Uploaded February 2016 | Updated September 2026, 10 hours ago
Jesse Stone Alias Charles "Chuck" Calhoun (1996)
Recording Date: September 29, 1947 - June 30, 1958.
Jesse Albert Stone (November 16, 1901 – April 1, 1999) was an pianist, bandleader and songwriter whose influence spanned a wide range of genres. He also used the pseudonyms Charles Calhoun and Chuck Calhoun.
Of course, Stone's career predates both rock 'n' roll and R&B, stretching back to the vaudeville and early jazz eras. By 1926 he had formed a group, the Blue Serenaders, and cut his first record, "Starvation Blues", for Okeh Records in 1927. For the next few years he worked as a pianist and arranger in Kansas City, recording with Julia Lee among others, and then in the 1930s organised a larger orchestra.
Duke Ellington got Stone's orchestra booked at the Cotton Club in 1936. Over the next few years Stone worked as a bandleader at the Apollo Theatre, and more widely in Harlem as a songwriter and arranger, with Chick Webb's band (which included Louis Jordan), Jimmie Lunceford, and many others. He made some recordings under his own name in the 1930s and 1940s.
In 1941, Stone became musical director for the all-female band, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm. He left after two years.
His recordings haven't been easy to find, but the German label Bear Family has compiled 30 of them on Jesse Stone Alias Charles ''Chuck'' Calhoun, covers 11 years, beginning in 1947 when Stone was recording swing tunes for RCA Victor under his own name.
The original records were credited variously to Jesse Stone, the Stone Crushers, and Chuck Calhoun & the Atlantic All Stars, and were released on several different labels.
Jesse Stone Alias Charles "Chuck" Calhoun (1996)
Recording Date: September 29, 1947 - June 30, 1958.
Jesse Albert Stone (November 16, 1901 – April 1, 1999) was an pianist, bandleader and songwriter whose influence spanned a wide range of genres. He also used the pseudonyms Charles Calhoun and Chuck Calhoun.
Of course, Stone's career predates both rock 'n' roll and R&B, stretching back to the vaudeville and early jazz eras. By 1926 he had formed a group, the Blue Serenaders, and cut his first record, "Starvation Blues", for Okeh Records in 1927. For the next few years he worked as a pianist and arranger in Kansas City, recording with Julia Lee among others, and then in the 1930s organised a larger orchestra.
Duke Ellington got Stone's orchestra booked at the Cotton Club in 1936. Over the next few years Stone worked as a bandleader at the Apollo Theatre, and more widely in Harlem as a songwriter and arranger, with Chick Webb's band (which included Louis Jordan), Jimmie Lunceford, and many others. He made some recordings under his own name in the 1930s and 1940s.
In 1941, Stone became musical director for the all-female band, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm. He left after two years.
His recordings haven't been easy to find, but the German label Bear Family has compiled 30 of them on Jesse Stone Alias Charles ''Chuck'' Calhoun, covers 11 years, beginning in 1947 when Stone was recording swing tunes for RCA Victor under his own name.
The original records were credited variously to Jesse Stone, the Stone Crushers, and Chuck Calhoun & the Atlantic All Stars, and were released on several different labels.
