Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds of Joy

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds of Joy · Andy Kirk and His Twelve Clouds of Joy is the name under which the American bandleader Andy Kirk, born in 1898 in Newport, Kentucky, became known. He grew up in Denver, played with George Morrison and then in Terrence Holder's Dark Clouds of Joy. When Holder left in 1929, Kirk became leader. The band moved from Dallas to Kansas City, where it became one of the best-known orchestras of the swing era.

Music and breakthrough

At Decca the group made countless records from 1936 to 1946. The greatest success was I Won't Tell a Soul in 1938, sung by Pha Terrell, which spent twelve weeks at the top of the chart. Take It and Git from 1942 became the first single to reach number 1 on the Harlem Hit Parade. The pianist and arranger Mary Lou Williams gave the band its own sound, and she grew into one of the most important figures in jazz. The orchestra also included Buddy Tate, Don Byas and Fats Navarro, among others.

Influence

Kirk gave up the band in 1948 and afterwards worked in the hotel trade and real estate. His group shows how jazz from the Midwest sounded. It combined danceable swing with plenty of room for soloists and was a springboard for many later jazz greats.

Listening

In School of Rock

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