- Spirits of Rhythm
Spirits of Rhythm were an American
jazz string band .The ensemble's members had previously played under several other names (The Sepia Nephews, Ben Bernie's Nephews, The Five Cousins), and upon adding
Teddy Bunn as guitarist in 1932, the group began calling itself Spirits of Rhythm. They occasionally recorded, and performed frequently on52nd Street inNew York City as well as inHollywood in the 1930s and early 1940s.The group featured vocalists accompanied by string instruments, sometimes with other accompaniment such as homemade
percussion instruments andharmonica . In addition to the ordinary varieties of string instruments, the Spirits of Rhythm also featured atiple , an instrument similar to themandolin but with a lower, deeper sound. The group's vocalists often sang in nonsense syllables or inscat , employing the singer's voice more like an instrument rather than as a vehicle for lyrics.Members
*Douglas Daniels - tiple
*Walter Daniels - tiple
*Teddy Bunn - guitar
*Wellman Braud - bass
*Wilson Myers - bass
*Leo Watson - vocals, tiple
*Virgil Scoggins - percussion
*Red McKenzie - percussionReferences
* [http://wc02.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:g9fexqehldte~T1 Spirits of Rhythm] at Allmusic.com
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