, Lil Hardin Armstrong, Freddy Keppard (spark plug of Doc Cooke’s Dreamland Orchestra), and, occasionally, Jelly Roll Morton. His particular favorites became Earl Hines and Thomas “Fats” Waller from whom Sullivan borrowed selectively and tastefully while developing his own distinctive personal playing style. Additional musical influences included the New Orleans Rhythm Kings and members of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra with whom he jammed in the basement of the “Three Deuces”, a Loop bar across State Street from the famed Chicago Theater.

Sullivan’s recording career began late in 1927 when he joined “McKenzie and Condon’s Chicagoans” for two sessions which Red McKenzie had arranged with OKeh Records. Other musicians included Jimmy McPartland, Frank Teschemacher, Bud Freeman, Jim Lanigan and Gene Krupa. These popular recordings exposed Sullivan and the others to a national audience, and critics quickly dubbed their playing “Chicago Style” (a label which the band members disdained).

Overestimating their popularity, the band re-assembled in New York City during the summer of 1928, but found good jobs difficult to come by. Sullivan took good advantage of the venture by further exposing himself to Harlem pianists James P. Johnson, Fats Waller and Willie “The Lion” Smith. He was also introduced to trombonists Miff Mole, Tommy Dorsey and Jack Teagarden and bandleader Red Nichols. During 1929 Sullivan joined the Nichols orchestra, both touring and recording. He later worked with the Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra and from time to time participated in reunions of the McKenzie/Condon band. He found occasional studio work and numerous short-term nightclub jobs both as member of small groups and as a solo performer.


                             

In 1933 he joined Bing Crosby as his accompanist, recording with him on both wax and in films in addition to making many radio broadcasts. He found additional solo recording and movie work in Hollywood, and came to know Bing’s younger brother Bob who hired him into his band during the summer of 1936. Sullivan compositions “Little Rock Getaway“, “Just Strollin’“, “Minor Mood“, and “Gin Mill Blues” became Crosby Band staples. 

Sullivan with Ray Bauduc 

Within mere months of joining the band, Sullivan contracted tuberculosis, removing him from the music scene for nearly two years. He briefly rejoined Bing Crosby in 1938 and the Bob Crosby Orchestra in 1939. These opportunities did not last, and Sullivan found himself working a variety of short Greenwich Village or 52nd Street club stints with his old Chicago pals or as a soloist.

Marital difficulties and excessive drinking caused Sullivan to become increasingly unreliable and unable to keep a steady job, either as band member or soloist. A wartime ban on recording by the musicians union foreclosed that opportunity as well, causing him to seek work in Los Angeles in late 1943. He found no regular work, but did manage to play club dates, local dances and to make a few records. In May, 1945 he returned to New York and fell in with his old companions in the “Condon Gang”. This led to numerous jam sessions and eventually to a spot at Condon’s Club and with his touring band.

By 1949 three failed marriages, a formidable temper, alcohol and deep depressison over the deaths of many of his long time musical friends began to take its toll. Sullivan became increasingly irritable and withdrawn; he performed only sporadically but usually to critical acclaim until his death on October 13, 1971. 

(Edited from Mike Donovan bio @ The Red Hot Jazz Archive)

3 comments:

boppinbob said...

For ”Joe Sullivan Classics‎– 1933-1941” go here:

https://www.upload.ee/files/12473172/Joe_Sullivan_-_1933_1941.rar.html

1 Joe Sullivan- Honeysuckle Rose 3:29
2 Joe Sullivan- Gin Mill Blues 3:15
3 Joe Sullivan- Little Rock Getaway 3:01
4 Joe Sullivan- Onyx Bringdown 2:58
5 Joe Sullivan- My Little Pride And Joy 2:36
6 Joe Sullivan- Little Rock Getaway 2:33
7 Joe Sullivan- Just Strolling 3:04
8 Joe Sullivan- Minor Mood 2:42
9 Joe Sullivan And His Café Society Orchestra- Solitude 3:23
10 Joe Sullivan And His Café Society Orchestra-Oh, Lady Be Good 2:36
11 Joe Sullivan And His Café Society Orchestra-Low Down Dirty Shame 2:47
12 Joe Sullivan And His Café Society Orchestra-I Can't Give You Anything But Love 3:16
13 Joe Sullivan And His Café Society Orchestra-Pom Pom 2:56
14 Joe Sullivan And His Café Society Orchestra-I Cover The Waterfront 2:57
15 Joe Sullivan And His Café Society Orchestra-I've Got A Crush On You 2:43
16 Joe Sullivan And His Café Society Orchestra-Coquette 2:32
17 The Three Deuces- Jig Walk 2:45
18 The Three Deuces- Deuces Wild 2:55
19 –The Three Deuces-The Last Time I Saw Chicago 2:56
20 The Three Deuces- About Face 2:49
21 Joe Sullivan-Andy's Blues 3:00
22 Joe Sullivan-Del Mar Rag 3:07
23 Joe Sullivan-Forever More 3:16
24 Joe Sullivan-Summertime 3:15

1-4 (piano solos): New York, September 26, 1933.
5-8 (piano solos): Los Angeles, August 8, 1935.
9-12: New York, February 9, 1940.
13-16: New York, April 29, 1940.
17-22: New York, March 25, 1941.
23-24: New York, c. March 28, 1941.

Vocals
Joe Turner 11, 12.
Helen Ward 14, 15.

All of pianist Joe Sullivan's early recordings as a leader are on this definitive CD. Sullivan is heard in a dozen solo performances from 1933, 1935, and 1941 (including the two earliest versions of his hit "Little Rock Getaway" along with memorable renditions of "My Little Pride and Joy" and "Honeysuckle Rose"), four selections with the Three Deuces (a trio with clarinetist Pee Wee Russell and drummer Zutty Singleton), and eight numbers with an octet featuring the underrated trumpeter Ed Anderson, trombonist Benny Morton, clarinetist Edmond Hall, and vocals by Big Joe Turner (who manages to turn "I Can't Give You Anything but Love" into a blues) and Helen Ward. This French import is essential for fans of the great stride pianist.

boppinbob said...

For “Joe Sullivan ‎Classics – 1944-1945” go here:

https://www.upload.ee/files/12473497/Joe_Sullivan_-_1944_1945.rar.html

1 Squeeze Me 2:50
2 I Got It Bad 3:30
3 Memories Of You 2:52
4 Deep Purple 3:05
5 The Moon Is Low 3:22
6 Reflections 2:36
7 It's The Talk Of The Town 3:02
8 My Silent Love 2:54
9 24 Hours At Booth's 3:03
10 The Bass Romps Away 2:53
11 Night And Day 2:53
12 High Dudgeon 3:11
13 Brushin' Off The Boogie 2:57
14 Heavy Laden 3:14
15 Beguin The Beguine 3:06
16 Only A Dream 3:11
17 What A Life! 3:19
18 Blues In My Heart 2:59
19 The Way You Look Tonight 3:39
20 Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now 2:52
21 Timothy 2:54
22 Fidgety Feet 3:01
23 The Chimes 2:50
24 Fidgety Feet 3:05

Orchestra – Joe Sullivan Quintette (tracks: 11 to 14)
Piano – Joe Sullivan (tracks: 1 to 10, 15 to24)

--------------------------------------------------

For “Joe Sullivan Classics - 1945-1953” go here;

https://www.upload.ee/files/12473620/Joe_Sullivan_-_1945_1953.rar.html

1 Sister Kate (Michigan Square) 2:42
2 Panama 2:49
3 Timothy 3:03
4 Got It And Gone (Chicago Blues) 2:53
5 West End Blues 2:47
6 What's Your Name? 2:55
7 An Armful Of You 3:04
8 Solid Eclipse 3:03
9 Breezin' 3:35
10 Can't We Get Together? 2:06
11 Never Heard Of Such Stuff 2:22
12 There'll Come A Time When You'll Need Me 2:27
13 If You Can't Be Good, Be Careful 3:33
14 Gin Mill Blues 3:59
15 That's A Plenty 3:12
16 A Room With A View 3:29
17 Sweet Lorraine 3:34
18 Hangover Blues 2:28
19 Little Rock Getaway 3:20
20 Honeysuckle Rose 3:19
21 Summertime 3:44
22 Fido's Fantasy 2:16
23 My Little Pride And Joy 3:34
24 I Cover The Waterfront 3:32
25 Farewell To Riverside 2:38

Personnel: Joe Sullivan (vocals, piano); Sidney Bechet (soprano saxophone); George Wettling, Smokey Stover (drums).

In June and September of 1952, Joe Sullivan recorded eight versions of songs composed but never recorded by Thomas "Fats" Waller. Issued on a 10" LP entitled Fats Waller First Editions (Epic LG1003), this music soon drifted into obscurity. It resurfaced years later on Mosaic's The Columbia Jazz Piano Moods Sessions, a limited-edition box set of seven CDs. In January of 2004, the Classics Chronological series quietly released all eight of these magnificent trio renderings as part of the continuing saga of Joe Sullivan.

Mickey Bitsko said...

Thanks again for the tunes, bob, and for the fun interview video.