John (Johnny) Alexander McGhee (October 3, 1905 – July 3, 1978) was an American trumpeter and big band leader.
He performed with artists including Ella Fitzgerald, The Andrews Sisters, and Louis Armstrong.
[6][10] He moved to NYC in 1936 and recorded with many artists including Louis Armstrong in 1938,[11] Lil Armstrong and Her Swing Band,[12] the Andrews Sisters,[6] Ella Fitzgerald,[13] Red Nichols, Glenn Miller,[14] Adrian Rollini,[15] Cozy Cole, Billy Kyle,[16] Jack Teagarden, Richard Himber,[6] Dick Robertson,[17] Nick Travis,[18] and others.
[6] A recent release of Louis Armstrong's Decca Recordings of 1935–46 reveals that Louis was backed by a group of studio performers known as the Decca House Band which included Johnny McGhee on trumpet on songs such as "Naturally"[20] and "I Have a Pocket Full of Dreams.
[5] "He gathered about him eleven men who could play what he called...'a sweet, danceable, rhythmic style of music.
[23] Nick Kenny, the NY Daily Mirror's radio editor and a popular columnist, wrote "...its amusing and educational to see the way the country's ace songwriters are clamouring for Johnny McGee to introduce their songs.
"[24] George Simon, JAZZ critic at Metronome magazine said "... Johnny McGhee plays more in the style of Bix Beiderbecke than any other trumpeter living.
[26] In the 1940s his band played at famous venues, such as the Bermuda Terrace of the St George Hotel in Brooklyn, N.Y. and the Raymore Ballroom in Boston.