“Stage Fright” – Dick McDonough and Carl Kress (1934)

Richard McDonough was a New York City-based banjo player who played with the Ross Gorman Orchestra in 1925. While with Gorman, he began a gradual switch to guitar, playing in the style of Eddie Lang. Carl Kress also started on banjo, switching first to the four-string tenor guitar before making the jump complete.

Kress and McDonough were both prolific sidemen in the late 1920s who played with a wide variety of artists such as Paul Whiteman, Frank Trumbauer, Charleston Chasers, Annette Hanshaw, Nat Shilktret, Boswell Sisters, Boyd Senter, the Cotton Pickers, Miff Mole, Ben Selvin, Fred Rich, Jack Pettis, Red Nichols, Benny Goodman, and the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra.

Along with Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson – these two helped to establish the guitar firmly in the jazz tradition during the late 1920s and early 1930s.

In 1934, during the depths of the Great Depression, they recorded this duet of one of McDonough’s compositions: “Stage Fright”. It is quite an accomplished performance of virtuosity.

Recorded in New York City on April 2, 1934.
Released as Brunswick 6917.

Credits:
Dick McDonough – guitar
Carl Kress – guitar