• Get the app
  • Concerts
  • Charts
  • Radio Spins
  • Fast Forward 2025
  • Download Shazam
  • Apps
  • Concerts
  • Charts
  • Radio Spins
  • Fast Forward 2025
  • Help
Listen to John Kirby, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!

John Kirby

Jazz

View Artist

Top Songs By John Kirby

Listen to The River's Takin' Care of Me by Coleman Hawkins, Hilton Jefferson, John Kirby, Dickie Wells, Bernard Addison, Horace Henderson, Henry "Red" Allen & Walter Johnson, see lyrics, music video & more!
The River's Takin' Care of MeColeman Hawkins, Hilton Jefferson, John Kirby, Dickie Wells, Bernard Addison, Horace Henderson, Henry "Red" Allen & Walter Johnson
Listen to When My Dreamboat Comes Home by John Kirby, Cozy Cole, Tab Smith, Clyde Hart, Henry "Red" Allen, Danny Barker & Gene Mikell, see lyrics, music video & more!
When My Dreamboat Comes HomeJohn Kirby, Cozy Cole, Tab Smith, Clyde Hart, Henry "Red" Allen, Danny Barker & Gene Mikell
Listen to Charlie's Prelude by John Kirby, see lyrics, music video & more!
Charlie's PreludeJohn Kirby
Listen to Rehearsin' for a Nervous Breakdown by John Kirby, see lyrics, music video & more!
Rehearsin' for a Nervous BreakdownJohn Kirby
Listen to Sweet Georgia Brown (feat. John Kirby and His Orchestra) by John Kirby, see lyrics, music video & more!
Sweet Georgia Brown (feat. John Kirby and His Orchestra)John Kirby
Listen to Body and Soul by Cecil Scott, John Kirby, Chu Berry, Dickie Wells, Bernard Addison, Horace Henderson, Henry "Red" Allen & George Stafford, see lyrics, music video & more!
Body and SoulCecil Scott, John Kirby, Chu Berry, Dickie Wells, Bernard Addison, Horace Henderson, Henry "Red" Allen & George Stafford
Listen to Move Over by John Kirby, see lyrics, music video & more!
Move OverJohn Kirby
Listen to Rosetta by Cecil Scott, John Kirby, Chu Berry, Dickie Wells, Bernard Addison, Horace Henderson, Henry "Red" Allen & George Stafford, see lyrics, music video & more!
RosettaCecil Scott, John Kirby, Chu Berry, Dickie Wells, Bernard Addison, Horace Henderson, Henry "Red" Allen & George Stafford
Listen to Big Boadcast of 1937: Here's Love In Your Eye by John Kirby, Cozy Cole, Tab Smith, Clyde Hart, Henry "Red" Allen, Danny Barker & Gene Mikell, see lyrics, music video & more!
Big Boadcast of 1937: Here's Love In Your EyeJohn Kirby, Cozy Cole, Tab Smith, Clyde Hart, Henry "Red" Allen, Danny Barker & Gene Mikell
Listen to Soul Serenade by John Kirby, see lyrics, music video & more!
Soul SerenadeJohn Kirby

Latest Release

Listen to Sharpie by John Kirby
ALBUMSharpieJohn Kirby

More albums from John Kirby

Listen to John Kirby (feat. John Kirby and His Orchestra) by John Kirby
ALBUMJohn Kirby (feat. John Kirby and His Orchestra)John Kirby
Listen to John Kirby 1941-1942 by John Kirby
ALBUMJohn Kirby 1941-1942John Kirby

About John Kirby

Listen to John Kirby, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Hometown
Winchester, VA, United States
Born
December 31, 1908
Genre
Jazz
John Kirby led a most unusual group during the height of the big-band era, a sextet comprised of trumpeter Charlie Shavers, clarinetist Buster Bailey, altoist Russell Procope, pianist Billy Kyle, drummer O'Neil Spencer, and his own bass. Although Shavers and Bailey could be quite extroverted, the tightly arranged ensembles tended to be very cool-toned and introverted yet virtuosic. Kirby, originally a tuba player, switched to bass in 1930 when he joined Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra. He was one of the better bassists of the '30s, playing with Henderson (1930-1933 and 1935-1936) and Chick Webb's big band (1933-1935). By 1937, Kirby had his own group at the Onyx Club; Frankie Newton and Pete Brown passed through the band before the personnel was set. With Maxine Sullivan (Kirby's wife at the time) offering occasional vocals, the John Kirby Sextet was quite popular during 1938-1942. Shavers' "Undecided" became a hit and the band's abilities to "swing the classics" caught on. The sextet gradually declined in the '40s. Spencer became ill and was replaced by Specs Powell and later Bill Beason, Kyle was drafted and Procope was replaced by George Johnson. By 1945, after with Shavers' departure to join Tommy Dorsey, the only original members still in the group were Bailey and Kirby himself. The following year the band disbanded and despite some attempts by the bassist to form another similar sextet (including a poorly attended Carnegie Hall reunion in 1950), John Kirby was never able to duplicate his earlier successes. Classics has reissued all of Kirby's prime recordings. ~ Scott Yanow

Similar to: John Kirby

Discover more music and artists similar to John Kirby, like Nicholas Lawrence, Outrider, Bios
Listen to Nicholas Lawrence, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Nicholas Lawrence
Listen to Outrider, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Outrider
Listen to Bios, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Bios
Listen to H3r0, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
H3r0
Listen to Rene Berg, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Rene Berg
Listen to Rodney Wright, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Rodney Wright
Listen to A$, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
A$$
Listen to Jennifer Jimenez, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Jennifer Jimenez
Listen to Upside Down, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Upside Down
Listen to Matthew Little, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Matthew Little

Shazam Footer

Select language:

Company

  • About Us
  • Apps
  • Careers
  • Help for Apple Devices
  • Help for Android Devices
  • ShazamKit for Developers

Legal

  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Your Data
  • My Library
Google Play Store
Apple App Store
Chrome Web Store
Galaxy Store

Follow Us

© Copyright 2025 Apple Inc. and its affiliates | Supplier Responsibility
instagramSharePathic_arrow_out
John Kirby has also released music as a member of John Kirby Sextet, Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra, Chick Webb and His Orchestra, Buster Bailey & His Rhythm Busters, John Kirby & His Onyx Club Boys, The Chocolate Dandies, Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra, Jack Sneed & His Sneezers John Kirby and His Orchestra.