Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders
Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders was a US jazz and dance band, active from the late 1910s through the 1920s. The group was known simply as The Serenaders until Johnny Hamp became the band leader. Johnny Hamp was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and should not be confused with British television producer Johnnie Hamp.
According to some sources, he became the band's leader by chance when the band was performing at the Hershey Ballroom in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The band leader at the time had an argument with the players and walked out. Hamp, who never played a musical instrument in spite of being a jazz fan and had no experience as a conductor (in addition, he only sang whenever the chorus was performed by a vocal ensemble or the whole band), volunteered to lead them for the rest of the evening and they accepted. After the performance, the band asked him to stay on as leader.
The "Kentucky" in the name appears to be related to the band's use of "My Old Kentucky Home" as a theme song, rather than any connection to the U.S. state of Kentucky. The group toured in the eastern United States and toured England in 1930. In 1931, the group was renamed Johnny Hamp and His Orchestra. The group made most of its recordings in New York City on the Victor label. Their biggest hit was "Black Bottom" recorded in 1926, which led to a dance fad; see Black Bottom (dance).
Hamp continued to record for Victor until April 1932. The next session was in August 1935 for ARC (Melotone, Perfect, Romeo, Oriole). In December, 1936, Hamp was back with Victor recording for their Bluebird label for only two sessions (the second in February, 1937), which turned out to be their last session. Johnny Hamp led other bands in the 1930s and early 1940s ending up as a hotel house band leader in Chicago.
Band members at different times included:
Howard Bartlett on clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, vocals
William Benedict on trombone
Lester Brewer on trumpet
Charles Buckwalter on piano, vocals and as arranger
Franklyn Baur on vocals
Joe Cassidy on clarinet, alto saxophone, vocals
Roy Cropper on vocals
Charles Dale on clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone
Cliff Gamet on alto saxophone, vocals
Carl Grayson (r.n.: Graub) on violin, vocals
Elwood Groff on bass brass, vocals
Irwin Hood on piano
Lewis James on vocals
Johnny Marvin on vocals
Johnny McAfee on saxophone, vocals
Frank Masterson on banjo, vocals
Frank Munn on vocals
Billy Murray on vocals
Walter Pontius on vocals
Elliot Shaw on vocals
Charles Socci on guitar, vocals
Ray Stillson on clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone
John Strouse on drums
Clayton Tewkesbury on trumpet
Hal White on violin, vocals
Jayne Whitney on vocals
Melvin Watkins playing clarinet and saxophone
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