Leo Watson Discography

This discography features all recordings where Leo Watson performed

Sources: Brian Rust Jazz and Ragtime Records (1897-1942), Mainspring Press
Tom Lord Discography, Cd-rom

WASHBOARD RHYTHM KINGS
Frank Benton, vocals and director; Dave Page, trumpet, vocals; Ben Smith, clarinet, alto sax; Jimmy Shine or Jerome Carrington, alto sax; Carl Wade, tenor sax; Eddie Miles, piano; Wilbur Daniels, banjo, guitar, ukelele, vocals; Leo Watson, string bass(?), vocals; Bruce Johnson, washboard. Camden, New Jersey, November 23, 1932

Underneath the Harlem Moon - voc Wilbur Daniels, Leo Watson
How Deep Is the Ocean? - voc Wilbur Daniels, Leo Watson

ARTIE SHAW AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Shaw, clarinet and leader; John Best, Malcolm Crain, Tom DiCarlo, trumpets; Harry Rodgers, George Arus, trombones; Les Robinson, Harry Freeman, alto saxes; Tony Pastor, Jules Rubin, tenor saxes; Les Burness, piano; Al Avola, guitar; Ben Ginsberg, string bass; Cliff Leeman, drums. New York, August 4, 1937

Fee Fi Fo Fum - vocal Leo Watson

Same personnel, location, September 17, 1937

I've Got A Strange New Rhythm In My Heart - vocal, Leo Watson
Shoot The Likker To Me, John Boy - vocal, Leo Watson

LEONARD FEATHER
Bobby Hackett, cornet, guitar; Pete Brown, trumpet, alto sax; Joe Marsala, clarinet, tenor sax; Joe Bushkin or Leonard Feather*, piano, Ray Biondi, violin, guitar; Artie Shapiro, string bass; George Wettling, drums. New York, March 10, 1938

For He's A Jolly Good Fellow - vocal, Leo Watson
Let's Get Happy* - vocal, Leo Watson

GENE KRUPA AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Krupa, drums and leader; Tom DiCarlo, Tom Gonsoulin, Dave Schultze, trumpets; Charles McCamish, Bruce Squires, Chuck Evans, trombones; Murray Williams, George Siravo, alto saxes; Vido Musso, Carl Biesacker, tenor saxes; Milton Raskin, piano; Ray Biondi, guitar; Horace Rollins, string bass. New York, July 19, 1938

Nagasaki - vocal, Leo Watson

Same personnel, location, August 10, 1938

Tutti Frutti - vocal, Leo Watson

Nick Prospero, Charles Frankhauser, Gonsoulin, trumpets; Toby Tyler, Dalton Rizzotto, Squires, trombones; Bob Snyder, Mascagni Ruffo, alto saxes; Sam Musiker, Sam Donahue, tenor saxes; same rhythm section. Los Angeles, November 18, 1938

Jeepers Creepers - vocal, Leo Watson

Personnel as November 18, except Ray Cameron, trumpet, replaces Prospero. Los Angeles, December 12, 1938

Do You Want To Jump Children? - vocal, Leo Watson

LEO WATSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Possibly Johnny McGhee, Ralph Muzzillo, trumpets; Paul Ricci, clarinet, alto and tenor saxes; Gene De Paul, piano; Frank Victor, guitar; Haig Stephens, string bass; O'neil Spencer, drums, Leo Watson, vocals

The Man With the Mandolin
Utt Da Zay (The Tailor Song)
Ja Da
It's The Tune That Counts

SLIM GAILLARD
Ben Webster, tenor sax; Jimmy Rowles, piano; Gaillard, guitar; Slam Stewart, string bass; Leo Watson, drums. Hollywood, April 4, 1942

Palm Springs Jump
Ra-Da-Da-Da
Groove Juice Special
It's My Day Now

SLIM GAILLARD
Karl George, trumpet; Vic Dickenson, trombone; Jewell Grant, alto sax; Fletcher Smith, piano; Gaillard, piano, guitar, harpsichord, vocals; Bam Brown, bass; Leo Watson, drums. Los Angeles, September, 1945

Voot Oreenie
Please Wait For Me
Sighing Boogie
Queen's Boogie
Vout Boogie

SLIM GAILLARD
George, Howard McGhee, trumpets; Lucky Thompson, Teddy Edwards, William "Wild Bill" Moore, tenor saxes; Fletcher Smith, piano; Bam Brown, bass; Leo Watson, drums; Gaillard, vocals

Slim Gaillard's Boogie
Harlem Hunch
Tutti Frutti
Travelling Blues

THE JUBILEE ALL STARS
Bobby Hackett, cornet; Willie Smith, alto sax; possibly Harry "The Hipster" Gibson or Juan Rollando, piano; possibly Slim Gaillard, guitar; possibly Bam Brown, bass; possibly Nick Glicco or Leo Watson, drums. AFRS Jubilee, 153, Hollywood, CA, circa October, 1945.

September In The Rain

LEO WATSON
Karl George, trumpet; Vic Dickenson, trombone; Lem Davis or Jack McVea, alto sax; Fletcher Smith, piano; Slim Gaillard, guitar; Bam Brown, bass; Leo Watson, drums, vocals. AFRS Jubilee, Hollywood, CA, December, 1945-January, 1946

An Operatic Aria (Leo's Opera)

SLIM GAILLARD
Gaillard, guitar, vocals; Brown, bass; Watson, drums, vocals. Broadcast, Los Angeles, December, 1945

Avocado Seed Soup Symphony (Parts 1 and 2)

SLIM GAILLARD
George, trumpet; Dickenson, trombone; Davis or McVea, alto sax; Smith, piano; Gaillard, guitar, vocals; Brown, bass; Watson, drums, vocals. Los Angeles, December, 1945

Voutoreenie
Operatic Aria

SLIM GAILLARD
AFRS Jubilee All-Stars: Mannie Klein, Bobby Hackett, Frank Wiley, Emmett Berry, trumpets; Vic Dickenson, Ray Conniff, Henry Coker, trombones; Lem Davis, Willie Smith, alto saxes; Babe Russin, Corky Corcoran, tenor saxes; Jack Martin, baritone sax; Gaillard, guitar, vocal; Bam Brown, bass; Leo Watson, drums, vocals. Los Angeles, December, 1945

Sonny Boy

SLIM GAILLARD
Gaillard, piano, guitar, vocal; Brown, bass, vocals; Watson, drums. "Kraft Music Hall" broadcast, Los Angeles, March 21, 1946

Cement Mixer

SLIM GAILLARD
Gaillard, piano, guitar, vocals; Brown, bass, vocals; Watson, drums, vocals. AFRS Jubilee Shows, Los Angeles, April, 1946

Fried Chicken O'Routee
Chicken Rhythm

SLIM GAILLARD
Gaillard, piano, guitar, vocals; Brown, bass, vocals; Watson, drums, vocals. "Billy Berg's" nightclub, Los Angeles, circa mid 1946

Tee Say Malee
Gaillard Special
Dynamite
Yep Roc Heresay
Poppity Pop
Bow Tie Jim
Ya Ha Ha
Cement Mixer
Eastwood, Voutwood

LEO WATSON
Watson, vocals; Vic Dickenson, trombone; Leonard Feather, piano; Arvin Garrison, guitar; Vivian Garry, bass; Harold "Doc" West, drums. Los Angeles, September 7, 1946

Sonny Boy
Tight And Gay
Snake Pit
Jingle Bells