John Kirby Band Books

Subseries 1.4 includes materials arranged by instrument and alphabetically within each band book. Born in 1908, Kirby began his musical career in New York playing the trombone. After this instrument was stolen he settled on the tuba and soon afterwards played the string bass. In 1930 he joined Fletcher Henderson and later joined Chick Webb. In 1937 he formed his own band and earned residency at New York's Onyx Club. At a time when the Big Band Orchestra dominated the swing scene, Kirby settled on a six-piece band. The popularity of his Sextet, known as The Biggest Little Band In The Land, later became the measurement for all future sextets. Kirby's group disbanded at the onset of World War II and was reformed after the war but never achieved the popularity of the pre-war period. While planning his comeback in June 1952, John Kirby died at age 44.