“My Honey’s Lovin’ Arms”—The Original Memphis Five

Filippo Napoli (1901-1990), better known as Phil Napoleon, was an influence on both Bix Beiderbecke en Red Nichols.

In 1917, together with pianist Frank Signorelli (1901-1975), Napoleon formed a group called the Original Memphis Five.

In April 1922, they made their first record: “Gypsy Blues” and “My Honey’s Lovin’ Arms.” That first year the Original Memphis Five recorded more than a hundred titles.

On November 24, 1931 the Original Memphis Five recorded composer Joseph Meyer‘s “My Honey’s Lovin’ Arms” again:

These 1931 Original Memphis Five musicians recording in New York were: Phil Napoleon-trumpet; Tommy Dorsey-trombone; Jimmy Dorsey-clarinet/alto saxophone; Frank Signorelli-piano, and Ted Napoleon-drums. The record was issued by Columbia as Original Memphis Five, and it was issued on the Regal label as Mississippi Jazz Kings.

Although Napoleon’s horn sounds like it was born and bred in New Orleans, Phil Napoleon came from the East Coast. Phil’s early days were heavily laced with influences from New Orleans, because his parents had settled there first after immigrating from Italy. When Phil’s 16-year-old brother Matty gave up to be a trumpet blower, Phil was only four years old. “So I picked up the horn of the shelf and figured it out some and Matty gave it up when he heard me doing what he still was learning.”

Phil gave his first performance when he was five and young Phil was out and among musicians before Louis Armstrong ever left the orphan’s home. He put several combinations together, but finally settled down with a group he came to lead and called it the Original Memphis Five. The original musicians were Phil Napoleon-trumpet, Miff Mole-trombone, Jimmy Lytell-clarinet, Frank Signorelli-piano and Jack Roth-drums.

Ironically, Phil never visited Memphis, but the group played in clubs all over the country. Phil later told about one such place where the Original Memphis Five had an engagement: the Harvard Inn in Coney Island’s Bowery.

The Harvard Inn was “for what you call specialized music lovers.” Gents like the Pisano’s, Frankie Yale and Al Capone before he was sent to Chicago.

Phil recalled that pianist Frank Signorelli had a special function. “It was his duty to keep the upright piano in such a position that the rear of it could be reached quickly. There was room for 17 pistols in the back of the piano and many times the cops bulled around the premises and shook down the boys and they didn’t find a pin.”

Wild, dangerous days, but Phil Napoleon never took a drink and he stated he “never went out for the crazy cigarettes.” The Original Memphis Five caught on in the twenties and musicians like Benny Goodman, the Dorsey brothers, Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller all played in the group over the years.

During the heyday of the phonograph record business, the Original Memphis Five was once recording for 29 phonographic companies at the same time.

In total Phil Napoleon made over 3,000 records with the Original Memphis Five, probably more than any other orchestra has ever made. At the same time Phil Napoleon became one of the highest paid musicians in the world, as a result of his recording royalties.

According to Napoleon it all ended when Paul Whiteman came on the scene. “He messed us up with that big band and sweet, lilting arrangements. The public liked this different approach to jazz and the Original Memphis Five was no more, not for a while.”