The Chocolate Dandies was the name of several American jazz combos from 1928 through the 1940s. The name was an outgrowth of the Broadway production, The Chocolate Dandies, that debuted in 1924.
Bands
A band led by Don Redman was the first to record with the name "Chocolate Dandies" on the Okeh label in 1928-1929. He also recorded with McKinney's Cotton Pickers and released material with that ensemble under this name.[1] King Oliver and Lloyd Smith's Gut-Bucketeers recorded under the name for Vocalion Records in 1931.[2]
Don Redman
Sessionography
The Chocolate Dandies
Musicians: Langston Curl (1899-1991), John Nesbitt (1900-1935) (de) (trumpets); Claude Jones (trombone); Don Redman, Milton Senior (1900-1948) (alto saxes, clarinets); George Thomas (1902-1930), Prince Robinson (tenor saxes, clarinets); Todd Rhodes (piano); Dave Wilborn (banjo); Lonnie Johnson (guitar on "Paducah" and "Star Dust"); Ralph Escudero (tuba); Cuba Austin (drums); Redman, Thomas, Wilborn (vocal trio on "Four or Five Times")
Recorded October 13, 1928, New York City
"Paducah," by Redman (music), Okeh 8627, Matrix: 401218-B
"Star Dust," by Hoagy Carmichael, Okeh 8668, Matrix: 401219-A
"Birmingham Breakdown," by Duke Ellington, Okeh 8668, Matrix: 401220-B
"Four or Five Times," by Marco Hellman (words) and Byron Gay (music), Okeh 8627, Matrix: 401221-A