Rosy McHargue
Encyclopedia
James "Rosy" McHargue was an American jazz
clarinetist, associated principally with the Dixieland jazz
scene.
McHargue worked professionally from age 15, with The Novelty Syncopators in 1917. His first recordings were with Roy Schoenbeck's Orchestra in 1922 on the track "Wow Wow Blues"; he also recorded early on with the Seattle Harmony Kings (1925), Frankie Trumbauer
(1931), Ted Weems
(1934), and Jimmy McPartland
(1936). He was a member of The Wolverines
shortly after Bix Beiderbecke
's departure in 1925. His tenure with Weems lasted from 1934 to 1942.
McHargue then moved to Los Angeles
, where he played with Eddie Miller, Benny Goodman
, Kay Kyser
(1943-46), and Red Nichols
(1947-51). He later played with Pee Wee Hunt
and Pete Dailey, and recorded as a leader for Jump, Fairmont, Audiophile, and Protone in the 1940s and 1950s.
In his old age, McHargue began singing and became extraordinarily active in the jazz preservation movement, working with historians in interviews and recalling the tunes and lyrics to many forgotten songs from the 1920s and earlier. He recorded again for Stomp Off
in 1992 and played jazz festivals into the late 1990s.
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...
clarinetist, associated principally with the Dixieland jazz
Dixieland Jazz
Dixieland Jazz was a Canadian music television series which aired on CBC Television in 1954.-Premise:The series host was Trump Davidson, a cornet player. He also hosted a radio music series on CBC's Trans-Canada Network.-Scheduling:...
scene.
McHargue worked professionally from age 15, with The Novelty Syncopators in 1917. His first recordings were with Roy Schoenbeck's Orchestra in 1922 on the track "Wow Wow Blues"; he also recorded early on with the Seattle Harmony Kings (1925), 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...
(1931), Ted Weems
Ted Weems
Wilfred Theodore Weems was an American bandleader and musician. Weems' work in music was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.- Biography :...
(1934), and Jimmy McPartland
Jimmy McPartland
James Dugald McPartland , better known as Jimmy McPartland, was an American cornetist and one of the originators of Chicago Jazz...
(1936). He was a member of The Wolverines
The Wolverines
The Wolverines were an American jazz band. They were one of the most successful territory bands of the American Midwest in the 1920s.-History:...
shortly after 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...
's departure in 1925. His tenure with Weems lasted from 1934 to 1942.
McHargue then moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he played with Eddie Miller, Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, Kay Kyser
Kay Kyser
James Kern Kyser was a popular bandleader and radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s.-Early years:He was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the son of pharmacists Paul Bynum Kyser and Emily Royster Kyser. Editor Vermont C. Royster was his cousin...
(1943-46), and 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...
(1947-51). He later played with Pee Wee Hunt
Pee Wee Hunt
Pee Wee Hunt , born Walter Gerhardt Hunt, was a jazz trombonist, vocalist and band leader....
and Pete Dailey, and recorded as a leader for Jump, Fairmont, Audiophile, and Protone in the 1940s and 1950s.
In his old age, McHargue began singing and became extraordinarily active in the jazz preservation movement, working with historians in interviews and recalling the tunes and lyrics to many forgotten songs from the 1920s and earlier. He recorded again for Stomp Off
Stomp Off
Stomp Off is an American jazz record label.The label was founded in 1979 by Bob Erdos in York, Pennsylvania. As of ca. 2000 the label had released over 350 albums of jazz music, concentrating on ragtime, Dixieland jazz, and other traditional styles of jazz music.-Artists who have released material...
in 1992 and played jazz festivals into the late 1990s.