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Joseph Christoffer Columbus Morris, better known as Crazy Chris Columbo, was an American jazz drummer, born June 17, 1902 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA, died August 20, 2002 in New Jersey, USA. Prior to a stroke which partially paralyzed him in 1993, Columbo was the oldest working musician in Atlantic City.

Columbo got his first professional gig playing with Fletcher Henderson in 1921. Between the 1920s and the 1960s, he played at most of the city's nightclubs, and lead the Club Harlem orchestra for 34 years until 1978, when the club shut its doors. Thereafter, Columbo's band went on to perform at practically every Atlantic City casino hotel. At the time of his stroke, he was playing regularly at the Showboat.

Columbo has worked, recorded, and toured with such luminaries as Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Jordan, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

Columbo was the father of drummer Sonny Payne.

ALBUMS


APPEARANCES +


Various
Soho Scene '63
2015,
Various
Plug It In! Turn It Up! (Electric Blues The Definitive Collection! Part 1 1939-1954)
2012, 3x CD, ,
Electric Blues
Louis Armstrong
Vol.8 - Sing It, Satchmo - Original Recordings 1945-1955
2007, CD, Comp, Naxos Jazz Legends, ,
Dixieland/Swing/Big Band
Viviane Greene
The Chronological Viviane Greene 1947-1955
2006, CD, Comp, Classics (11), ,
Rhythm & Blues
Various
Jazz In The Charts 87/100 - Across The Alley From The Alamo 1947 (Track 1911 - 1932)
2006, CD, Comp, Documents, ,
Vocal/Swing/Big Band
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra*
The Jaywalker
2004, CD, Album, Storyville
Louis Jordan
Father Of Rhythm'n Blues & Rock'n Roll
2003, CD, Comp, Saga, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Jump Blues/East Coast Blues/Swing
Various
Classic Jazz: The Fifties - Take Two
2002, 2xCD, Comp, Time Life Music, Universal Music Special Markets,
Louis Armstrong
1950-1951
2002
Various
We're Gonna Rock! (A Collection Of Early Rock 'N' Roll)
2001, CD, Comp, Experience Music Project, ,
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues
Oscar Peterson
Plays Duke Ellington
1999, CD, ,
Swing/Bop
Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown*
The Blues Ain't Nothing
1999,
Various
Roots Of Rock N' Roll 1947 Vol. 3
1998, 2xCD, Comp, Frémeaux & Associés, ,
Blues Rock/Country/Gospel/Rock & Roll
Rocket Sixty-Nine
Jump Shot!
1998, CD, Album, Rocket Sixty-Nine
Various
Good Rockin' Tonight (The Birth Of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 3)
1998, 2x CD, ,
Jump Blues/Boogie/Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll
Various
Ladies Sing The Blues (Mercury Records 1954-1957)
1997, 2xCD, Comp, Mercury, ,
Piano Blues/Rhythm & Blues/Jump Blues/Soul-Jazz/Vocal
Various
Bootin' The Boogie -- The Birth Of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 2
1997, 2x CD, Box Set Slipcase, ,
Jump Blues/Boogie/Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll
Floyd Smith
Floyd's Guitar Blues
1996
Various
Electric Jazz
1995,
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
Just Got Lucky
1993, CD, ,
Texas Blues/Louisiana Blues
Andy Kirk The 12 Clouds Of Joy* With Mary Lou Williams
Andy Kirk And The 12 Clouds Of Joy
1993
Clark Terry
St. Louis Blues
1991, CD, Album, Jazzette
Ellington*
Never-Before-Released Recordings (1965-1972)
1991, ,
Big Band/Swing
Louis Jordan And The Tympany Five*
Five Guys Named Moe
1991, CD, ,
Jump Blues
Various
Jazz Legends
1989,
Duke Ellington
The Private Collection, Volume Eight Studio Sessions, 1957, 1965, 1966, 1967, San Francisco, Chicago, New York
1989, CD, ,
Big Band/Swing
Wild Bill Davis / TC Pfeiler*
Wild Bill Davis 70th TC Pfeiler 30th Anniversary Live Concert
1987, LP, Album, Die Mühle
Buddy Tate, Milt Buckner, Wild Bill Davis
Midnight Slows - The Famous Sexy Sax Sound For The Midnight Hour
1986
Wild Bill Davis / Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
Live! Vol.2
1985, LP, Album, Black And Blue,
Louis Jordan And His Timpany Five*
Jivin' With Jordan
1985, 2x Vinyl, ,
Jump Blues/Big Band/Swing/Rhythm & Blues
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
More Stuff
1985, Vinyl,
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
Pressure Cooker
1985, ,
Texas Blues
Various
The Best Of I ♥ Jazz
1984, Vinyl, ,
Bop/Big Band/Cool Jazz/Vocal
Various
The Swing Era 1939-1940
1984, 2x CD, ,
Big Band/Swing
Louis Jordan
On Film - Reet Petite & Gone- Unissued Soundtracks 1945-1947
1983, LP, Comp, Mono, Krazy Kat
Louis Jordan
On Film - Look Out Sister - Unissued Film Soundtracks 1944-1948
1983, LP, Comp, Mono, Krazy Kat
Various
Organ Boogie Woogie
1983, LP, Comp, Mono, RE, CBS
Various
Organ Boogie Woogie
1983, Vinyl,
Hard Bop
Various
Okeh Jazz
1982, 2x Vinyl,
Louis Jordan
Greatest Hits Volume 2 (1941-1947)
1980, Vinyl, ,
Jump Blues/Rhythm & Blues
Wild Bill Davis
Up Top
1979, LP, Comp, RE, Gat, RCA Victor,
Various
Feelings
1979, LP, Album, Comp, K-Tel
Benny Carter
Benny Carter (1928-1952)
1979
Louis Jordan
Louis Jordan Collates
1979
Various
Midnight Slows
1978, 2xLP, Comp, Polydor
Al Grey
Grey's Mood
1976
Buddy Tate, Wild Bill Davis
Midnight Slows Vol. 2
1976
Various
Honky Tonk
1974, LP, Comp, Mono, Polydor, ,
Rhythm & Blues
Various
Singin' The Blues
1974, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Piano Blues
Various
The Black And Blue Jazz History
1973, LP, Comp, Gat, Black And Blue, Black And Blue
Milt Buckner
Black And Blue Stomp
1973, Vinyl,
Buddy Tate Et Wild Bill Davis
Buddy Tate Et Wild Bill Davis
1973
Al Grey Et Wild Bill Davis
Al Grey Et Wild Bill Davis
1972
Wild Bill Davis
Doin' His Thing
1969
Bill Doggett
Floyd's Guitar Blues
1961
Johnny Smith*
Have You Heard Johnny Smith
1958
Krazy Kris And The Swinging Gentlemen
Floyd's Guitar Blues / Wishy Washy
1957
Wild Bill Davis
At Birdland
1955, ,
Hard Bop
Bill Davis Trio*
Ooh-Ah-De-De-De
1952
Bill Davis Trio*
Chicken Gumbo / Hi Diddle Diddle
1951, 10", Promo, Okeh
Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five*
Sure Had A Wonderful Time / Boogie Woogie Blue Plate
1947
Various
Mod (Talkin' 'Bout Our Generation - Volume One)
2018, 10x CD, Box Set, ,
Mod/Soul/Rhythm & Blues/Electric Blues
Various
Flamingo Club: London's Original All-Nighter
2017, LP, Album, Comp, Ltd, Outta Sight, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Various
Mighty Instrumentals R&B-Style 1962
2017, 2xCD, Comp, Rhythm & Blues Records
Various
Mod-Jazz (60 Classic Tracks)
2016, 4xCD, Comp, Dlx, RM, Real Gone Music Company, ,
Mod
Various
Mod-The Early Years Vol.2 (100 Classic & Rare Tracks)
2015, 4xCD, Comp, RM, Real Gone, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Dr Boogie*
Bear Traces (Nuggets From Bob's Barn)
2011, CD,
Various
Mo' Mod Jazz
1998, CD, ,
Mod/Soul-Jazz/Rhythm & Blues