Daily Dose Of Jazz…
William ‘Red’ McKenzie was born on October 14, 1899 in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1923, he founded the Mound City Blue Blowers with Jack Bland and Dick Slevin. Later they were joined by guitarist Eddie Lang. The quartet also used the name Red McKenzie and the Candy Kids.
In 1929, the Blue Blowers recorded the songs One Hour and Hello Lola with Glenn Miller, Pee Wee Russell and Coleman Hawkins. They also recorded with Bunny Berigan, Jimmy Dorsey, and Muggsy Spanier. McKenzie sang with the Paul Whiteman orchestra and in the 1930s led the Spirits of Rhythm and the Farley-Riley band.
In 1931, he sang on Time on My Hands, Just Friends, and I’m Sorry Dear. McKenzie played in the Town Hall concerts of Eddie Condon, but retired in the 1940s.
On February 7, 1948 jazz vocalist and musician Red McKenzie, who played a comb-and-paper as an instrument, transitioned in New York City.
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