Cornell Smelser

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Joe Cornell Smelser (later Charles Cornell , * 7. August 1902 in Budapest , † 1993 ) was an American jazz - accordionist and composer of Hungarian origin.

Live and act

Cornell Smelser, mostly known as "Cornell", first played the piano and had a classical music education at the Budapest Conservatory before playing in a local orchestra at the age of 16. In 1920 he emigrated to the United States; in New York he first played in vaudeville and Broadway productions, and also in musical comedies, hotels and theater orchestras. In 1927 he founded his own orchestra, with which he performed in the Beaux Arts Cafe in New York. During this time he began to work as an accordionist with jazz musicians. In 1930 he wrote several successful titles such as Laughing at Life, Accordion Joe (recorded for Okeh Records , among others with Adrian Rollini , Jack Teagarden and Jimmy Dorsey ), Collegiate Love and I Hate Myself for Falling in Love With You . He became one of the most sought-after jazz accordionists in New York, making recordings and radio recordings. The first recordings were made in 1929; in the field of jazz he was involved in 19 recording sessions until 1932, a. a. with Tony Parenti (1929), Jean Goldkette ( Birmingham Bertha ), Irving Mills ' Hotsy Totsy Gang ( High and Dry ), Ben Selvin , The Boswell Sisters and the Fred Rich Orchestra ( When You Were the B'ossom of Buttercup Lane ). In 1930 he recorded his composition Accordion Joe and Double Check Stomp ( Brunswick 4783 and 6846) with the Duke Ellington Orchestra . In 1931 he received permission from George Gershwin to play his Rhapsody in Blue on the radio, accompanied by the Ohman Arden Orchestra. A tuberculosis disease ended his musical career in mid-1931. In his later years he shifted his activities to composing.

With Buster Moten , Jack Cornell (1929/30 with Irving Mills ' Hotsy-Totsy Gang) and Charles Melrose, Smelser was one of the few representatives of accordion playing in early jazz.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Biographical information on Cornell Smelser from his daughter Melody Cornell
  2. ↑ Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed April 27, 2014)
  3. ↑ Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine: All Music Guide to Jazz: The Definitive Guide to Jazz Music , 2002
personal data
SURNAME Smelser, Cornell
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Cornell, Charles; Smelser, Cornell Joe
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH August 7, 1902
PLACE OF BIRTH Budapest
DATE OF DEATH 1993