Jack Bland

Jack Bland (May 8, 1899 – August 1968) was an American jazz banjoist and guitarist.

Born in Sedalia, Missouri, Bland co-founded the Mound City Blue Blowers with Red McKenzie in 1924 in St. Louis. Their first hit record was "Arkansas Blues", a success in Chicago and the American midwest. After Eddie Lang joined the group late in 1924, the group booked a tour in England.

Later in the 1920s, Bland began playing more cello and guitar. In 1929, Lang left the group, and Gene Krupa joined; Muggsy Spanier, Coleman Hawkins, and Eddie Condon would all play in the ensemble in the 1930s, which moved to more of a Dixieland sound. Also in 1929, the Blue Blowers appeared in a 1929 short film, The Opry House.

In 1932 Bland did session work in New York City with the Rhythmakers, a recording ensemble featuring singer Billy Banks, with Pee Wee Russell, Red Allen, and Zutty Singleton. Musicians Pops Foster and Fats Waller also played with the group at times.[1]

In the 1940s Bland played on 52nd Street at Jimmy Ryan's Club, playing with Allen and Singleton as well as Edmond Hall, Vic Dickenson, Ike Quebec, and Hot Lips Page; some of their sessions were recorded by Milt Gabler and released on Commodore Records. From 1942 to 1944 he played with Art Hodes and also with Muggsy Spanier; he led his own band from 1944 to 1950.

In the 1950s, Bland moved to Los Angeles and retired from performing, taking work as a taxicab driver.[2] He died there on October 18, 1968. [3]