Bill Rank

William C. Rank (June 8, 1904 – May 20, 1979)^[1] was an American jazz trombonist.

Bill Rank
Born	William C. Rank June 8, 1904 Lafayette, Indiana, US
Died	May 20, 1979 (aged 74) Cincinnati, US
Genres	Jazz
Instrument	Trombone

Rank was born in Lafayette, Indiana, United States, and initially worked in Indiana and Florida.^[2] In 1922, Rank played trombone in Tade's Singing Orchestra, which was led by violinist, Tade Dolen.^[3] Between 1923 and 1927 he played with Jean Goldkette's band in Detroit and often recorded with Bix Beiderbecke.^[2] After playing with Adrian Rollini in 1927 and a period as a freelance, Rank joined Paul Whiteman's band, and stayed until 1938.^[2] He was then a studio musician in Hollywood into the early 1940s, when he moved to Cincinnati.^[2] There, he led a tenet for the rest of the 1940s.^[2]

Rank then changed to playing part-time while also working in insurance.^[4] His one album as a leader, a tribute to Beiderbecke, was recorded in 1973.^[4] Rank continued playing until a short time before his death, on May 20, 1979, in Cincinnati.^[2]

Discography

As leader

• Bix's Gang Lives (Fat Cat's Jazz)

As sideman

With Bix Beiderbecke

• At the Jazz Band Ball (Okeh Records)
• Goose Pimples (Okeh Records)
• Jazz Me Blues (Okeh Records)
• Louisiana (Okeh Records)
• Margie (Okeh Records)
• Ol' Man River (Okeh Records)
• Rhythm King (Okeh Records)
• Royal Garden Blues (Okeh Records)
• Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down (Okeh Records)
• Somebody Stole My Gal (Okeh Records)
• Sorry (Okeh Records)
• Thou Swell (Okeh Records)
• Wa-Da-Da (Everybody's Doin' It Now) (Okeh Records)