King Carter and his Royal Orchestra is a pseudonym for the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. This group was formed in New York in 1930 by drummer Willie Lynch as the Blue Rhythm Band, and then briefly operated as the Coconut Grove Orchestra. Irving Mills, whom we've met before, became the band's manager in 1931 and it came under the Mills Blue Rhythm Band umbrella.
This group was less known than Ellington and Calloway, the other two bands in Mills' stable, but the musicianship is excellent and they often filled in at the Cotton Club and other dates.
No surprise "Minnie the Moocher" was recorded, and just 6 days after Calloway, who had a hit with the song. Dick Robertson is the (white) vocalist here. He does a good job, but Charlie Holmes leads the scat call-and-response.
King Carter and His Royal Orchestra: Wardell Jones, Shelton Hemphill, Ed Anderson, t / Harry White, Henry Hicks, tb / Charlie Holmes, cl, as / Theodore McCord, Castor McCord, ts / Edgar Hayes, p / Benny James, bj / Hayes Alvis, sb / Willie Lynch, d /Dick Robertson (as Dick Rogers), v. New York, March 9, 1931.
- 151454-1-2 Swing It - Col unissued
- 151455-1 Blues In My Heart - vDR Col 2439-D, DF-2006, DO-401, MC-3114, Cl 5417-C, VT 2477-V, Par R-1478 151456-1 Col 2439-D, DO-401, Cl 5417-C, VT 2477-V, Par R-2345
- Minnie The Moocher - vDR&ch Col 2439-D, DO-401, Cl 5417-C, VT 2477-V, Par R-2345
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