Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra was the most sucessful Jazz band of the Midwest. The band toured all over the country and had a top selling recording in 1927 for Victor named "South". In 1929 Count Basie of The Blue Devils joined the band, and several other members of that band soon joined Moten's Orchestra. Count Basie took over the band after Moten's death in 1935.

Thanks to James Gallup for his help with the recordings on this page.

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company
As I Like It
(Bennie Moten / Thamon Hayes)		 5-14-1925 Kansas City, Missouri Okeh
8213
As Long As I Love You
Vocal refrain by James Rushing
(Bennie Moten / Henry Woods)		 10-30-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
22660-B
Baby Dear
(Bennie Moten / Thamon Hayes)		 11-29-1924 St. Louis, Missouri Okeh
8213
Baby Dear
(Bennie Moten / Thamon Hayes)		 6-11-1927 Chicago, Illinois Victor
Band Box Shuffle
(Bennie Moten / Count Basie)		 10-23-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
23007
Bluebird
6710
Blue Room
(Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart)		 12-13-1932 Camden, New Jersey Victor
24381
Bluebird
B-5585-A
Boot It
(Bennie Moten)		 10-24-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38144-A
Bouncin' Round
(Raph)		 10-31-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
23030-B
Break A Day Schuffle 10-31-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
Crawdad Blues
(Bennie Moten)		 9-1923 St. Louis, Missouri Okeh
8100-B
Dear Heart
(Dent)		 7-11-1927 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20855-B
Ding Dong Blues (2)
(Bennie Moten / Staton)		 6-12-1927 Chicago, Illinois HMV
Ding Dong Blues (3)
(Bennie Moten / Staton)		 6-12-1927 Chicago, Illinois Victor
21199-B
18th Street Strut
(Bennie Moten's Orchestra)		 5-14-1925 Kansas City, Missouri Okeh
8242-A
Elephant Wobble
(Bennie Moten)		 9-1923 St. Louis, Missouri Okeh
8100-A
Everyday Blues (Yo Yo Blues)
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Durham)		 10-23-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38144-B
Get Goin' (Get Ready For Love)
(Seymour / Rich)		 10-30-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
23023-B
Get Low-Down Blues
With talking by Lewis
(Bennie Moten)		 9-7-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
21693-A
Goofy Dust
(Bennie Moten / Hayes)		 11-29-1924 St. Louis, Missouri Okeh
8184-B
Harmony Blues (1)
(Bennie Moten)		 12-13-1926 Chicago, Illinois Victor
Harmony Blues (2)
(Bennie Moten)		 12-13-1926 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20406
HMV
Here Come Marjorie
(Bennie Moten / Woods)		 10-28-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
Hot Water Blues
(Bennie Moten)		 9-7-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
V-38012-B
Bluebird
7938
Imagination
(Russell)		 12-13-1932 Camden, New Jersey Bluebird
B-5078
It's Hard To Laugh Or Smile
(Bennie Moten)		 9-7-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
V-38037-A
Bluebird
B-6431-A
Bluebird
B-8228-A
It Won't Be Long
(Bennie Moten / Abrams)		 7-17-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38123-B
I Wanna Be Around My Baby All The Time
(Joe Young / George W. Meyer)		 4-15-1931 New York, New York Victor
22680-A
I Wish I Could Be Blue (1)
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Durham / Count Basie)		 10-28-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
I Wish I Could Be Blue (2)
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Durham / Count Basie)		 10-28-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
Jones Law Stomp (2)
(Bennie Moten / Count Basie)		 10-23-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
Jones Law Stomp (3)
(Bennie Moten / Count Basie)		 10-23-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
Justrite (1)
(Bennie Moten / Al Lewis)		 9-6-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
21739-A
Justrite (2)
(Bennie Moten / Al Lewis)		 9-6-1928 Camden, New Jersey RCA X
Justrite (3)
(Bennie Moten)		 9-6-1928 Camden, New Jersey unissued
Just Say It's Me
(Bennie Moten / Buster Moten)		 7-18-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38132-B
Kansas City Breakdown
(Bennie Moten / Woody Walder)		 9-7-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
21693-B
Kansas City Shuffle
(Bennie Moten)		 12-13-1926 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20485-A
Kansas City Squabble
(Al Lewis / Bennie Moten)		 7-16-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38091-A
Kater Street Rag
(Bennie Moten Orchestra)		 5-14-1925 Kansas City, Missouri Okeh
8277-A
Lafayette
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Durham)		 12-13-1932 Camden, New Jersey Victor
B-10955-A
Bluebird
10955
Bluebird
B-6218
Let's Get It
(Ira Moten / Bennie Moten)		 7-16-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38072-B
Liza Lee (1)
Vocal Refrain by James Rushing
(Bud Green / Sam H. Stept)		 10-29-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
23023-A
Liza Lee (2)
Vocal Refrain by James Rushing
(Bud Green / Sam H. Stept)		 10-29-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
23023-A
Loose As A Goose
(Buster Moten / Bennie Moten)		 7-18-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38123-A
Mack's Rhythm
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Durham / Count Basie)		 10-28-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
Mary Lee
(Bennie Moten / Perry)		 10-24-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38114-B
Bluebird
B-6638-A
Midnight Mama
(Jelly Roll Morton)		 12-14-1926 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20422
Milenburg Joys
(Jelly Roll Morton)		 12-13-1932 Camden, New Jersey Victor
24381
Bluebird
B-5585-B
Missouri Wobble (1)
(Bennie Moten)		 12-14-1926 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20422
Missouri Wobble (2)
(Bennie Moten)		 12-14-1926 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20422
Moten's Blues
(Bennie Moten)		 7-17-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38072-A
Bluebird
B-7938-A
Moten Stomp
(Bennie Moten / Thamon Hayes)		 6-12-1927 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20955-A
Bluebird
B-6204-A
Moten Swing
(Bennie Moten / Ira Moten)		 12-13-1932 Camden, New Jersey Bluebird
6032
Bluebird
10259
Muscle Shoals Blues
(Thomas)		 12-14-1926 Chicago, Illinois Victor
Now Goofy Dust - Rag
(Bennie Moten)		 7-18-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38091-B
New Moten Stomp (1)
(Bennie Moten)		 10-30-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
23030-A
New Moten Stomp (2)
(Bennie Moten)		 10-30-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
23030-A
Bluebird
B-6709
New Orleans
(Hoagy Carmichael)		 12-13-1932 Camden, New Jersey Victor
24216-A
Bluebird
B-10955-B
Bluebird
B-6218
New Vine Street Blues (1)
(Bennie Moten / Count Basie)		 10-24-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
23007
New Vine Street Blues (2)
(Bennie Moten / Count Basie)		 10-24-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
23007
Bluebird
B-6710
Now That I Need You
(Smith / Bennie Moten / Count Basie)		 10-31-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Bluebird
B-6711-B
Oh! Eddie (1)
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Durham)		 10-28-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
22958-A
Oh! Eddie (2)
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Durham)		 10-28-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
22958-A
Pass Out Lightly (2)
(J. Washington)		 6-12-1927 Chicago, Illinois Victor
21199-A
Pass Out Lightly (2)
(J. Washington)		 6-12-1927 Chicago, Illinois Victor
21199-A
Prince Of Wales
(Bennie Moten)		 12-13-1932 Camden, New Jersey Bluebird
6851
Professor Hot Stuff
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Durham / Count Basie)		 10-30-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
23429
Rit-Dit-Ray (1)
(Bennie Moten / Count Basie)		 10-24-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
23342
Rit-Dit-Ray (2)
(Bennie Moten / Count Basie)		 10-24-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
23342
Rite Tite
(Clemmons / Bennie Moten Clemmons)		 7-17-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38104-A
Rumba Negro (Spanish Stomp)
(Bennie Moten / Count Basie)		 10-23-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
23037-B
Sad Man Blues
(Bennie Moten)		 9-7-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
V-38048
She's No Trouble
(Bennie Moten / Thamon Hayes)		 9-7-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
V-38021-B
Victor
24893-B
She's Sweeter Than Sugar
(Bennie Moten / Thamon Hayes)		 5-14-1925 Kansas City, Missouri Okeh
8255
Sister Honky Tonk
(Bennie Moten / Thamon Hayes)		 5-14-1925 Kansas City, Missouri Okeh
8277-B
Slow Motion
(Bennie Moten)		 9-6-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
V-38012-A
Small Black
(Bennie Moten / Count Basie)		 10-23-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
23342
Somebody Stole My Gal
(Leo Wood)		 10-31-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
23028-B
Bluebird
5481
Bluebird
6709
South
(Bennie Moten / Washington)		 11-29-1924 St. Louis, Missouri Okeh
South
(Bennie Moten / Washington)		 9-7-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
V-38021-A
Victor
24893-A
South Street Blues
(Bennie Moten Orchestra)		 5-14-1925 Kansas City, Missouri Okeh
8255
Sugar
(Maceo Pinkard)		 6-11-1927 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20855-A
Sweatheart Of Yesterday
(Holt / Sanders / Bennie Moten)		 10-24-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38114-A
Bluebird
B-6851-A
Terrific Stomp
(Bennie Moten / Booker Washington)		 7-16-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38081-B
Bluebird
6304
That Certain Motion
(Bennie Moten / Thamon Hayes / Beny)		 7-17-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38104-B
That's What I'm Talking About
(Bennie Moten)		 7-17-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38081-A
That Too, Do (1)
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Durham / Count Basie)		 10-28-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
22793-B
That Too, Do (2)
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Durham / Count Basie)		 10-28-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
22793-B
The Count
(Gordon)		 10-28-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Bluebird
6719
The New Tulsa Blues
(Bennie Moten)		 6-11-1927 Chicago, Illinois Victor
21584-A
The Only Girl I Ever Loved
(Ziegler)		 12-13-1932 Camden, New Jersey Victor
Thick Lip Stomp (1)
(Bennie Moten)		 12-13-1926 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20406
Thick Lip Stomp (2)
(Bennie Moten)		 12-13-1926 Chicago, Illinois HMV
Things Seem Blue To Me
(Bennie Moten / Thamon Hayes)		 5-14-1925 Kansas City, Missouri Okeh
8242-B
Tough Breaks
(Harlan Leonard / Bennie Moten)		 9-6-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
V-38037-B
Bluebird
B-6638-B
Toby
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Barefield)		 12-13-1932 Camden, New Jersey Bluebird
6032
Bluebird
10259
Tulsa Blues
(Bennie Moten)		 11-29-1924 St. Louis, Missouri Okeh
8184-A
Trouble In Mind (1)
(Richard M. Jones)		 9-7-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
Trouble In Mind (2)
(Richard M. Jones)		 9-7-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor
21739-B
Twelfth Street Rag (1)
(Euday Bowman)		 6-11-1927 Chicago, Illinois RCA X
Twelfth Street Rag (2)
(Euday Bowman)		 6-11-1927 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20946-A
Two Times
(Sanberg)		 12-13-1932 Camden, New Jersey Victor
Vine Street Blues
(Bennie Moten Orchestra)		 11-29-1924 St. Louis, Missouri Okeh
8194
When I'm Alone
(Bennie Moten / Jimmy Rushing)		 10-30-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
Won't You Be My Baby? (1)
(Bennie Moten / James Rushing)		 10-27-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
23028-A
Won't You Be My Baby? (2)
(Bennie Moten / James Rushing)		 10-27-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
23028-A
Bluebird
B-6711-A
When Life Seems So Blue
(Bennie Moten / Hayes)		 7-18-1929 Chicago, Illinois Victor
V-38132-A
White Lightin' Blues
(Bennie Moten)		 12-13-1926 Chicago, Illinois Victor
Ya Got Love
(Goodhart / Nelson / Hoffman)		 4-15-1931 New York, New York Victor
22680-B
Yazoo Blues (1)
(Bennie Moten)		 12-13-1926 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20485-B
Yazoo Blues (2)
(Bennie Moten)		 12-13-1926 Chicago, Illinois Victor
20485-B
You Made Me Happy
(Bennie Moten / Eddie Durham)		 10-28-1930 Kansas City, Missouri Victor
Artist Instrument
Eddie Barefield Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Count Basie Piano
Leroy Berry Banjo
Harry Cooper Cornet
LaForrest Dent Banjo
Eddie Durham Trombone, Guitar, Arranger
Josephine Garrison Vocals
Willie Hall Drums
Thamon Hayes Trombone
Joe Keyes Trumpet
Harlan Leonard Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone
Ed Lewis Cornet
William Little, Jr. Vocals
Willie McWashington Drums, Vocals
Dan Minor Trombone
Bennie Moten Piano, Conductor
Ira "Buster" Moten Accordian, Piano
Oran "Hot Lips" Page Trumpet
Vernon Page Bass Brass
Walter Page Bass
Jimmy Rushing Vocals
Dee Stewart Trumpet
Sam Tall Banjo
James Taylor Vocals
Woody Walder Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Booker Washington Cornet
Jack Washington Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
Ben Webster Tenor Saxophone
Paul Webster Cornet
Lammar Wright Cornet
The Sterling Russell Trio Vocals
Goin' To Kansas City, by Nathan W. Pearson, Jr, University of Illinois Press, 1994