Introduction
Wilbert Kirk (ca. 1906—September 26, 1983) was an American jazz drummer. He also played harmonica and for a brief period, led a harmonica trio named "The Harlemonicats". Active from the early 1930s to the early 1970s, Kirk played with some of the biggest names of the day in music, including Hayes Pillars, Noble Sissle, Sammy Price, and Wilbur De Paris.
Between 1936 and 1973, he was involved in 36 jazz recording sessions.
Life and career
Wilbert Kirk was born around 1906 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
He grew up near St. Louis, Missouri, where he started his professional music career in local theater orchestras. In the early 1930s, he worked in the bands of trumpeter Dewey Jackson and pianist Fate Marable in St. Louis.
In 1934/35, Kirk worked in altoist James Jeter and tenor-saxophonist Hayes Pillars's band "Jeter-Pillars Orchestra." In 1936, he made a few recordings with Noble Sissle Swingsters on Decca Records, drumming alongside Jerome Don Pasquall and Gil White (tenor saxophone); Sidney Bechet (soprano saxophone); Chauncey Haughton (clarinet and alto saxophone); Jimmy Miller (guitar); Oscar Madera (violin); Jimmy Jones (string bass); Clarence Brereton, Demas Dean, and Wendell Culley (trumpet); Harry Brooks (piano); Chester Burrill (trombone); Lena Horne and Billy Banks (vocalist).
In the 1930s, he briefly worked with Don Redman.
In 1940, Kirk worked with Sammy Price's band "Sam Price And His Texas Blusicians" and made several recordings ("Fetch it to Me", "Cow Cow Blues", "Sweepin' the Blues Away", "Swing out in the Groove", "Oh Red") accompanied by Don Stovall (alto saxophone); Eddie "Moon" Mullens (trumpet); and Dale Jones (string bass); and Ray Hill (tenor saxophone); and Joe Brown (trumpet).
In 1943, Kirk left Sissle's band and in 1944-45 worked with Claude Hopkins. Shortly after, he became the house drummer at the Club Zanzibar in New York. During this time, he also led a jazz harmonica trio "The Harlemonicats" and made regular television appearances.
From the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, Kirk was with Wilbur De Paris And His New New Orleans Jazz and also toured with them in Africa in 1960. He was involved in several of Wilbur's recordings, playing drums and harmonica with banjoist Lee Blair; bassists Hayes Alvis and Benny Moten; clarinetist Omer Simeon; cornetist Sidney De Paris; pianist Sonny White; and trumpeter Doc Cheatham.
In 1960, Kirk played harmonica and tambourine on Rex Stewart's album The Happy Jazz Of Rex Stewart (Prestige Swingville Records), accompanied by John Dengler (bass saxophone, washboard, kazoo); Chuck Lampkin (drums); and Jerome Darr and Chauncey "Lord" Westbrook (guitar).
In the 1960s, Kirk performed at Half Note jazz club in New York City with Kansas City All Stars with its members Ed Lewis (trumpet); Snub Mosley (trombone and slide saxophone); Eddie Barefield (alto saxophone and clarinet); Lem Johnson (tenor saxophone and vocal); Eddie Durham (guitar, trombone); Abe Bolar (bass); Juanita Bolar (wife of Abe Bolar) (piano).
Kirk's last known release was Eddie Durham's eponymous album in 1973/74 on RCA Victor. He was on the drums with bassist Thomas Barney, vocalist/drummer Herman Bradley, pianist Red Richards, saxophonist Earl Evans, trombonist Lawrence "Snub" Mosley, and trumpeter Jimmy Nottingham.
Film and TV
- In 1958, Kirk performed in the episode "Early Jazz" (season 1, episode 4) of the NBC TV series The Subject Is Jazz hosted by Gilbert Seldes under the musical direction of pianist Billy Taylor. Kirk was accompanied by trumpeter Sidney De Paris, trombonist Wilbur De Paris, guitarist Mundell Lowe, bassist Eddie Safranski, and clarinetist Omer Simeon.
- In 1964, Kirk played harmonica on the soundtrack of Michael Roemer's romance drama Nothing But a Man starring Ivan Dixon, Abbey Lincoln, and Julius Harris.
Death
Kirk died on September 26, 1983, at age 77.