ArtistInfo

Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy

Band,
Jazz
A.k.a. John Williams' Memphis Stompers The Seven Little Clouds Of Joy

Jazz orchestra directed by Andy Kirk (1898-1992), who took over Terrence Holder's Dark Clouds of Joy in 1929 and turned the band into a successful touring and recording unit, very largely dependent on the magnificent writing and arranging of Mary Lou Williams. Though he was often out front for photo opportunities, Andy Kirk ran the Clouds of Joy strictly from the back row. The limelight was usually left to singer June Richmond or vocalist/conductor Pha Terrell; the best of the arrangements were done by Mary Lou Williams, who left the band in 1942; as a bass saxophonist, Kirk wasn't called on to take a solo. All the same, he turned the Clouds of Joy into one of the most inventive swing bands. His disposition was sunny and practical and he was a competent organizer (who in later life ran a Harlem hotel, the legendary Theresa, and organized a Musicians' Union local in New York City).

Members

	Mary Lou Williams p 1910-1981 US
	Jimmy Cleveland tb 1926-2008 US
	Don Byas ts 1912-1972 US
	Ray Copeland tr 1926-1984 US
	Milt Hinton b 1910-2000 US
	Osie Johnson dr 1923-1966 US
	Al Cohn ts 1925-1988 US
	Andy Kirk bs 1898-1992 US
	Bernie Glow tr 1926-1982 US
	Freddie Green g 1911-1987 US
	Frank Rehak tb 1926-1987 US
	Conte Candoli tr 1927-2001 US
	Al Epstein *1921 GB
	Joe Newman tr 1922-1992 US
	Harold Baker tr 1914-1966 US
	Sam Marowitz as, sax
	Kenny Kersey p 1916-1983 CA
	Allen Durham tb US
	Ted Donnelly tb 1912-1958 US
	Clarence Trice tr US
	Pha Terrell voc 1910-1945 US
	Harry Lawson tr *1904 US
	Earl Thompson tr US
	Dick Wilson ts 1911-1941 US
	Earl Miller as US
	John Harrington cl, as *1910 US
	Claude Williams vn, g *1908 US
	Booker Collins b US
	Ben Thigpen dr 1908-1971 US
	Hal McKusick as 1924-2012 US
	Ed Wasserman ts, sax US
	Rudy Powell cl, as 1907-1976 US
	Billy Massey voc US
	Taswell Baird tb 1922-2002 US
	Thomas Mitchell tb 1926-2003 US
	Floyd Smith g 1917-1982 US
	Chauncey Welsch tb 1927-2008 US
	John Williams as, bs *1905 US
	Art Capehart tr
	Henry Wells voc, tb *1906 US
	Edward Inge cl, ts, sax 1906-1988 US
	Gene Prince tr US
	Paul King tr
	Reuben Phillips as PR
	Ted Robinson g
	Ted Brinson g
	Ben Smith as *1905
	Edward McNeil dr US
	William Dirvin g US
	Lawrence Freeman sax US
	Milton Robinson tb US