Noble Sissle

Noble Sissle


in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Handsome Noble Sissle is one of the unsung legends of ragtime, blues and early jazz. He and his band had an easy-listening, hot and breezy sound unlike any other contemporary band. When you went to see Sissle you got more then an earful of good music--you got good entertainment that would put a smile on your face. He was an energetic, charismatic, humorous band leader, which was an ingredient for the success of his band because it rubbed off on his band. He was also a dancer, singer and songwriter.

Sissle was partners with another musical genius, songwriter / band leader / composer / arranger Eubie Blake. Together they wrote "I'm Just Wild About Harry" and other standards. They helped create the famous "Shuffle Along", "Chocolate Dandies" and "Harlem Calvacade", which in turn helped launch the careers of Florence Mills (I), Josephine Baker, Valaida Snow, Blanche Calloway and other black performers. The dancing in the shows so impressed impresarios Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. and George White that they paid the artists in the show to come down and teach their white dancers how to dance. During the 1930s and 1940s he and his band appeared in various films. Not only was the music energetic and hot, the band had an energy that appealed to audiences. However, when the "Big Band" era ended, so did Sissle's tenure as a band leader.

He was involved in many things, like forming the Negro Actors Guild, for which he served as president. He continued working with partner Eubie Blake until the end. A book was written about them called "Reminiscing with Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake", by Robert Kimball and William Bolcom.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Alicia T. (MsLadySoul@aol.com)

Movies for Noble Sissle...

Everybody's Jumpin' Now
Title: Everybody's Jumpin' Now
Released: February 10, 1947
Type: Movie
A Soundie featuring Noble Sissle and His Orchestra with Mabel Lee.
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Junction 88
Title: Junction 88
Character: Noble Sissel
Released: January 1, 1947
Type: Movie
In Junction 88, a small all-black community, pretty Lolly Simpkins loves gentle songwriter Buster Jenkins, who makes too little money to marry. Her father favors rival suitor Onnie, crude but with a better income. Buster's best chance comes when impresario Bob Howard, to whom he's sent songs, comes to town looking for him. But Bob is looking for a pseudonym, 'Hewlett Green', that nobody's ever heard of. Will Buster reveal himself? Meanwhile, a very jazzy church concert.
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Sizzle with Sissle
Title: Sizzle with Sissle
Character: Self / Bandleader
Released: December 9, 1946
Type: Movie
Noble Sissle & Mable Lee perform "Sizzle with Sissle."
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That's the Spirit
Title: That's the Spirit
Character: Himself (the Band Leader)
Released: April 15, 1933
Type: Movie
In this musical short, two night watchmen hear songs performed in a haunted pawn shop.
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Pie, Pie Blackbird
Title: Pie, Pie Blackbird
Character: Himself
Released: June 3, 1932
Type: Movie
Short featuring musician Eubie Blake and his orchestra, singer Nina Mae McKinney, and young tap dancers Fayard and Harold Nicholas.
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Harlem Is Heaven
Title: Harlem Is Heaven
Released: May 26, 1932
Type: Movie
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson made his movie acting debut in this 1932 film, featuring Putney Dandridge, James Baskett (Oscar winner for "Song of the South"), Cotton Club dancer Anita Boyer, Henri Wassell, Alma Smith, Bob Sawyer, and composer/bandleader Eubie Blake and his orchestra.
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Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake Sing Snappy Songs
Title: Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake Sing Snappy Songs
Released: May 4, 1923
Type: Movie
Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake sing snappy songs.