Musicians: 
Sonny Parker – Vocals 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Douglas Duke – Piano 
Benny Bailey – Trumpet 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Earl Walker – Drums 

NYC, April 26, 1949 

1-1 “WHAT’S HAPPENING BABY” [2:54] 
1-2 “DRINKING WINE / SPO-DEE-O-DEE / DRINKING WINE” [3:27] 

Musicians: 
Sonny Parker – Vocals 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke – Organ 
Wendell Culley – Trumpet 
Gene Morris – Tenor Sax 
Ben Kynard – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Earl Walker – Drums 
Joe James – Vocals 

NYC, May 10, 1949 

2-1 “LAVENDER COFFIN” [2:45] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke – Piano 
The Hamptones – Vocals 3-1 
Benny Bailey, Duke Garrette, Ed Mullens, Leo Shepherd, and Walter Williams – Trumpet 
Al Grey, Paul Lee Higaki, Benny Powell, Jimmy Wormick – Trombone 
Bobby Plater and Jerome Richardson – Alto Sax 
Johnny Board, Curtis Lowe, and Billy Williams – Tenor Sax 
Lonnie Shaw – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 

NYC, December 29, 1949 

3-1 “RAG MOP” [2:53] 
3-2 “FOR YOU MY LOVE” [2:27] 

Same Place and Date / Same Musicians 

3-3 “SKY BLUE” [2:55]

Same Place and Date / Same Musicians 

3-4 “MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB” [2:16] 

[3-4 Only Released on Alto Records – Collectors Issue – AL 708 – Colossal ‘Vibes & Sticks’] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke – Piano 
Benny Bailey, Duke Garrette, Ed Mullens, Leo Shepherd, and Walter Williams – Trumpet 
Al Grey, Paul Lee Higaki, Benny Powell, and Jimmy Wormick – Trombone 
Bobby Plater and Jerome Richardson – Alto Sax 
Johnny Board, Curtis Lowe, and Billy Williams – Tenor Sax 
Lonnie Shaw – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 

NYC, January 4, 1950 – Radio Broadcast, “Apollo Theater” 

4-1 “BOPOLOGY” [2:42] 
4-2 “HAMP’S BASEMENT” [2:49] 
4-3 “SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT” [2:15] 
4-4 “JINGLE BOOGIE” [3:25] 
4-5 “SYMPHONY IN JAZZ” [6:38] 

[All Songs Only Released on Alto Records – Collectors Issue – AL 708 – Colossal ‘Vibes & Sticks’] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke – Piano 
Benny Bailey, Duke Garrette, Ed Mullens, Leo Shepherd, and Walter Williams – Trumpet 
Al Grey, Paul Lee Higaki, Benny Powell, and Jimmy Wormick – Trombone 
Bobby Plater – Alto Sax 
Jerome Richardson – Flute 
Johnny Board, Curtis Lowe, and Billy Williams – Tenor Sax 
Lonnie Shaw – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 

NYC, January 5, 1950 

5-1 “I’VE BEEN A FOOL” [2:57] 

Same Place and Date / Same Musicians 

5-2 “HOW YOU SOUND” [3:03] 

5-3 “I ALMOST LOST MY MIND” [3:14] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke – Piano 
Benny Bailey, Duke Garrette, Ed Mullens, Leo Shepherd, and Walter Williams – Trumpet 
Al Grey, Paul Lee Higaki, Benny Powell, and Jimmy Wormick – Trombone 
Bobby Plater and Jerome Richardson – Alto Sax 
Johnny Board, Curtis Lowe, and Billy Williams – Tenor Sax 
Lonnie Shaw – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 

NYC, January 25, 1950 

6-1 “SAD FEELIN’ NR.2” [2:50] 
6-2 “HAMP’S GUMBO NR.2” [2:46] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke Hammond – Organ 
Benny Bailey, Duke Garrette, Ed Mullens, Leo Shepherd, and Walter Williams – Trumpet 
Al Grey, Paul Lee Higaki, Benny Powell, and Jimmy Wormick – Trombone 
Bobby Plater and Jerome Richardson – Alto Sax 
Johnny Board, Curtis Lowe, and Billy Williams – Tenor Sax 
Lonnie Shaw – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 

NYC, January 26, 1950 

7-1 “PLEASE GIVE ME A CHANCE” [3:07] 
7-2 “I WISH I KNEW” [3:08] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke Hammond – Organ 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Earl Walker – Drums 
Jerome Richardson – Flute 8-2 

NYC, January 26, 1950 

8-1 “WHERE OR WHEN” [2:53] 
8-2 “THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YOU” [2:29] 

Musicians: 
Gene Morris – Tenor Sax 
Doug Duke – Piano 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 9-1 and 9-2 
Earl Walker – Drums 9-3 and 9-4 

Fresno, CA – 1950 

9-1 “KING TROTTER” 
9-2 “ROCKIN’ WITH G.M.” [2:58] 
9-3 “CARLENA’S BLUES” [2:51] 
9-4 “SMOOTH EVENING” 

[9-1 and 9-4 Unreleased] 

Musicians: 
Don Elliott – Mellophonium, Trumpet, Vibraphone, and Bongos) 
Douglas Duke Hammond – Organ 
Mort Herbert – Bass 
Sid Bulkin – Drums 

NYC, June 24, 1953 

Recorded Songs: 
10-1 “A STRANGER IN TOWN” [2:40] 
10-2 “WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE” [2:23] 
10-3 “WHERE OR WHEN” [2:41] 
10-4 “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME” [3:04] 

Released On: 
Savoy MG 12054 Vibrations – (Cal Tjader and Don Elliott) LP Vinyl 33rpm 

10-1 “A STRANGER IN TOWN” 
10-3 “WHERE OR WHEN” 
10-4 “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME” 

Other Songs on This Record: 
Don Elliott (mel, tp, vib, bgo), Kai Winding (tb), Phil Urso (ts), Danny Bank (bars), Jimmy Lyon (p), Arnold Fishkin (b), and Sid Bulkin (d) 

NYC, November 17, 1952 
Darn That Dream – Mighty Like a Rose – Oh Look at Me Now – Jeepers Creepers 

Cal Tjader Quartet; 
Cal Tjader (vib), Hank Jones (p) / Richard Wyands (p), Al McKibbon (b), and Kenny Clarke (d) / Roy Haynes (d) 

NYC, October 21, 1953 / San Francisco, CA, March 2, 1954 
Minority – I Want to Be Happy – Love Me or Leave Me – Tangerine – A Sunday Kind of Love – After You’ve Gone 

Savoy MG 9033 The Versatile Don Elliott 
LP 10″ Vinyl 33rpm 

10-2 “WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE” 
10-3 “WHERE OR WHEN” 
10-4 “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME” 

Other Songs on This Record: 
Don Elliott (mel, tp, vib, bgo), Kai Winding (tb), Phil Urso (ts), Danny Bank (bars), Jimmy Lyon (p), Arnold Fishkin (b), and Sid Bulkin (d)  

NYC, November 17, 1952 
Mighty Like a Rose – Oh Look at Me Now – Jeepers Creepers 

Savoy XP 8092 The Versatile Don Elliott – Vol. 1 
EP Vinyl 45rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 

10-4 “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME”  
10-1 “A STRANGER IN TOWN” 

Darn That Dream – Jeepers Creepers 

Savoy XP 8093 The Versatile Don Elliott – Vol. 2 
EP Vinyl 45rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 
Mighty Like a Rose – Look at Me Now 

10-2 “WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE”  
10-3 “WHERE OR WHEN” 

Savoy 1103 EP Don Elliott Quartet 
EP Vinyl 45rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 

10-3 “WHERE OR WHEN”  
10-4 “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME” 

Musicians: 
Joe Roland – Vibraphone 
Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Danny Martuccu – Bass 
Ronnie Jefferson – Drums 
Luis Miranda – Latin American Percussion 
Jose Manguel – Latin American Percussion 
Ubaldo Nieto – Latin American Percussion 

NYC, 1954 

Seeco 4156 Joe Roland Sextet 
Metrolyte Vinyl 78rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 

11-1 “Sleighride”  
11-2 “Christmas Song” 

Seeco 4157 Joe Roland Sextet 
Metrolyte Vinyl 78rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 

11-3 “Jingle Bells”  
11-4 “Let It Snow” 

Seeco EP-10 Joe Roland Sextet 
EP Vinyl 45rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 

11-5 “CHRISTMAS IN MAMBOLAND” 
11-6 “UNKNOWN” (2007) 
11-7 “UNKNOWN” (2007)  
11-8 “UNKNOWN” (2007) 

NYC, 1948 – Recorded at Joe Squeezers 

Recorded Songs: 
1-01 “YOU’RE DRIVING ME CRAZY” [2:50] 
1-02 “LAURA” [3:45] 

Unreleased: 
Recorded for Fine Recording Company, Rochester 

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Clyde Lombardi – Bass 
Mel Zelnick – Drums 

Recorded Songs: 

Session -A-  
NYC, August 21, 1953 

2-A-1 “SONG OF INDIA” 
2-A-2 “IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME” 
2-A-3 “IN A PERSIAN MARKET” 
2-A-4 “A FINE ROMANCE” 
2-A-5 “IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING” 
2-A-6 “LOVE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER” 

Session -B-  
NYC, October 21, 1953 

2-B-1 “LAURA” 
2-B-2 “THE THINGS WE DID LAST SUMMER” 
2-B-3 “YESTERDAYS” 
2-B-4 “THERE’S A SMALL HOTEL” 

Released On:  

Regent – MG 6013 The Jazz Organist – Doug Duke 
LP Vinyl 33rpm – Mono 
Released on Regent Records Newark, New Jersey 

Side 1 

2-A-1 “SONG OF INDIA” 
2-A-2 “IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME” 
2-A-3 “IN A PERSIAN MARKET” 
2-A-4 “A FINE ROMANCE” 
2-A-5 “IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING” 

Side 2 

2-A-6 “LOVE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER” 
2-B-1 “LAURA” 
2-B-2 “THE THINGS WE DID LAST SUMMER” 
2-B-3 “YESTERDAYS” 
2-B-4 “THERE’S A SMALL HOTEL” 

The text below is from the back cover of the LP The Jazz Organist – Doug Duke. 

One of the most exciting musical personalities to come along in recent years on his instrument, Doug Duke was one of the first of what is now an ever-increasing school of swinging organists. 

Although still a very young man, Doug’s background includes big band experience with Lionel Hampton, among others, and many years as leader of his own trio. 

Truly a triple threat man, Doug plays both piano and organ equally well, swings mightily on both instruments, creates vibrant music on both instruments…and plays them simultaneously, on occasion. 

In this album, through the device of tape recording, we are able to see these dual instrumental personalities, Doug the organist and Doug the pianist, performing together against the swinging background set up by bassist Clyde Lombard and drummer Mel Zelnick. 

It’s truly a full orchestral sound, with the organ performing as solo voice, brass and reed sections, and the piano serving both solo and accompanying roles. 

Listen to the interesting harmonic voicings, the interwoven counterpoints, the romping solo and ensemble passages…and give due credit to an unpublicized but top craftsman on his instruments…Mr. Piano and Mr. Organ – Doug Duke!  

Savoy 1108 Doug Duke 
Metrolyte Vinyl 78rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

2-A-1 “SONG OF INDIA” 

Side 2 

2-A-2 “IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME” 

Savoy 1116 Douglas Duke 
Metrolyte Vinyl 78rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

2-B-1 “LAURA” 

Side 2 

2-B-4 “THERE’S A SMALL HOTEL” 
Savoy XP-8099 Douglas Duke, Organ and Piano 
EP Vinyl 45rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

2-A-1 “SONG OF INDIA” 
2-A-2 “IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME” 

Side 2 

2-A-3 “IN A PERSIAN MARKET” 
2-A-4 “A FINE ROMANCE” 

Savoy XP-8111 Douglas Duke, Organ and Piano, Vol. 2 
EP Vinyl 45rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

2-B-1 “LAURA” 
2-B-2 “THE THINGS WE DID LAST SUMMER” 

Side 2 

2-B-3 “YESTERDAYS” 
2-B-4 “THERE’S A SMALL HOTEL” 

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Unknown Guitar 
Richard Hanson – Drums 

NYC, November, 1953 

Mercury 70.093.x45 Douglas Duke Trio 
EP Vinyl 45rpm – Mono 

Side -1- Side -2- 

3-1 “LITTLE OLD LADY” 
3-2 “MAMBO AT THE MEADOWBROOK” 

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Jerry Bruno – Bass 

1956 

Herald HLP-0102 Douglas Duke Sounds Impossible 
LP Vinyl 33rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

4-01 “BLUE MOON” 
4-07 “MOONGLOW” 
4-02 “EVERYTHING I HAVE IS YOURS” 
4-03 “NINA NEVER KNEW” 
4-04 “DON’T BE THAT WAY” 
4-05 “IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME” 
4-06 “DON’T GET AROUND MUCH ANYMORE” 

Side 2 

4-08 “TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS” 
4-09 “TENDERLY” 
4-10 “IDLE GOSSIP” 
4-11 “OLD DEVIL MOON” 
4-12 “I CAN’T GET STARTED WITH YOU” 

The text below is from the back cover of the LP Doug Duke Sounds Impossible. 

Sounds Impossible is a showcase for the inventive creativeness of Douglas Duke’s orchestral sounds and arrangements. 

Sounds and tonal colors of flutes, French horns, clarinets, brilliant forceful brass saxophones, the “sing” of many strings are sparked by the drive of a happy, free swinging rhythm section. 

Birthplace – Buenos Aires – began music studies at the age of 6 on piano (old school, ruler over the knuckles). Pipe organ at 10 years of age. By the time he reached 14 years of age, he had added bassoon, accordion, and trumpet. Like most jazzmen, Duke strayed from the severe classical to Jazz. Later played with bands Jan Savitt, Shep Fields, Mitch Ayres, and Lionel Hampton. 

As a result of his band experiences, he became more and more obsessed with orchestral sounds. 
By the means of the electronic organ, he found the possibilities of producing orchestral sounds at his fingertips and so set about to acquire more than a smattering of music electronically born. 

A few years of experiment and a considerable amount of trial and error (electronically) resulted in these sounds you now hear. This music should be listened to with imagination, bearing in mind that the scope and breadth of these orchestral sounds originate from the hands, mind, and heart of one Douglas Duke. 

Editor’s Note: It was forcibly realized at the recording session that the amazing flexibility, understanding, and fine musicianship of Jerry Bruno on bass was felt throughout. The arrangements heard, for the most part, were spontaneous. Thanks, Jerry!  

NYC, October 1959 
Recorded at Il Pappagallo’s by Paul Preo at Reeves Soundcraft Audition Recording Disc 

Unreleased: 
LP Vinyl 10” 33rpm – Stereo 

5-1 “BUT NOT FOR ME” 
5-2 “IF YOU’RE YOUNG AT HEART” 

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Osie Johnson – Drums, Bongos, Tambourine, and Xylophone 
George Devens – Drums, Bongos, Tambourine, and Xylophone 

NYC, October 1962 

Philips Doug Duke at the Organ 
Swinging the Standards with Piano and Percussion 
LP Vinyl 33rpm – Mono PHM 200 – 046 
LP Vinyl 33rpm – Stereo PHS 600 – 046 

Side 1 

6-01 “DON’T BE THAT WAY” 
6-02 “LAZY RIVER” 
6-03 “WITCHCRAFT” 
6-04 “S’POSIN’” 
6-05 “ME AND MY SHADOW” 
6-06 “3 A.M. BLUES” 

Side 2 

6-07 “I’M BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT” 
6-08 “LINGER AWHILE” 
6-09 “SOMETIMES I AM HAPPY” 
6-10 “DON’CHA GO WAY MAD” 
6-11 “A SINNER KISSED AN ANGEL” 
6-12 “IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON” 

The text below is from the back cover of the LP Doug Duke At The Organ. 

At the hands of Douglas Duke, an organ is more than a musical instrument. He doesn’t arrange tunes he orchestrates. Apply the organ and piano to this idea, and you have an entire concert ensemble consisting of one man. 

“I consider the two hands as sections of a band. The right is the brass, the left is the woodwinds. The pedal, of course, is percussion. I bring in the piano as the soloist.” 

There are no multiple tracks, no echo chambers, and no gimmicks in this album. Except for two sidemen on percussion, the music comes from one pair of hands playing the organ and piano simultaneously. 

Duke’s theory of orchestrating for the organ is aptly demonstrated throughout the album, but it is most apparent in “Witchcraft.” You hear the melody first from the brass section (right hand), then it’s picked up by the woodwinds (left hand), with the brass section providing bright accompaniment and punctuation. 

Finally, the piano takes up the tune while the organ weaves an interesting tapestry of counter melody in the background. You’ll find yourself in the center of a big band when Douglas Duke plays “Don’t Be That Way” in a style reminiscent of the old Benny Goodman organization of the late thirties. The mighty voice of the theatre pipe organ seems to appear in several cuts, notably “A Sinner Kissed an Angel,” in which the artist scoops up great handfuls of notes and sprinkles them around like sparkle dust in a spotlight. His subtle sense of humor bubbles to the top in his whimsical treatment of “Me and My Shadow” and “S’Posin’,” both of which make interesting use of the bongos, with the latter opening and closing with a startling Latin beat. Throughout it all is brilliant piano with organ, sometimes so complex it seems as if a second musician, or at least a third hand, has been slipped in to lend assistance. The percussion, which unobtrusively adds sparkle and spice to an already tasty concoction, is artfully supplied by Osie (James) Johnson and George Devens using drums, bongos, tambourine, and xylophone. 

Before he had reached his “teens” Doug Duke had already mastered the pipe organ, and he was one of the first serious musicians to embrace the electric organ as something more than a musical novelty. Never satisfied with the range of tonal effects he could achieve with a standard model, however, he has experimented, revamped, and adapted new circuit ideas to his instruments to produce the quality of sound he wants. 

The organ used in this session is known affectionately as “Baby Bear,” an ancient, scarred Hammond spinet whose insides have been so thoroughly redesigned they barely resemble the original. “Baby Bear” has a bright, brisk voice all its own. The keyboard action is crisp and clean and quick to respond to the artist’s ever-changing whims. Duke rarely plays the same tune twice the same way. He and “Baby Bear” are a perfect team for constant ad-libbing to suit the mood of the moment. 

Doug Duke was born in Buenos Aires to a Spanish father and an English mother. He was brought to the United States by his parents at the age of two. His father was a concert violinist, and Doug’s musical education started at an early age. At eight he was accompanying his father in concert. At 10, he was playing the pipe organ even though his legs were too short to reach the pedals from the bench, and he had to stand to get his hands on the upper keyboard. 

While still in his teens and early 20s, he was a mature musician playing with many well-known bands of the era, including Lionel Hampton, Shep Fields, and Mitchell Ayres. After several years, he went off on his own as a solo act and was early recognized as one of the top jazz pianists and organists in the business. 

This album displays a virtuosity seldom seen in any single performer. The variety of explicit sounds and chord combinations upon which he fashions his arrangements bespeak a maturity of interpretation rarely found in one individual.  

Re-Released On: 

Doug Duke Discography 
Philips 452-013 BE Doug Duke Swings on Organ 
EP Vinyl 45rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

6-01 “DON’T BE THAT WAY” 
6-05 “ME AND MY SHADOW” 

Side 2 

6-08 “LINGER AWHILE” 
6-12 “IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON” 

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Gerard van Bezey – Drums 

Amsterdam, January 1963 

Philips P-08081-L Doug Duke – Dancing to the Swinging Hammond Organ 
LP Vinyl 33rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

7-01 “MY BLUE HEAVEN” 
7-02 “ORANGE COLOURED SKY” 
7-03 “THREE LITTLE WORDS” 
7-04 “AMAPOLA” 
7-05 “LOVE IS HERE TO STAY” 

Side 2 

7-06 “WHEN YOU’RE SMILING” 
7-07 “I LET A SONG GO OUT OF MY HEART” 
7-08 “SIBONEY” 
7-09 “LULLABY OF BIRDLAND” 
7-10 “SOPHISTICATED SWING” 
7-11 “TAKE THE “A” TRAIN” 

The text below is from the back cover of the LP Doug Duke – Dancing to the Swinging Hammond Organ. 

Born in South America as the son of a Spanish father and an English mother, young Doug Duke moved to the United States with his parents at an early age. 

Coming from a musical family—his father was a noted concert violinist—Doug soon showed a lively interest in popular music, and it wasn’t long before he began to develop marked musical talents. First, it was the piano—he was six at the time—and then, four years later, the pipe organ. Later, he completed formal studies at the Rochester Eastman Conservatory and went into show business as an organist/pianist. 

His real name is Ovidio Fernandez, but for his professional career, he took his mother’s name. 
His strong liking for jazz and popular music gave him an entree to the right bands, and his outstanding jazz techniques on both piano and organ soon made him “definitely” the greatest Swing Organist since Fats WaIler. 

To cut a long story short—a story which leads from one success to another—Doug Duke today is no longer simply an organist, for the organ is just the instrument he prefers among many. Rather, his name stands simply for The Best, you might say. With his inventive, adventurous mind, always exploring the complete structures of jazz, he has continuously been enabled to broaden his scope. 

In 1947, Doug bought a Hammond organ and, to increase its power, tore the instrument apart, changed, and rebuilt it until he found the “improved” (more powerful) sound he was looking for. “I had opened its throat,” he said later. 

The next problem was mobility, for Doug, although a great lover of the pipe-organ, felt that for his purposes, the instrument as it stood was too cumbersome to carry around—and Doug’s tours were ceaseless. Soon he found the solution: a handy “compact” organ with all the advantages of the theatre organ and, moreover, “special” sound effects. Doug comments: “It certainly was a happy day when the Hammond organ came along”. Having lived in Rochester (N.Y.) for (remember the adventurous mind) and eager to see the world, Doug and his wife Shirley (who claims to be Doug’s greatest fan) left America in 1962 and sailed for Europe on the “Queen Mary,” taking the Hammond organ outfit with them. Their plans involved concerts in various countries. 

It was Philips in Holland, who, having heard of Doug’s musical activities in America, suggested that he should apply to the producer of the Dutch TV show Music Hall. This he did, and shortly afterward, five million viewers watched and heard the truly sensational performance he gave. This led to more contracts with Dutch TV and to other engagements both in Holland and—increasingly—other European countries. Although Doug has decided on Holland as a base for his European tours, he can now point to a string of rave notices in various languages and feels quite assured of a packed reception wherever he goes. 

Philips, too, was quick to recognize Doug’s importance. The record session they arranged for him in Amsterdam was based on the sure knowledge—not just guesswork but a matter of experience—that Doug Duke’s name would soon be ringing bells in the minds of all music lovers across Europe. 
On this record Doug Duke is accompanied by drummer Gerard van Bezey, a Dutch percussionist he has a special liking for. The liking is not merely professional, but the way Gerard performs here makes you understand what took Doug’s fancy. 

About Doug Duke himself, there is something special – an impression shared by musicians and fans alike. 

We believe it is the fact that he is the creator of something. To hear Doug is to hear a “one-man-full band,” so to speak, with the right hand being the brass section and the left hand the reed section, the left foot marking the bass rhythm, and the piano kept for special solo phrases. 

Doug can genuinely do EVERYTHING not excepting rare effects such as bongo-rhythms. 

Doug emerged from the session very enthusiastic about the way his program had been recorded. 
“Of all places I’ve been,” he exclaimed “the best recording sound I’ve ever got happened right here in Holland, in this small country.” And he added: “Guess I’m a bit prejudiced in favor of recording for Philips!” 

We at Philips are naturally a little prejudiced in favor of recording Doug, of having a fine American artist with us and keeping him for a long time. What comes out for you—the ones who simply enjoy it—is some top-rate swinging sound that spells quality in every note. Quality for listening and quality for the dancing that Doug’s happy music makes a “must” for all who can move their feet.  

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 

The Netherlands, 1963  
Released 1964 

Philips JF-327-612 Doug Duke – Evergreen – Hits No. 1 
EP Vinyl 45rpm – Stereo 

Side 1 

8-1 “DEEP PURPLE” 
8-2 “RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET” 
8-3 “WHEN MY DREAMBOAT COMES HOME” 

Side 2 

8-4 “FOOLS RUSH-IN” 
8-5 “MARIA ELAINA” 
8-6 “MAKIN’ WHOOPEE” 

Re-Released On: 

The Netherlands, 1976 

Doug Duke Discography 
Philips 6678-306 30 Gouden Hammond Favorieten (Sampler) 
“From the United States of America…Doug Duke” 
2-LP Vinyl 33rpm – Stereo 

Record 1 – Side -1- 

8-5 “MARIA ELAINA” 
8-6 “MAKIN’ WHOOPEE” 

Record 2 – Side -1- 

8-2 “RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET” 
8-3 “WHEN MY DREAMBOAT COMES HOME” 

Musicians: 
Sonny Parker – Vocals 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Douglas Duke – Piano 
Benny Bailey – Trumpet 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Earl Walker – Drums 

NYC, April 26, 1949 

1-1 “WHAT’S HAPPENING BABY” [2:54] 
1-2 “DRINKING WINE / SPO-DEE-O-DEE / DRINKING WINE” [3:27] 

Musicians: 
Sonny Parker – Vocals 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke – Organ 
Wendell Culley – Trumpet 
Gene Morris – Tenor Sax 
Ben Kynard – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Earl Walker – Drums 
Joe James – Vocals 

NYC, May 10, 1949 

2-1 “LAVENDER COFFIN” [2:45] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke – Piano 
The Hamptones – Vocals 3-1 
Benny Bailey, Duke Garrette, Ed Mullens, Leo Shepherd, and Walter Williams – Trumpet 
Al Grey, Paul Lee Higaki, Benny Powell, Jimmy Wormick – Trombone 
Bobby Plater and Jerome Richardson – Alto Sax 
Johnny Board, Curtis Lowe, and Billy Williams – Tenor Sax 
Lonnie Shaw – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 

NYC, December 29, 1949 

3-1 “RAG MOP” [2:53] 
3-2 “FOR YOU MY LOVE” [2:27] 

Same Place and Date / Same Musicians 

3-3 “SKY BLUE” [2:55]

Same Place and Date / Same Musicians 

3-4 “MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB” [2:16] 

[3-4 Only Released on Alto Records – Collectors Issue – AL 708 – Colossal ‘Vibes & Sticks’] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke – Piano 
Benny Bailey, Duke Garrette, Ed Mullens, Leo Shepherd, and Walter Williams – Trumpet 
Al Grey, Paul Lee Higaki, Benny Powell, and Jimmy Wormick – Trombone 
Bobby Plater and Jerome Richardson – Alto Sax 
Johnny Board, Curtis Lowe, and Billy Williams – Tenor Sax 
Lonnie Shaw – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 

NYC, January 4, 1950 – Radio Broadcast, “Apollo Theater” 

4-1 “BOPOLOGY” [2:42] 
4-2 “HAMP’S BASEMENT” [2:49] 
4-3 “SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT” [2:15] 
4-4 “JINGLE BOOGIE” [3:25] 
4-5 “SYMPHONY IN JAZZ” [6:38] 

[All Songs Only Released on Alto Records – Collectors Issue – AL 708 – Colossal ‘Vibes & Sticks’] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke – Piano 
Benny Bailey, Duke Garrette, Ed Mullens, Leo Shepherd, and Walter Williams – Trumpet 
Al Grey, Paul Lee Higaki, Benny Powell, and Jimmy Wormick – Trombone 
Bobby Plater – Alto Sax 
Jerome Richardson – Flute 
Johnny Board, Curtis Lowe, and Billy Williams – Tenor Sax 
Lonnie Shaw – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 

NYC, January 5, 1950 

5-1 “I’VE BEEN A FOOL” [2:57] 

Same Place and Date / Same Musicians 

5-2 “HOW YOU SOUND” [3:03] 

5-3 “I ALMOST LOST MY MIND” [3:14] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke – Piano 
Benny Bailey, Duke Garrette, Ed Mullens, Leo Shepherd, and Walter Williams – Trumpet 
Al Grey, Paul Lee Higaki, Benny Powell, and Jimmy Wormick – Trombone 
Bobby Plater and Jerome Richardson – Alto Sax 
Johnny Board, Curtis Lowe, and Billy Williams – Tenor Sax 
Lonnie Shaw – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 

NYC, January 25, 1950 

6-1 “SAD FEELIN’ NR.2” [2:50] 
6-2 “HAMP’S GUMBO NR.2” [2:46] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke Hammond – Organ 
Benny Bailey, Duke Garrette, Ed Mullens, Leo Shepherd, and Walter Williams – Trumpet 
Al Grey, Paul Lee Higaki, Benny Powell, and Jimmy Wormick – Trombone 
Bobby Plater and Jerome Richardson – Alto Sax 
Johnny Board, Curtis Lowe, and Billy Williams – Tenor Sax 
Lonnie Shaw – Baritone Sax 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 

NYC, January 26, 1950 

7-1 “PLEASE GIVE ME A CHANCE” [3:07] 
7-2 “I WISH I KNEW” [3:08] 

Musicians: 
Lionel Hampton – Vibes 
Doug Duke Hammond – Organ 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Earl Walker – Drums 
Jerome Richardson – Flute 8-2 

NYC, January 26, 1950 

8-1 “WHERE OR WHEN” [2:53] 
8-2 “THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YOU” [2:29] 

Musicians: 
Gene Morris – Tenor Sax 
Doug Duke – Piano 
Wes Montgomery – Guitar 
Roy Johnson – Bass 
Ellis Bartee – Drums 9-1 and 9-2 
Earl Walker – Drums 9-3 and 9-4 

Fresno, CA – 1950 

9-1 “KING TROTTER” 
9-2 “ROCKIN’ WITH G.M.” [2:58] 
9-3 “CARLENA’S BLUES” [2:51] 
9-4 “SMOOTH EVENING” 

[9-1 and 9-4 Unreleased] 

Musicians: 
Don Elliott – Mellophonium, Trumpet, Vibraphone, and Bongos) 
Douglas Duke Hammond – Organ 
Mort Herbert – Bass 
Sid Bulkin – Drums 

NYC, June 24, 1953 

Recorded Songs: 
10-1 “A STRANGER IN TOWN” [2:40] 
10-2 “WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE” [2:23] 
10-3 “WHERE OR WHEN” [2:41] 
10-4 “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME” [3:04] 

Released On: 
Savoy MG 12054 Vibrations – (Cal Tjader and Don Elliott) LP Vinyl 33rpm 

10-1 “A STRANGER IN TOWN” 
10-3 “WHERE OR WHEN” 
10-4 “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME” 

Other Songs on This Record: 
Don Elliott (mel, tp, vib, bgo), Kai Winding (tb), Phil Urso (ts), Danny Bank (bars), Jimmy Lyon (p), Arnold Fishkin (b), and Sid Bulkin (d) 

NYC, November 17, 1952 
Darn That Dream – Mighty Like a Rose – Oh Look at Me Now – Jeepers Creepers 

Cal Tjader Quartet; 
Cal Tjader (vib), Hank Jones (p) / Richard Wyands (p), Al McKibbon (b), and Kenny Clarke (d) / Roy Haynes (d) 

NYC, October 21, 1953 / San Francisco, CA, March 2, 1954 
Minority – I Want to Be Happy – Love Me or Leave Me – Tangerine – A Sunday Kind of Love – After You’ve Gone 

Savoy MG 9033 The Versatile Don Elliott 
LP 10″ Vinyl 33rpm 

10-2 “WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE” 
10-3 “WHERE OR WHEN” 
10-4 “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME” 

Other Songs on This Record: 
Don Elliott (mel, tp, vib, bgo), Kai Winding (tb), Phil Urso (ts), Danny Bank (bars), Jimmy Lyon (p), Arnold Fishkin (b), and Sid Bulkin (d)  

NYC, November 17, 1952 
Mighty Like a Rose – Oh Look at Me Now – Jeepers Creepers 

Savoy XP 8092 The Versatile Don Elliott – Vol. 1 
EP Vinyl 45rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 

10-4 “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME”  
10-1 “A STRANGER IN TOWN” 

Darn That Dream – Jeepers Creepers 

Savoy XP 8093 The Versatile Don Elliott – Vol. 2 
EP Vinyl 45rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 
Mighty Like a Rose – Look at Me Now 

10-2 “WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE”  
10-3 “WHERE OR WHEN” 

Savoy 1103 EP Don Elliott Quartet 
EP Vinyl 45rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 

10-3 “WHERE OR WHEN”  
10-4 “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME” 

Musicians: 
Joe Roland – Vibraphone 
Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Danny Martuccu – Bass 
Ronnie Jefferson – Drums 
Luis Miranda – Latin American Percussion 
Jose Manguel – Latin American Percussion 
Ubaldo Nieto – Latin American Percussion 

NYC, 1954 

Seeco 4156 Joe Roland Sextet 
Metrolyte Vinyl 78rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 

11-1 “Sleighride”  
11-2 “Christmas Song” 

Seeco 4157 Joe Roland Sextet 
Metrolyte Vinyl 78rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 

11-3 “Jingle Bells”  
11-4 “Let It Snow” 

Seeco EP-10 Joe Roland Sextet 
EP Vinyl 45rpm 
Side -1- Side -2- 

11-5 “CHRISTMAS IN MAMBOLAND” 
11-6 “UNKNOWN” (2007) 
11-7 “UNKNOWN” (2007)  
11-8 “UNKNOWN” (2007) 

NYC, 1948 – Recorded at Joe Squeezers 

Recorded Songs: 
1-01 “YOU’RE DRIVING ME CRAZY” [2:50] 
1-02 “LAURA” [3:45] 

Unreleased: 
Recorded for Fine Recording Company, Rochester 

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Clyde Lombardi – Bass 
Mel Zelnick – Drums 

Recorded Songs: 

Session -A-  
NYC, August 21, 1953 

2-A-1 “SONG OF INDIA” 
2-A-2 “IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME” 
2-A-3 “IN A PERSIAN MARKET” 
2-A-4 “A FINE ROMANCE” 
2-A-5 “IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING” 
2-A-6 “LOVE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER” 

Session -B-  
NYC, October 21, 1953 

2-B-1 “LAURA” 
2-B-2 “THE THINGS WE DID LAST SUMMER” 
2-B-3 “YESTERDAYS” 
2-B-4 “THERE’S A SMALL HOTEL” 

Released On:  

Regent – MG 6013 The Jazz Organist – Doug Duke 
LP Vinyl 33rpm – Mono 
Released on Regent Records Newark, New Jersey 

Side 1 

2-A-1 “SONG OF INDIA” 
2-A-2 “IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME” 
2-A-3 “IN A PERSIAN MARKET” 
2-A-4 “A FINE ROMANCE” 
2-A-5 “IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING” 

Side 2 

2-A-6 “LOVE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER” 
2-B-1 “LAURA” 
2-B-2 “THE THINGS WE DID LAST SUMMER” 
2-B-3 “YESTERDAYS” 
2-B-4 “THERE’S A SMALL HOTEL” 

The text below is from the back cover of the LP The Jazz Organist – Doug Duke. 

One of the most exciting musical personalities to come along in recent years on his instrument, Doug Duke was one of the first of what is now an ever-increasing school of swinging organists. 

Although still a very young man, Doug’s background includes big band experience with Lionel Hampton, among others, and many years as leader of his own trio. 

Truly a triple threat man, Doug plays both piano and organ equally well, swings mightily on both instruments, creates vibrant music on both instruments…and plays them simultaneously, on occasion. 

In this album, through the device of tape recording, we are able to see these dual instrumental personalities, Doug the organist and Doug the pianist, performing together against the swinging background set up by bassist Clyde Lombard and drummer Mel Zelnick. 

It’s truly a full orchestral sound, with the organ performing as solo voice, brass and reed sections, and the piano serving both solo and accompanying roles. 

Listen to the interesting harmonic voicings, the interwoven counterpoints, the romping solo and ensemble passages…and give due credit to an unpublicized but top craftsman on his instruments…Mr. Piano and Mr. Organ – Doug Duke!  

Savoy 1108 Doug Duke 
Metrolyte Vinyl 78rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

2-A-1 “SONG OF INDIA” 

Side 2 

2-A-2 “IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME” 

Savoy 1116 Douglas Duke 
Metrolyte Vinyl 78rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

2-B-1 “LAURA” 

Side 2 

2-B-4 “THERE’S A SMALL HOTEL” 
Savoy XP-8099 Douglas Duke, Organ and Piano 
EP Vinyl 45rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

2-A-1 “SONG OF INDIA” 
2-A-2 “IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME” 

Side 2 

2-A-3 “IN A PERSIAN MARKET” 
2-A-4 “A FINE ROMANCE” 

Savoy XP-8111 Douglas Duke, Organ and Piano, Vol. 2 
EP Vinyl 45rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

2-B-1 “LAURA” 
2-B-2 “THE THINGS WE DID LAST SUMMER” 

Side 2 

2-B-3 “YESTERDAYS” 
2-B-4 “THERE’S A SMALL HOTEL” 

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Unknown Guitar 
Richard Hanson – Drums 

NYC, November, 1953 

Mercury 70.093.x45 Douglas Duke Trio 
EP Vinyl 45rpm – Mono 

Side -1- Side -2- 

3-1 “LITTLE OLD LADY” 
3-2 “MAMBO AT THE MEADOWBROOK” 

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Jerry Bruno – Bass 

1956 

Herald HLP-0102 Douglas Duke Sounds Impossible 
LP Vinyl 33rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

4-01 “BLUE MOON” 
4-07 “MOONGLOW” 
4-02 “EVERYTHING I HAVE IS YOURS” 
4-03 “NINA NEVER KNEW” 
4-04 “DON’T BE THAT WAY” 
4-05 “IF LOVE IS GOOD TO ME” 
4-06 “DON’T GET AROUND MUCH ANYMORE” 

Side 2 

4-08 “TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS” 
4-09 “TENDERLY” 
4-10 “IDLE GOSSIP” 
4-11 “OLD DEVIL MOON” 
4-12 “I CAN’T GET STARTED WITH YOU” 

The text below is from the back cover of the LP Doug Duke Sounds Impossible. 

Sounds Impossible is a showcase for the inventive creativeness of Douglas Duke’s orchestral sounds and arrangements. 

Sounds and tonal colors of flutes, French horns, clarinets, brilliant forceful brass saxophones, the “sing” of many strings are sparked by the drive of a happy, free swinging rhythm section. 

Birthplace – Buenos Aires – began music studies at the age of 6 on piano (old school, ruler over the knuckles). Pipe organ at 10 years of age. By the time he reached 14 years of age, he had added bassoon, accordion, and trumpet. Like most jazzmen, Duke strayed from the severe classical to Jazz. Later played with bands Jan Savitt, Shep Fields, Mitch Ayres, and Lionel Hampton. 

As a result of his band experiences, he became more and more obsessed with orchestral sounds. 
By the means of the electronic organ, he found the possibilities of producing orchestral sounds at his fingertips and so set about to acquire more than a smattering of music electronically born. 

A few years of experiment and a considerable amount of trial and error (electronically) resulted in these sounds you now hear. This music should be listened to with imagination, bearing in mind that the scope and breadth of these orchestral sounds originate from the hands, mind, and heart of one Douglas Duke. 

Editor’s Note: It was forcibly realized at the recording session that the amazing flexibility, understanding, and fine musicianship of Jerry Bruno on bass was felt throughout. The arrangements heard, for the most part, were spontaneous. Thanks, Jerry!  

NYC, October 1959 
Recorded at Il Pappagallo’s by Paul Preo at Reeves Soundcraft Audition Recording Disc 

Unreleased: 
LP Vinyl 10” 33rpm – Stereo 

5-1 “BUT NOT FOR ME” 
5-2 “IF YOU’RE YOUNG AT HEART” 

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Osie Johnson – Drums, Bongos, Tambourine, and Xylophone 
George Devens – Drums, Bongos, Tambourine, and Xylophone 

NYC, October 1962 

Philips Doug Duke at the Organ 
Swinging the Standards with Piano and Percussion 
LP Vinyl 33rpm – Mono PHM 200 – 046 
LP Vinyl 33rpm – Stereo PHS 600 – 046 

Side 1 

6-01 “DON’T BE THAT WAY” 
6-02 “LAZY RIVER” 
6-03 “WITCHCRAFT” 
6-04 “S’POSIN’” 
6-05 “ME AND MY SHADOW” 
6-06 “3 A.M. BLUES” 

Side 2 

6-07 “I’M BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT” 
6-08 “LINGER AWHILE” 
6-09 “SOMETIMES I AM HAPPY” 
6-10 “DON’CHA GO WAY MAD” 
6-11 “A SINNER KISSED AN ANGEL” 
6-12 “IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON” 

The text below is from the back cover of the LP Doug Duke At The Organ. 

At the hands of Douglas Duke, an organ is more than a musical instrument. He doesn’t arrange tunes he orchestrates. Apply the organ and piano to this idea, and you have an entire concert ensemble consisting of one man. 

“I consider the two hands as sections of a band. The right is the brass, the left is the woodwinds. The pedal, of course, is percussion. I bring in the piano as the soloist.” 

There are no multiple tracks, no echo chambers, and no gimmicks in this album. Except for two sidemen on percussion, the music comes from one pair of hands playing the organ and piano simultaneously. 

Duke’s theory of orchestrating for the organ is aptly demonstrated throughout the album, but it is most apparent in “Witchcraft.” You hear the melody first from the brass section (right hand), then it’s picked up by the woodwinds (left hand), with the brass section providing bright accompaniment and punctuation. 

Finally, the piano takes up the tune while the organ weaves an interesting tapestry of counter melody in the background. You’ll find yourself in the center of a big band when Douglas Duke plays “Don’t Be That Way” in a style reminiscent of the old Benny Goodman organization of the late thirties. The mighty voice of the theatre pipe organ seems to appear in several cuts, notably “A Sinner Kissed an Angel,” in which the artist scoops up great handfuls of notes and sprinkles them around like sparkle dust in a spotlight. His subtle sense of humor bubbles to the top in his whimsical treatment of “Me and My Shadow” and “S’Posin’,” both of which make interesting use of the bongos, with the latter opening and closing with a startling Latin beat. Throughout it all is brilliant piano with organ, sometimes so complex it seems as if a second musician, or at least a third hand, has been slipped in to lend assistance. The percussion, which unobtrusively adds sparkle and spice to an already tasty concoction, is artfully supplied by Osie (James) Johnson and George Devens using drums, bongos, tambourine, and xylophone. 

Before he had reached his “teens” Doug Duke had already mastered the pipe organ, and he was one of the first serious musicians to embrace the electric organ as something more than a musical novelty. Never satisfied with the range of tonal effects he could achieve with a standard model, however, he has experimented, revamped, and adapted new circuit ideas to his instruments to produce the quality of sound he wants. 

The organ used in this session is known affectionately as “Baby Bear,” an ancient, scarred Hammond spinet whose insides have been so thoroughly redesigned they barely resemble the original. “Baby Bear” has a bright, brisk voice all its own. The keyboard action is crisp and clean and quick to respond to the artist’s ever-changing whims. Duke rarely plays the same tune twice the same way. He and “Baby Bear” are a perfect team for constant ad-libbing to suit the mood of the moment. 

Doug Duke was born in Buenos Aires to a Spanish father and an English mother. He was brought to the United States by his parents at the age of two. His father was a concert violinist, and Doug’s musical education started at an early age. At eight he was accompanying his father in concert. At 10, he was playing the pipe organ even though his legs were too short to reach the pedals from the bench, and he had to stand to get his hands on the upper keyboard. 

While still in his teens and early 20s, he was a mature musician playing with many well-known bands of the era, including Lionel Hampton, Shep Fields, and Mitchell Ayres. After several years, he went off on his own as a solo act and was early recognized as one of the top jazz pianists and organists in the business. 

This album displays a virtuosity seldom seen in any single performer. The variety of explicit sounds and chord combinations upon which he fashions his arrangements bespeak a maturity of interpretation rarely found in one individual.  

Re-Released On: 

Doug Duke Discography 
Philips 452-013 BE Doug Duke Swings on Organ 
EP Vinyl 45rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

6-01 “DON’T BE THAT WAY” 
6-05 “ME AND MY SHADOW” 

Side 2 

6-08 “LINGER AWHILE” 
6-12 “IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON” 

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 
Gerard van Bezey – Drums 

Amsterdam, January 1963 

Philips P-08081-L Doug Duke – Dancing to the Swinging Hammond Organ 
LP Vinyl 33rpm – Mono 

Side 1 

7-01 “MY BLUE HEAVEN” 
7-02 “ORANGE COLOURED SKY” 
7-03 “THREE LITTLE WORDS” 
7-04 “AMAPOLA” 
7-05 “LOVE IS HERE TO STAY” 

Side 2 

7-06 “WHEN YOU’RE SMILING” 
7-07 “I LET A SONG GO OUT OF MY HEART” 
7-08 “SIBONEY” 
7-09 “LULLABY OF BIRDLAND” 
7-10 “SOPHISTICATED SWING” 
7-11 “TAKE THE “A” TRAIN” 

The text below is from the back cover of the LP Doug Duke – Dancing to the Swinging Hammond Organ. 

Born in South America as the son of a Spanish father and an English mother, young Doug Duke moved to the United States with his parents at an early age. 

Coming from a musical family—his father was a noted concert violinist—Doug soon showed a lively interest in popular music, and it wasn’t long before he began to develop marked musical talents. First, it was the piano—he was six at the time—and then, four years later, the pipe organ. Later, he completed formal studies at the Rochester Eastman Conservatory and went into show business as an organist/pianist. 

His real name is Ovidio Fernandez, but for his professional career, he took his mother’s name. 
His strong liking for jazz and popular music gave him an entree to the right bands, and his outstanding jazz techniques on both piano and organ soon made him “definitely” the greatest Swing Organist since Fats WaIler. 

To cut a long story short—a story which leads from one success to another—Doug Duke today is no longer simply an organist, for the organ is just the instrument he prefers among many. Rather, his name stands simply for The Best, you might say. With his inventive, adventurous mind, always exploring the complete structures of jazz, he has continuously been enabled to broaden his scope. 

In 1947, Doug bought a Hammond organ and, to increase its power, tore the instrument apart, changed, and rebuilt it until he found the “improved” (more powerful) sound he was looking for. “I had opened its throat,” he said later. 

The next problem was mobility, for Doug, although a great lover of the pipe-organ, felt that for his purposes, the instrument as it stood was too cumbersome to carry around—and Doug’s tours were ceaseless. Soon he found the solution: a handy “compact” organ with all the advantages of the theatre organ and, moreover, “special” sound effects. Doug comments: “It certainly was a happy day when the Hammond organ came along”. Having lived in Rochester (N.Y.) for (remember the adventurous mind) and eager to see the world, Doug and his wife Shirley (who claims to be Doug’s greatest fan) left America in 1962 and sailed for Europe on the “Queen Mary,” taking the Hammond organ outfit with them. Their plans involved concerts in various countries. 

It was Philips in Holland, who, having heard of Doug’s musical activities in America, suggested that he should apply to the producer of the Dutch TV show Music Hall. This he did, and shortly afterward, five million viewers watched and heard the truly sensational performance he gave. This led to more contracts with Dutch TV and to other engagements both in Holland and—increasingly—other European countries. Although Doug has decided on Holland as a base for his European tours, he can now point to a string of rave notices in various languages and feels quite assured of a packed reception wherever he goes. 

Philips, too, was quick to recognize Doug’s importance. The record session they arranged for him in Amsterdam was based on the sure knowledge—not just guesswork but a matter of experience—that Doug Duke’s name would soon be ringing bells in the minds of all music lovers across Europe. 
On this record Doug Duke is accompanied by drummer Gerard van Bezey, a Dutch percussionist he has a special liking for. The liking is not merely professional, but the way Gerard performs here makes you understand what took Doug’s fancy. 

About Doug Duke himself, there is something special – an impression shared by musicians and fans alike. 

We believe it is the fact that he is the creator of something. To hear Doug is to hear a “one-man-full band,” so to speak, with the right hand being the brass section and the left hand the reed section, the left foot marking the bass rhythm, and the piano kept for special solo phrases. 

Doug can genuinely do EVERYTHING not excepting rare effects such as bongo-rhythms. 

Doug emerged from the session very enthusiastic about the way his program had been recorded. 
“Of all places I’ve been,” he exclaimed “the best recording sound I’ve ever got happened right here in Holland, in this small country.” And he added: “Guess I’m a bit prejudiced in favor of recording for Philips!” 

We at Philips are naturally a little prejudiced in favor of recording Doug, of having a fine American artist with us and keeping him for a long time. What comes out for you—the ones who simply enjoy it—is some top-rate swinging sound that spells quality in every note. Quality for listening and quality for the dancing that Doug’s happy music makes a “must” for all who can move their feet.  

Douglas Duke – Organ / Piano 

The Netherlands, 1963  
Released 1964 

Philips JF-327-612 Doug Duke – Evergreen – Hits No. 1 
EP Vinyl 45rpm – Stereo 

Side 1 

8-1 “DEEP PURPLE” 
8-2 “RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET” 
8-3 “WHEN MY DREAMBOAT COMES HOME” 

Side 2 

8-4 “FOOLS RUSH-IN” 
8-5 “MARIA ELAINA” 
8-6 “MAKIN’ WHOOPEE” 

Re-Released On: 

The Netherlands, 1976 

Doug Duke Discography 
Philips 6678-306 30 Gouden Hammond Favorieten (Sampler) 
“From the United States of America…Doug Duke” 
2-LP Vinyl 33rpm – Stereo 

Record 1 – Side -1- 

8-5 “MARIA ELAINA” 
8-6 “MAKIN’ WHOOPEE” 

Record 2 – Side -1- 

8-2 “RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET” 
8-3 “WHEN MY DREAMBOAT COMES HOME”