Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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KIRK, Andy

(b 28 May 1898, Newport KY; d 11 Dec. '92, NY) Reeds, tuba, leader. Raised in Denver, among his teachers was Paul Whiteman's father. Worked ten years as a postman, toured and recorded with eleven-piece local band led by violinist George Morrison; joined Terrence Holder band in Dallas (later known as the Dark Clouds of Joy); took over '29; fronted by Blanche Calloway in Philadelphia briefly '31, then by vocalist Pha Terrell (b 25 May '10, Kansas City; d 14 Oct. '45, LA) '33--41. Slowly became famous as Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds of Joy, mostly in Midwest out of Kansas City; then international stardom '36 with easy, flowing swing and Terrell's ballads. Disbanded '48. Kirk played bass sax at first, later mainly conducted; the band's most important assets were pianist/arr. Mary Lou Williams, later Kirk's wife, as well as Terrell, Dick Wilson on tenor (b 11 Nov. '11, Mount Vernon IL; d of TB 24 Nov. '41, NYC), Henry Wells (b '06, Dallas; later also vocalist) and Ted 'Muttonleg' Donnelly (b 13 Nov. '12, Oklahoma City; d 8 May '58, NYC) on trombones; in later years Fats Navarro, Don Byas, Howard McGhee. He formed a band on the West Coast, managed a hotel in NYC, occasionally formed band for special gigs from '55, toured Europe '60s; worked for musicians' union NYC. Big hits incl. 'Christopher Columbus' (instrumental), 'Until The Real Thing Comes Along' (theme, with 'Cloudy'), 'Dedicated To You', 'Skies Are Blue', 'What Will I Tell My Heart?', 'I Won't Tell A Soul (I Love You)' '36--8, 'Now I Lay Me Down To Dream' '40, all with Terrell vocals and 'I Know' '46 with the Jubilaires. Compilations on Classics, ASV, Decca Jazz.