Red McKenzie: The Comb-and-Paper Virtuoso of Early Jazz

Red McKenzie was an American jazz vocalist and novelty instrumentalist who carved a unique niche in the 1920s and 30s with his signature "comb and paper" playing. Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, his major achievement was not chart dominance but his pivotal role as a talent scout and session organizer, bringing together legendary early jazz figures for influential recordings like those by the McKenzie-Condon Chicagoans.

Early career

Born William McKenzie in 1899, he started his musical journey not with a traditional instrument but with a comb wrapped in tissue paper, which he played by humming through it to create a kazoo-like sound. His early career involved performing in St. Louis speakeasies and on riverboats before moving to New York in the mid-1920s, where his novelty act gained attention in vaudeville circles.

Breakthrough

McKenzie's breakthrough came in 1924 when he co-founded the Mound City Blue Blowers, a quirky ensemble built around his comb, a banjo, and a suitcase used for percussion. Their first recording for the Brunswick label, Arkansas Blues / Blue Blues, became an unexpected smash, reportedly selling over a million copies and establishing the group as a national sensation.

Key tracks

Arkansas Blues — This 1924 debut with the Mound City Blue Blowers was a surprise hit that launched McKenzie's recording career.

One Hour — A 1927 recording under his own name that featured a young Bix Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer, showcasing his connections.

China Boy — A seminal 1927 session by the McKenzie-Condon Chicagoans, a group he organized, which is considered a classic of Chicago-style jazz.

From Monday On — Another key 1928 track featuring Bix Beiderbecke, highlighting McKenzie's role in facilitating important jazz sessions.

Following the success of the Mound City Blue Blowers, McKenzie leveraged his popularity to become a crucial behind-the-scenes figure. He organized and led numerous recording dates that brought together white Chicago-style jazz musicians like Eddie Condon, Gene Krupa, and Pee Wee Russell. Although he continued to perform and record as a vocalist and comb player into the 1930s and early 40s, his legacy is firmly tied to these formative sessions that helped document the early jazz era.

For fans of the spirited, improvisational sound of 1920s jazz, similar artists featured on our site include Eddie Condon who was a frequent collaborator in McKenzie's groups. Bix Beiderbecke shares the melodic innovation heard on McKenzie's sessions. The novelty jazz spirit is also found in The Memphis Five, another prolific studio group of the era.

Red McKenzie's distinctive sound and historically significant recordings maintain a steady presence on our platform's dedicated classic jazz and early swing radio stations. His music is a staple on online radio streams specializing in the acoustic jazz era, offering listeners an authentic trip back to the Roaring Twenties.

You can hear the unique comb-and-paper jazz of Red McKenzie on various classic jazz stations featured on our website. Explore and listen to his pioneering work directly through the curated radio stations available on onairium.com.