Interracial Recording (#18) Billy Banks and Company

Billy Banks

Billy Banks is a singular character. He sang and entertained as a male and as a female impersonator, in jazz, cabaret and vaudeville settings. He was working in Cleveland when the ubiquitous Irving Mills, on a business trip to Cleveland, caught Banks' act and signed him to a contract. He brought him to New York to headline at Connie's Inn in Harlem. Mills hired guitarist-bandleader (and equally ubiquitous) Eddie Condon to put together a band for what turned out to be 4 recording sessions. 

Of course, as a mixed band, they could not perform publically. Billy Banks worked around New York for a short while, then went on tour in Europe, eventually settling in Tokyo, Japan.

The lyrics of this track, "Oh Peter," fairly reek with subtext.  It's a great performance and there's an excellent solo by Sullivan. Red and Pee Wee's playing, as always, is great. Eddie Condon and Jack Bland play lutes with plectrum necks made by the Vega Banjo Company. 

Billy Banks and his Orchestra (known on other sessions as The Rhythmakers): (Mixed Group) Henry Allen, t, v / Pee Wee Russell, cl, ts / Joe Sullivan, p / Eddie Condon, bj / Jack Bland, g / Al Morgan, sb / Zutty Singleton, d/Billy Banks, v. New York, April 18, 1932.

• Bugle Call Rag: Ban 32459, Or 2483, Per 15615, Ro 1856, UHCA 109, Br 01590;
• Oh Peter (You’re So Nice) – vHA: Col 35841;
• Margie– vBB: Ban 32462, Or 2487, Per 15620, Ro 1861, UHCA 110, Br 01561,
• A-500199;
• Spider Crawl– vBB: ARC unissued. NOTE: Columbia 35841 as The Rhythmakers

All entries are from my book “As Long as They Can Blow. Interracial Jazz Recording and Other Jive Before 1935.”