The Brunswick Recordings

of

Gene Rodemich’s Orchestra

 

 

Orchestra Personnel and some comments on the Recordings

 

                Little information is currently available about the personnel who played on the early recordings of Gene Rodemich’s Orchestra.  As the Orchestra and it’s members became more widely known, however, and their activities were of more interest to the general public, the personnel lists become more detailed and accurate.  Below, lists from various sources are intermingled with discographical information and comments.  Inferences can be made from this information as to just who might be playing on the recordings.  We have found only a limited amount of personnel data directly attributable to Brunswick.  There are just a few comments in the Brunswick ledgers about musicians and vocalists.  On the records themselves there are the listings of the piano duets and trios (Gene Rodemich, Allister Wylie and David H. Silverman) and some vocalists (Al Jolson, Frank Sylvano) are also identified.  The snapshot of the Orchestra members taken on top of the Brunswick Building in New York at the time of the 11/24/24 recording session has everyone in the photo identified.  This is probably the best documented of all of the Rodemich sessions.  A good ear for style and tone may aid in identifying players who appear on multiple recordings.  Any additional information on personnel would be appreciated.  The recordings are presented chronologically in the lists given below.  Many alternate takes are known to have been released so the number of individual recordings available is actually quite large.  Not included in the listings are rejected recordings.  Some of these are also known to exist, although they apparently are extremely rare.

 

                Rust lists only Rodemich himself and the instruments that can be heard on the 1919 and early 1921 records.  Dan Stevens, the grandson of songwriter and banjoist Porter Brown, who played with Rodemich’s Orchestra, has told us that violinist Fred Wilde appears in a 1918 photo of the Orchestra.  He may have played on the 1919 sessions.

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO RUST:

                GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

                RECORDING SESSION

                OCTOBER, 1919

 

Gene Rodemich                                        Piano, Leader

?                                                              Trumpet

?                                                              Trombone

?                                                              Alto Sax

?                                                              Cm or Tenor Sax

?                                                              Violin

?                                                              ?Second Violin

?                                                              Banjo

?                                                              Brass Bass

?                                                              Drums

 

ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO EARL BUSS:

    GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

    RECORDING SESSION

    OCTOBER, 1919

 

Ed Buss                                                Trombone

 

#

MATRIX

CATALOG #

TITLE

COMPOSERS

RECORDED

1

3246-47

BR 2026

SWANEE

Gershwin

10/-/19

2

3248-49

BR 2025B

COME TO THE MOON

Gershwin

10/-/19

3

3270

BR 2026

PATCHES

Roberts

10/-/19

4

3275

BR 2031

BOW WOW

Wadsworth

10/-/19

5

4527-28

BR 2059A

JUST SNAP YOUR FINGERS AT CARE

Silvers

1/-/21

6

4531-32

BR 2059B

CASTLE OF DREAMS

Tierney

1/-/21

7

4537-38

BR 2060A

MARGIE

Robinson-Conrad

1/-/21

 

      Composer J. Russel Robinson commented on the recordings of his song “Margie” in a radio interview with

Steve Allen in November of 1948.  Steve asked him about sales figures for records of the song and he replied: “Our

band (ODJB) was the first to record that one on Victor.  I think that my first statement was for 2,000,000 records on

Victor alone.  And Brunswick had beaten us  out.  Gene Rodemich made the first release of it on Brunswick and they

did very well too”.

 

#

MATRIX

CATALOG #

TITLE

COMPOSERS

RECORDED

8

4541-42

BR 2064A

JUNE

Hickman-Black

1/-/21

9

4543-44

BR 2060B

HOME AGAIN BLUES

Irving Berlin-Harry Akst

1/-/21

10

4547-48

BR 2064B

TREASURE ISLE

Herscher-Fiorito-Burke

1/-/21

 

                When Gene Rodemich’s Orchestra began playing at The New Grand Central Theatre in St. Louis the names

of the Orchestra members were included in the printed programs.  Recently some of these programs have surfaced

giving more knowledge as to the musicians who played with Rodemich at the time.  Some of the names which appear in

the 1921 programs are of people who are known to have played on the later recordings.  One would think that there is

a good chance they appear on at least the later 1921 records also.

 

                Phil Evans, in preparing his book on Frank Trumbauer, researched Rodemich’s Orchestra for the time that

Trumbauer played with them.  Although the sources of his information are not known to us the personnel lists agree in

most part with others.  He does list Hammond (Bill) Bailey as playing banjo for the early October 1921 recording

sessions, a listing we have not seen anywhere else.

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO A PROGRAM FOR THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE (ST. LOUIS):      

                NEW GRAND CENTRAL CONCERT ORCHESTRA

                THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE, ST. LOUIS

                SEPTEMBER 10, 1921

 

Gene Rodemich                                    Conductor

Jules Silberberg                                    Assistant Conductor

Otto Reinert                                         Violin

Jules Silberberg                                    Violin

Andrew Gill                                          Violin

Charles Kaub                                       Second Violin

Aug. Stocker                                        Viola

Henry Ruppert                                      ‘Cello

C. Banks                                              ‘Cello

Louis Albers                                         Bass

Gene LePique                                       Piano

Hammond (Bill) Baily                            Xylophones

Paul Sporleeder                                     Drums

Oscar H. Jost                                        Organist

Stanley Wallace                                     Organist

G. Younkman                                        Flute

A. Bafuno                                              Clarinet

Elder Kellersberger                                Oboe

Wm. Cibulka                                         Bassoon

Jules Blattener                                       Trumpet

A.     Bates                                            Trumpet

Sid Hartman                                          Trombone

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO A PROGRAM FOR THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE (ST. LOUIS):

                FEATURE ORCHESTRA DURING COMEDIES

                THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE, ST. LOUIS

                SEPTEMBER 10, 1921

 

Gene Rodemich                                    Piano

Otto Reinert                                         Violin

A.     Bates                                           Cornet

Sid Hartman                                         Trombone

Jules Silberberg                                     Saxophone

Bill Baily                                               Xylophone

Paul Sporleeder                                    Drums

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO EVANS, "TRAM: THE FRANK TRUMBAUER STORY", PAGE 326:

                GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

                BRUNSWICK RECORD COMPANY, NEW YORK, NY

                EARLY OCTOBER, 1921

 

Gene Rodemich                    Piano, Leader

Clarence Foster                    Trumpet

Paul Vegna                           Trombone

Frank Trumbauer                  C-Melody/Alto Sax

Benny Krueger                      Alto Sax

Jules Silberberg                     Violin/Sax

Otto Reinert                          Violin

Hammond Bailey                   Banjo/Xylophone

Paul Spoerloder                     Drums

 

Matrix/Record Numbers: 6461/Br 2152, 6462/?, 6474/?, 6475/Br 2152, 6479/

Br 2159 coupled with Matrix 6503, 6480/Br 2159 coupled with Matrix 6504, 6495/Br 2183, 6498/Br 2183,

6503/Br 2159 coupled with Matrix 6479, 6504/Br 2159 coupled with Matrix 6480, 6507/Br 2169, 6516/Br 2169

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO RUST:

                GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

                RECORDING SESSION

                OCTOBER, 1921

 

Gene Rodemich                    Piano, Leader

Frankie Trumbauer               Sax

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO A PROGRAM FOR THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE (ST. LOUIS):      

                NEW GRAND CENTRAL CONCERT ORCHESTRA

                THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE, ST. LOUIS

                NOVEMBER 26, 1921

 

Gene Rodemich                                    Conductor

Jules Silberberg                                    Assistant Conductor

Otto Reinert                                         Violin

Jules Silberberg                                    Violin

Andrew Gill                                          Violin

Charles Kaub                                       Second Violin

Aug. Stocker                                        Viola

W. Cibulka                                           Viola

M. Maloske                                         Cello

Louis Albers                                         Bass

Gene LePique                                       Piano

Hammond (Bill) Bailey                          Xylophone

Paul Sporleeder                                    Drums

Oscar H. Jost                                       Organist

Ernest Le Pique                                    Organist

G. Younkman                                       Flute

A. Bafuno                                             Clarinet

Elder Kellersberger                               Oboe

F. Henningberger                                  French Horn

Jules Blattener                                      Trumpet

C. Forster                                            Trumpet

Paul Vegna                                           Trombone

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO A PROGRAM FOR THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE (ST. LOUIS):

                FEATURE ORCHESTRA DURING COMEDIES

                THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE, ST. LOUIS

                NOVEMBER 26, 1921

 

Gene Rodemich                                    Piano

Otto Reinert                                         Violin

C. Forster                                            Trumpet

P. Vegna                                              Trombone

Jules Silberberg                                    Saxophone

Bill Bailey                                             Xylophone

Paul Sporleeder                                    Drums

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO DAN STEVENS:

                GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

                RECORDING SESSION      

                NOVEMBER?, 1921

 

Porter Brown                         Banjo

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO EVANS, "TRAM: THE FRANK TRUMBAUER STORY", PAGES 41, 554, 555:

                GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

                GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE, ST. LOUIS

                OCTOBER, 1920---NOVEMBER, 1921;  JANUARY, 1922---MAY, 1922

 

Gene Rodemich                    Piano, Leader

Jules Blattner                        Trumpet

Allister Wylie                        Sax

Julius Robb                           Sax

Frank Trumbauer                  Sax

Otto Reinert                          Violin

Gus Schmitt                           Violin

Bill Bailey                              Xylophone

Paul Spor                              Drums

(born: Spoerloder)

 

#

MATRIX

CATALOG #

TITLE

COMPOSERS

RECORDED

11

6461-63

BR 2152A

FANCIES

Spencer

10/-/21 11/-/21

12

6474-77

BR 2152B

GYPSY BLUES

Sissle-Blake

10/-/21 11/-/21

13

6478-80

BR 2159A

JUST LIKE A RAINBOW

Earl-Fiorito

10/-/21 11/-/21

14

6493-95

BR 2183B

RIGHT OR WRONG

Sizemore-Biese

10/-/21 11/-/21

15

6496-98

BR 2183A

BY THE PYRAMIDS

Fiorito

10/-/21 11/-/21

16

6502-04

BR 2159B

CRY BABY BLUES

Meyer

11/-/21

17

6505-07

BR 2169A

SNOWFLAKE

Morgan

11/-/21

18

6516

BR 2169B

APRIL SHOWERS

Silvers

11/-/21

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO A PROGRAM FOR THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE (ST. LOUIS):

                GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

                THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE, ST. LOUIS

                MAY 6, 1922

 

Gene Rodemich                    Piano

Otto Reinert                          Violin

C. Forster                             Cornet

P. Vegna                               Trombone

Jules Silberberg                     Saxophone

Bill Bailey                              Xylophones

Paul Sporleeder                     Drums

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO DAN STEVENS,

CD NOTES, GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA ST. LOUIS 1922:

                GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

                RECORDING SESSIONS     

                1922

 

Gene Rodemich                    Piano, Director

Charles Werner                    Cornet

Clarence Foster                    Cornet

Unknown                              Trombone

Bill Bailey (?)                        Sax

Frank Trumbauer (?)             Sax

Fred Wilde                           Violin

Joe Winter                            Violin

Porter Brown                        Banjo

Unknown                              Brass Bass

Paul Spohrleder                     Drums

Allister Wylie                         2nd Piano

David H. Silverman                3rd Piano

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO RUST:

                GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

                RECORDING SESSION

                JUNE 1922

                (NAMES CORRECTED)

 

Gene Rodemich                    Piano, Leader

Frankie Trumbauer               Sax

Allister Wylie                        Piano

David H. Silverman               Piano

 

#

MATRIX

CATALOG #

TITLE

COMPOSERS

RECORDED

19

8248-49

BR 2290A

BAMBOO BAY

Donaldson-Egan-Whiting

6/-/22

20

8250-51

BR 2290B

BROKEN-HEARTED BLUES

Ringle-Klickman-Bargy

6/-/22

21

8257-59

BR 2299A

NOBODY LOVES ME NOW

Tracey-Arndt

6/-/22

22

8260-62

BR 2291B

IT'S UP TO YOU (J'EN AI MARRAI)

DeSylva-Yvain

6/-/22

23

8263-65

BR 2299B

WHENEVER YOU'RE LONESOME

Wendling-Kortlander

6/-/22

24

8266-68

BR 2291A

NEATH THE SOUTH SEA MOON

Hirsch-Buck-Stamper

6/-/22

 

                The recordings of “Broken-Hearted Blues”, “Nobody Loves Me Now”, “It’s Up To You”,

“Whenever You’re Lonesome” and “Neath The South Sea Moon” all include piano trios by Gene Rodemich,

David H. Silverman and Allister Wylie.

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO RUST:

                GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

                RECORDING SESSION

                DECEMBER 1922

                (NAMES CORRECTED)

 

Gene Rodemich                   Piano, Leader

Allister Wylie                       Piano

David H. Silverman              Piano

 

#

MATRIX

CATALOG #

TITLE

COMPOSERS

RECORDED

25

9395-97

BR 2379A

TEDDY BEAR BLUES

Jackson

12/-/22

26

9398-400

BR 2379B

FATE

Byron Gay

12/-/22

27

9401-03

BR 2381B

THREE LITTLE WORDS

Branch-Brown

12/-/22

28

9407-09

BR 2398A

WITHOUT YOU

Hickman-Black_Moret

12/-/22

29

9410-12

BR 2399B

RAILROAD MAN

Meyer-Erdman-Schoebel

12/-/22

30

9413-15

BR 2381A

FLOWER OF ARABY

Cherkasky-Schmitt-Davis

12/-/22

31

9450-52

BR 2389A

FALLING

Collins-Cameron-Fields

12/-/22

32

9453-55

BR 2391B

DOWN IN MARYLAND

Kalmar-Ruby

12/-/22

 

                The recordings of “Teddy Bear Blues”, “Fate”, “Three Little Words”, “Railroad Man”, “Falling” and

“Down In Maryland” all include piano duos by Gene Rodemich and Allister Wylie.

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO A PROGRAM FOR THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE (ST. LOUIS):      

                NEW GRAND CENTRAL CONCERT ORCHESTRA

                THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE, ST. LOUIS

                JANUARY 12, 1923

 

Gene Rodemich                                    Conductor

Jules Silberberg                                    Assistant Conductor

Otto Reinert                                         Violin

Jules Silberberg                                    Violin

Andrew Gill                                          Violin

Arnold Pesold                                      Violin

C. Foster                                              Trumpet

G. Moskowitz                                      Trumpet

D. Sotilla                                              'Cello

P. Sporleeder                                       Drums

Gene Lepique                                       Piano

Geo. Schmitt                                        Clarinet

Wm. Cibulka                                        Viola

L. Knittle                                              Flute

Ed. Buss                                               Trombone

J. Broughton                                         Tuba

Hammond (Bill) Bailey                          Xylophone

J. Silberberg                                         Saxophone

Bill Bailey                                             Saxophone

M. Henderson                                      Saxophone

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO A PROGRAM FOR THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE (ST. LOUIS):

                FEATURE ORCHESTRA DURING COMEDIES

                THE NEW GRAND CENTRAL THEATRE, ST. LOUIS

                JANUARY 12, 1923

 

Jules Silberberg                                    Saxophone

Bill Bailey                                             Saxophone

M. Henderson                                      Saxophone

Clarence Foster                                    Trumpet

C. Moskowitz                                      Trumpet

J. Broughton                                         Tuba

Edward Buss                                        Trombone

Gene Lepique                                       Piano

Paul Sporleeder                                    Drums

Otto Reinert                                         Violin

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO RUST:

                GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

                RECORDING SESSION

                JUNE 19, 1923

                (NAMES CORRECTED)

 

Gene Rodemich                    Piano, Leader

Allister Wylie                        Piano

Larry Conley                        Trombone

Charles Werner                    Trumpet

?                                          Trumpet

?                                          Clarinet, Soprano Sax, Alto Sax

?                                          Clarinet, Alto Sax

?                                          Clarinet, Tenor Sax

?                                          Banjo

?                                          Brass Bass

Paul Spohrlieder                   Drums

 

 

PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO JACOBS’ ORCHESTRA MONTHLY, NOVEMBER 1924:

                GENE RODEMICH’S ORCHESTRA

                AT HOTEL STATLER, ST. LOUIS

                SUMMER 1923

   (DESCRIBED AS A YEAR OR SO BEFORE WASHINGTON WON THE PENNANT)

 

Gene Rodemich                    Piano, Leader

Larry Conley                        Trombone

Allister Wylie                        Piano

Paul Spohrlieder                   Drums

Ed Storman                          Banjo

Bill Bailey                             Clarinet, Alto Sax and Xylophone

Otto Reinert                         Violin

Jules Silberburg                     Sax and Violin

Joe Zotterilla                         Tuba

 

George Lottman                    Managed Rodemich Publishing New York Office

 

#

MATRIX

CATALOG #

TITLE

COMPOSERS

RECORDED

33

10880-82

BR 2480A

ROSE OF SUNNY ITALY

DeVoll-Altiere_Chapman

6/19/1923

34

10883-85

BR 2474A

ON THE ISLE OF WICKI WACKI WOO

Kahn-Donaldson

6/19/1923

35

10886-89

BR 2454B

BEBE

Silver-Coslow

6/19/1923

36

10890-93

BR 2474B

OH! SISTER, AIN'T THAT HOT!

White-Donaldson

6/20/1923

37

10906-08

BR 2455B

WOLVERINE BLUES

Spikes-Spikes-Morton

6/21/1923

38

10919-23

BR 2480B

ST. LOUIS TICKLE

Seymour-Snelgrove

6/23/1923

39

10927-29

BR 2455A

WHEN JUNE COMES ALONG WITH A SONG

George M. Cohan

6/25/1923

40

10956-58

B