Irving "Mouse" Randolph

• Born: January 22, 1909
• Died: 1995
• Active: '20s, '30s, '40s, '50s
• Genres: Jazz
• Instrument: Trumpet

Biography

A fine trumpeter with an unfortunate nickname, Irving Randolph was never a major name but he was a superior swing stylist. At the beginning of his career, Randolph played with Fate Marable on riverboats and had stints with the territory bands of Walt Farrington (1923-24), Willie Austin, Art Sims, Norman Mason, Floyd Campbell, Alphonse Trent and J. Frank Terry. Randolph played with Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy in Kansas City during 1931-33 and then had stints with the orchestras of Fletcher Henderson and Benny Carter in 1934 before spending four years with Cab Calloway (1935-39). Randolph played with the Ella Fitzgerald Orchestra (which was really the Chick Webb ghost band) during 1939-42, was with Don Redman in 1943 and then spent several years (1944-47) with Edmond Hall's combo. After that period, Randolph worked steadily in a variety of settings into the 1970's (including a long stint with the Chick Morrison Orchestra) but maintained a low profile. Although he recorded with most of the aforementioned groups (including Fletcher Henderson, Benny Carter and Cab Calloway but few significant dates after the mid-1940's), Irving Randolph was never given an opportunity to lead his own session and was largely forgotten by the early 1950's. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide