Andrew Dewey Kirk (May 28, 1898 – December 11, 1992) was an American jazz saxophonist and tubist who led the Twelve Clouds of Joy, a band popular during the swing era.
He was born in Newport, Kentucky, United States. Kirk grew up in Denver, Colorado, where he was tutored by Wilberforce Whiteman, Paul Whiteman's father. Kirk started his musical career playing with George Morrison's band, but then went on to join Terrence Holder's Dark Clouds of Joy. In 1929, he was elected leader after Holder departed. Renaming the band Clouds of Joy, Kirk also relocated the band from Dallas, Texas, to Kansas City, Missouri. Although named the Clouds of Joy, the band has also been known as the Twelve Clouds of Joy due to the number of musicians in the band. They set up in the Pla-Mor Ballroom on the junction of 32nd and Main in Kansas City and made their first recording for Brunswick Records that same year. Mary Lou Williams came in as pianist at the last moment, but she impressed Brunswick's Dave Kapp, so she became a member of the band.
After their first recordings in 1929–1930, they grew popular as they epitomized the Kansas City jazz sound. In mid-1936, he was signed to Decca and made scores of popular records until 1946. He presumably disbanded and reformed his band during that six-year recording layoff, as his 1929–1930 Brunswick appeared to have sold well enough to stay in the catalog through the period and 1933-34 pressings (with the mid-1930s label variations) have been seen.
In 1938, Kirk and band held the top spot of the Billboard chart for 12 weeks with "I Won't Tell a Soul (I Love You)", written by Hughie Charles and Ross Parker, featuring Pha Terrell on vocals. In 1942, Kirk and His Clouds of Joy recorded "Take It and Git", which on October 24, 1942, became the first single to hit number one on the Harlem Hit Parade, the predecessor to the Billboard R&B chart. In 1943, with June Richmond on vocals, he had a number 4 hit with "Hey Lawdy Mama".
Andy Kirk - 1929-1931 {CC 655}
01 - Mess-A-Stomp
02 - Blue Clarinet Stomp
03 - Cloudy
04 - Casey Jones Special
05 - Somepin' Slow And Low
06 - Lotta Sax Appeal
07 - Corky Stomp
08 - Froggy Bottom
09 - I Lost My Gal From Memphis
10 - Loose Ankles
11 - Snag It
12 - Sweet And Hot
13 - Mary's Idea
14 - Once Or Twice
15 - Gettin' Off A Mess
16 - Dallas Blues
17 - Travellin' That Rocky Road
18 - Honey, Just For You
19 - You Rascal You
20 - Saturday
21 - Sophomore
22 - Casey Jones Blues
23 - There's Rhythm In The River
24 - I Need Lovin'
25 - Margie
Andy Kirk - 1936-1937 {CC, 573}
01. Walkin' And Swingin'
02. Moten Swing
03. Lotta Sax Appeal
04. Git
05. All The Jive Is Gone
06. Froggy Bottom
07. Bearcat Shuffle
08. Steppin' Pretty
09. Christopher Columbus
10. Corky
11. I'se A Muggin'
12. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
13. Puddin' Head Serenade
14. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
15. Blue Illusion
16. Cloudy
17. Give Her A Pint (And She'll Tell It All)
18. Puddin' Head Serenade
19. Fifty-Second Street
20. The Lady Who Swings The Band
21. What Will I Tell My Heart
22. Dedicated To You
23. Wednesday Night Hop
24. Skies Are Blue
Andy Kirk - 1937-1938 {CC, 581}
01. Downstream
02. In The Groove
03. Worried Over You
04. Foolin' Myself
05. I'm Glad For Your Sake (But I'm Sorry For Mine)
06. I'll Get Along Somehow
07. A Mellow Bit Of Rhythm
08. In My Wildest Dreams
09. Better Luck Next Time
10. With Love In My Heart
11. What's Mine is Yours
12. Why Can't We Do It Again
13. The Key To My Heart
14. I Went To A Gypsy
15. Lover, Come Back To Me!
16. Poor Butterfly
17. The Big Dipper
18. Bear Down
19. I Surrender Dear
20. Twinklin'
21. It Must Be True (You Are Mine - All Mine)
22. I'll Get By
23. Little Joe From Chicago
Andy Kirk - 1938 {CC 598}
01 - Bless You My Dear
02 - How Can We Be Wrong
03 - Mess-A Stomp
04 - Toadie Toddle
05 - I Won't Tell A Soul (I Love You)
06 - What Would People Say
07 - How Much Do You Mean To Me
08 - Jump Jack Jump
09 - Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me)
10 - Ghost Of Love
11 - What A Life (Trying To Live Without You)
12 - Sittin' Around And Dreamin'
13 - What's Your Story, Morning Glory
14 - Honey
15 - September In The Rain
16 - Clouds
17 - Julius Caesar
18 - Dunkin' A Doughnut
19 - Goodbye
20 - Mary's Idea
21 - But It Didn't Mean A Thing
22 - (I Don't Believe It But) Say It Again
Andy Kirk - 1939-1940 {CC 640}
01 - You Set Me On Fire
02 - (I Guess) I'll Never Learn
03 - Close To Five
04 - Floyd's Guitar Blues
05 - (I Wanna Go Where You Go, Do What You Do) Then I'll Be Happy
06 - S'posin'
07 - I'll Never Fail You
08 - Why Don't I Get Wise To Myself
09 - I'm Getting Nowhere With You
10 - I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You
11 - Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
12 - Big Jim Blues
13 - Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam!)
14 - Love Is The Thing
15 - Why Go On Pretending
16 - It Always Will Be You
17 - Fine And Mellow
18 - Scratchin' In The Gravel
19 - Fifteen Minute Intermission
20 - Take Those Blues Away
21 - Now I Lay Me Down To Dream
22 - There Is No Greater Love
Andy Kirk - 1940-1942 {CC, 681}
01. Midnight Stroll
02. Little Miss'
03. The Count
04. Twelfth Street Rag
05. (Ev'rything Happened) When I Saw You
06. If I Feel This Way Tomorrow (Then It's Love)
07. Or Have I
08. Cuban Boogie Woogie
09. A Dream Dropped In
10. Is It A Sin (My Loving You)
11. Ring Dem Bells
12. Big Time Crip
13. 47th Street Jive
14. I'm Misunderstood
15. No Answer
16. Hey Lawdy Mama (Meet Me In The Bottom)
17. Boogie Woogie Cocktail
18. Ride On, Ride On
19. McGhee Special
20. Worried Life Blues (Someday, Baby)
21. Take It And Git
22. Hip Hip Hooray
23. Unlucky Blues
Andy Kirk - 1943-1949 {CC 1075}
01 - Shorty Boo
02 - Fare Thee Honey, Fare Thee Well
03 - Baby, Don't You Tell Me No Lie
04 - Hippy Dippy
05 - Gety Together With the Lord
06 - I Know
07 - He's My Baby
08 - Alabama Bound
09 - Sooth Me
10 - Doggin Man Blues
11 - I Don't Know What I'd Do Without You'
12 - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
13 - Now You Tell Me
14 - Loulella
15 - So Soon
16 - I'm Falling For You
17 - Little Girl, Don't Cry
18 - Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee, Drinking Wine
