Busse, Henry

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Busse, Henry

Busse, Henry, early jazz trumpeter; b. Magdeburg, Germany, May 19, 1894; d. Memphis, April 23, 1955. He came to the U.S. in 1916, played with Paul Whiteman (1918–28), then formed his own dance band with a characteristic shuffle beat and his muted “sweet jazz” horn. He co-wrote “Wang Wang Blues” and “Hot Lips” (1920), which were big hits for Whiteman; he later recorded both tunes himself (1935). He led Busse’s Buzzards, who actively recorded and performed in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s; violinist Joe Venuiti recorded with them in mid-1920s. Busse made the switch to swing and big band as well as traditional jazz in the 1940s.

Discography

“Wang Wang Blues” (1935); “Hot Lips” (1935).

Music Master Jazz and Blues Catalogue/Lewis Porter