John Kirby (musician)

John Kirby
Kirby and Buster Bailey, Washington D.C., c. May 1946
Photo: William P. Gottlieb
Background information
Birth nameJohn Kirk
Born(1908-12-31)December 31, 1908
Winchester, Virginia, U.S.
DiedJune 14, 1952(1952-06-14) (aged 43)
Hollywood, California
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDouble bass

John Kirby (December 31, 1908 June 14, 1952), was an American jazz double-bassist and bandleader. In addition to sideman work (prominently with Benny Goodman), Kirby is remembered for leading a successful chamber jazz sextet in the late 1930s and early 1940s, which scored several hit songs including "Loch Lomond" and the debut recording of "Undecided", a jazz standard. He is perhaps the first musician in the chamber jazz genre. Earlier in his career he also played trombone and tuba.