Chauncey Morehouse
Encyclopedia
Chauncey Morehouse was an American
jazz
drummer.
in 1902 and was raised in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
, where he played drums from a very early age. He also played piano and banjo too. As a high school
er, he led a group called the Versatile Five. He landed a job with Paul Specht
's orchestra from 1922-24 (including a tour of Europe in 1923). He also played a sized-down version of Paul Specht
's band, named The Georgians. He played with Jean Goldkette
from 1924-27, Adrian Rollini
in 1927, and Don Voorhees in 1928-29. He also recorded with Frankie Trumbauer
, Bix Beiderbecke
, Red Nichols
, The Dorsey Brothers
, Joe Venuti and many others.
From 1929 Morehouse was active chiefly as a studio musician, working in radio and television in and around New York City
. In 1938, he put together his own percussion ensemble which played percussion, designed by Morehouse and Stan King
, that was tuned chromatic
ally.
Morehouse invented a set of drums called the N'Goma drums, which were made by the Leedy Drum company, which Morehouse was endorsed by during his career. His career in the studios continued into the 1970s; in that decade Morehouse retired from studio work and began playing jazz again, mostly at festivals. He was seen at Carnegie Hall for the Tribute to Bix concert for the Newport Jazz Festival, and also at one of the early Bix Beiderbecke
Memorial Jazz Festivals in Davenport, Iowa
.
Chauncey Morehouse died in 1980 in Medford, New Jersey, aged 78.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
drummer.
Biography
Chauncey Morehouse was born in Niagara Falls, New YorkNiagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
in 1902 and was raised in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Chambersburg is a borough in the South Central region of Pennsylvania, United States. It is miles north of Maryland and the Mason-Dixon line and southwest of Harrisburg in the Cumberland Valley, which is part of the Great Appalachian Valley. Chambersburg is the county seat of Franklin County...
, where he played drums from a very early age. He also played piano and banjo too. As a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
er, he led a group called the Versatile Five. He landed a job with Paul Specht
Paul Specht
Paul Specht was an American dance bandleader popular in the 1920s.Born in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, Specht was a violinist, having been taught by his father Charles G. Specht, a violinist, organist, and bandleader in his own right...
's orchestra from 1922-24 (including a tour of Europe in 1923). He also played a sized-down version of Paul Specht
Paul Specht
Paul Specht was an American dance bandleader popular in the 1920s.Born in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, Specht was a violinist, having been taught by his father Charles G. Specht, a violinist, organist, and bandleader in his own right...
's band, named The Georgians. He played with Jean Goldkette
Jean Goldkette
John Jean Goldkette was a jazz pianist and bandleader born in Patras, Greece. Goldkette spent his childhood in Greece and Russia, and emigrated to the United States in 1911....
from 1924-27, Adrian Rollini
Adrian Rollini
Adrian Francis Rollini was a multi-instrumentalist best known for his jazz music. He played the bass saxophone, piano, xylophone, and many other instruments. Rollini is also known for introducing the goofus in jazz music...
in 1927, and Don Voorhees in 1928-29. He also recorded with Frankie Trumbauer
Frankie Trumbauer
Orie Frank Trumbauer was one of the leading jazz saxophonists of the 1920s and 1930s. He played the C-melody saxophone which, in size, is between an alto and tenor saxophone...
, Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke
Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke was an American jazz cornetist, jazz pianist, and composer.With Louis Armstrong, Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s...
, Red Nichols
Red Nichols
Ernest Loring "Red" Nichols was an American jazz cornettist, composer, and jazz bandleader.Over his long career, Nichols recorded in a wide variety of musical styles, and critic Steve Leggett describes him as "an expert cornet player, a solid improviser, and apparently a workaholic, since he is...
, The Dorsey Brothers
The Dorsey Brothers
The Dorsey Brothers were a studio group fronted by musicians Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. They started recording under their name in 1928 with a series of studio recordings for the OKeh label...
, Joe Venuti and many others.
From 1929 Morehouse was active chiefly as a studio musician, working in radio and television in and around New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1938, he put together his own percussion ensemble which played percussion, designed by Morehouse and Stan King
Stan King
Stan King was an Australian rugby league player for the Eastern Suburbs club. King played in the 1919 season and made 3 appearances for that club....
, that was tuned chromatic
Chromaticism
Chromaticism is a compositional technique interspersing the primary diatonic pitches and chords with other pitches of the chromatic scale. Chromaticism is in contrast or addition to tonality or diatonicism...
ally.
Morehouse invented a set of drums called the N'Goma drums, which were made by the Leedy Drum company, which Morehouse was endorsed by during his career. His career in the studios continued into the 1970s; in that decade Morehouse retired from studio work and began playing jazz again, mostly at festivals. He was seen at Carnegie Hall for the Tribute to Bix concert for the Newport Jazz Festival, and also at one of the early Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke
Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke was an American jazz cornetist, jazz pianist, and composer.With Louis Armstrong, Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s...
Memorial Jazz Festivals in Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
.
Chauncey Morehouse died in 1980 in Medford, New Jersey, aged 78.