John Kirby (musician)

John Kirby
Kirby and Buster Bailey, Washington D.C., c. May 1946 Photo: William P. Gottlieb
Kirby and Buster Bailey, Washington D.C., c. May 1946
Photo: William P. Gottlieb
Background information
Birth nameJohn Kirk
Born(1908-12-31)December 31, 1908
Winchester, Virginia, U.S.
DiedJune 14, 1952(1952-06-14) (aged 43)
Hollywood, California
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDouble bass

John Kirby (December 31, 1908 – June 14, 1952),[1] was an American jazz double-bassist and bandleader.[2] In addition to sideman work (prominently with Benny Goodman), Kirby is remembered for leading a successful chamber jazz sextet in the late 1930s and early 1940s, which scored several hit songs including "Loch Lomond" and the debut recording of "Undecided", a jazz standard. He is perhaps the first musician in the chamber jazz genre.[3] Earlier in his career he also played trombone and tuba.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference LarkinJazz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Robinson, J. Bradford (2015) [2013]. "Kirby, John". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2275947. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  3. ^ William P. Gottlieb (1995). The Golden Age of Jazz. Pomegranate Artbooks, ISBN 9780876543559