Lee Monti
and his Tu Tones
A discographical tribute to a polka band ...
by Armin Büttner and Robert L. Campbell
revised April 13, 2008
Lee Monti and his Tu Tones on a promotion photo (1948).
Lee Monti is second from left, the other accordion is played by
Mario Lozer. The guitarist is Jimmy Adams, whereas the bassist
is not yet identified. (From the collection of Nadine Cohodas)
MONTI I:
Universal Recording, Chicago, June 1947| Lee Monti's Tu Tones with Rhythm Accompaniment |
U7024 | Mickey (Moret - Williams) | Aristocrat 501 A |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones with Rhythm Accompaniment vocal by Jimmy Adams and Trio |
U7025 |
My Little Girl |
Aristocrat 501 B |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones with Rhythm Accompaniment vocal by Jimmy Adams and Trio |
U7026 | Don't Take Me Home (Von Tilzer-Bryan) |
Aristocrat 502 A | |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones with Rhythm Accompaniment |
U7027 | Hindustan (Wallace-Weeks) | Aristocrat 502 B |
Aristocrat 501 was released in September 1947, 502 in November. Information from the Aristocrat pages of the Red Saunders Research Foundation.
MONTI II:
Universal Recording, Chicago, August 1947| Lee Monti's Tu Tones | U7040 | Tinker Polka (Drákotar) (Traditional) | Aristocrat 503 A | |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones | U7041 | Pennsylvania Polka (Lee-Manners) | Aristocrat 503 B | |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones | U7042 | Clarinet Polka (Traditional) | Aristocrat 504A |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones | U7043 | Helena Polka (Traditional) | Aristocrat 504B |  |
Aristocrat 503 was released in December 1947, 504 probably also in December. Information from the Aristocrat pages of the Red Saunders Research Foundation.
MONTI III:
Universal Recording, Chicago, October 1947| Lee Monti's Tu Tones | U7060 | Wabash Blues (Ringle-Meinken) | Aristocrat 505 A |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones Vocal: Mario Lozer |
U7061 | Have You Ever Been Lonely? (Brown-De Rose) |
Aristocrat 505 B |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones Vocal by Mario Lozer |
U7062 | I Still Get a Thrill (Thinking Of You) (Davis-Coots) |
Aristocrat 506A |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones | U7063 | Tico-Tico (Marcotte-Abrew) | Aristocrat 506B |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones | U7064 | If I Never Cry | Aristocrat 507? | |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones | U7065 | Gay Ranchero | Aristocrat 507? |
Aristocrat 505 was released in January 1948, as was 506. We do not know, if 507 was ever released. Information from the Aristocrat pages of the Red Saunders Research Foundation.
MONTI IV:
Universal Recording, Chicago, December 1947| Lee Monti's Tu Tones Vocal: Mario Lozer |
U7114 | Chinatown My Chinatown (Jerome-Schwartz) |
Aristocrat 509A |  from the collection of Robert L. Campbell |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones Vocal: Mario Lozer |
U7115 | They Go Wild Over Me (McCarthy-Fisher) |
Aristocrat 510A |  from the collection of Robert L. Campbell |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones | U7116 | Dreamy Melody (Magine-Koehler-Nasel) |
Aristocrat 509B |  from the collection of Robert L. Campbell |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones With Rythm (sic!) Accompaniment |
U7117 | What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For? (Monaco-Johnson-McCarthy) | Aristocrat 508B |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones Vocal: Mario Lozer |
U7118 | My Anina (Magine-Chesrow-Christian) | Aristocrat 510B |  from the collection of Robert L. Campbell |
| Lee Monti's Tu Tones With Rythm (sic!) Accompaniment Vocal: Mario Lozer |
U7119 | Pin Up Polka (Gamse-Fields) | Aristocrat 508A |  |
Aristocrat 508 was released in february 1948, 509 in april and 510 in november. Information from the Aristocrat pages of the Red Saunders Research Foundation.
MONTI V:
Chicago, Universal Recording, probably 1949| Lee Monti's Tu-Tunes (sic!) |
8775 | Liebestraum (Liszt) | Universal Double Feature DF 2006, unidentified LP (CA) |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu-Tunes (sic!) vocal by Mario Loyer (sic) |
8776 | Strangers (Coots-O'Flynn) | Universal Double Feature DF 2007, unidentified LP (CA) | from the collection of Rob DeLand |
| Lee Monti's Tu-Tunes (sic!) vocal by Mario Loyer (sic) |
8777 | Oh! You Million Dollar Doll (Clark-Leslie-Abrahams) |
Universal Double Feature DF 2006, unidentified LP (CA) |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu-Tunes (sic!) vocal by Eddie Hubbard |
8778 | You Kiss Me Too Much (Eddie Hubbard) |
Universal Double Feature DF 2007, unidentified LP (CA) | from the collection of Rob DeLand |
Many thanks to Rob DeLand for scans of this rare record. Original Information about Universal Double Feature DF 2006/2007 from Dan Ferone. DF 2006 (Matrix QC DF 8775-8777) and DF 2007 (QC DF 8776-8778) are the two sides of an 78rpm EP. Universal copyrighted this kind of record in 1948.
Everything we know about the Canadian LP record stems from this site. We are sure, that this record ("Lee Monti, Lee Diamond: Harmonica and Piano Varieties") was split between the artists and that the tracks above are Monti's tracks on this LP. Apparently a copy of this record is in the collection of the Bowling Green State University, Ohio. Any information about this LP will be welcome.
MONTI VI:
Chicago, Universal Recording, probably 1949DF 2010 (Matrix QC DF 8801-8802) and DF 2011 (QC DF 8803-8804) are the two sides of an Universal 78rpm EP. A copy resides in the collection of Armin Büttner. For information about the unidentified canadian LP, see botes to the previous session.
MONTI VII:
unknown studio, 1950 or later| Lee Monti's Tu-Tones | M-107 | Ach Isabella (Otto Teich) | Sharp S1 |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu-Tones | M-108 | Repasz Band (Harry J. Lincoln) | Sharp S1 |  |
| Lee Monti's Tu-Tones (Vocal by the Carter Sisters) |
M-109, DLG.50888 | I'm Just a Little Blue For You (Gillespie-Van Alstyne) | Sharp S6, London (UK) 553-B |
 |
| Lee Monti's Tu-Tones | M-110, DLG.50887 | Tu-Tone Boogie (Monti-Lozer) | Sharp S6, London (UK) 553-A |
 |
We do not know when this was recorded. Sharp was a Chicago label. The Sharp pressings seem to be the original issues of these titles. London Records was found in 1950 by british Decca in order to be able to import recordings into the States, where their now independent daughter owned the name Decca. From 1951 on London was also used to put out recordings made by independent American Companies to which Decca had acquired British distribution rights. Whereas London 553 has only Lee Monti as the composer of "Tu-Tone Boogie", Sharp adds Lozer. This is presumably the Mario Lozer responsible for vocals on some of Monti's Aristocrat sides.
MONTI VIII:
Recorded 1950 or 51
| Lee Monti's Tu-Tones vocal by George Ramsby and the Monti-Tones |
DLGF-50158 | It Goes In One Ear, And Out The Other (Hilliard-Miles-Rich) |
Sharp S14, London (US) 30036 |
|
| Lee Monti's Tu-Tones | Whose Arms Are You In Tonight? | Sharp S14, London (US) 30036 |
Information about Sharp 14 and London 30036 from an auction on ebay. This could be from the session above or the one below. The matrix number and the band designation on "It Goes In" are the ones given on the London issue.
MONTI IX:
Recorded 1950 or 51
| Lee Monti's Tutones (Mandolin Solo) |
M-151, DLG-50172 |
Roman Guitar (E. DiLazzaro) |
Sharp 27, London (US) 994 B |
 |
|
Lee Monti's Tutones |
M-152, DLG-50171 |
Valley Of The Moon |
Sharp 27, London (US) 994 A |
 |
Information from copies of Sharp 27 and London (US) 994. On the London issue, the track is titled "In the Valley of the Moon"..
MONTI X:
Recorded 1951
| Lee Monti's Tutones | M-157 | Don't Fence Me In (Porter-Harms) | Sharp 30, London (US?) 1079 |  |
| Lee Monti's Tutones | M-158 | Oh, You Million Dollar Doll (Abrams-Clark-Leslîe) |
Sharp 30, London (US?) 1079 |  |
Session information from Terry Hounsome's database. Information about the London issue from an auction on ebay.
Chicago 1951
| Lee Monti Tutones | M-165 | Plant A Little Garden (In Your Own Back Yard) (Hirsch-Lewis-Leopold Forster) |
Sharp 34 |  |
| Lee Monti's Tutones Featuring Remo Biondi On Fiddle |
M-166 | Runaway Fiddle (Biondi) | Sharp 34 |  |
| Lee Monti's Tutones | M-167 | Mama's Gone Good Bye (P. Bocage - A. Piron - Pickwick) |
Sharp 35 | |
| Lee Monti's Tutones | M-168 | Tu Tone Polka ( Monti-Lozer) | Sharp 35 |
Information from three auctions on ebay.
 |
|
Cover of sheet music for Whispering Shadows
(James Henry Martin - Lee Monti) |
MONTI XII:
Chicago, 1951| Lee Monti Tutones
(Vocal Duet: Elaine Rodgers, Danny Parker) |
M175 | Whispering Shadows (Martin-Monti) |
Sharp 39 |  |
| Lee Monti Tutones
(Vocal Duet: Elaine Rodgers, Danny Parker) |
M176 | In A Little Second Hand Store (Pease-Dreyer-Nelson) |
Sharp 39 |  |
| Lee Monti Tutones | M177, 48S738* | Orchids In The Moonlight (Kahn-Youmans) |
Sharp 40, MGM K11140A* |
 from the collection of B.B. Shaw |
| Lee Monti Tutones | M178, 48S738* | Should I (Brown-Freed) | Sharp 40 MGM K11140B |
 |
Information from Donald B. Diehl, Jr., B.B.Shaw and Michael Ruppli's The MGM Labels. According to Ruppli these were recorded for producer James (Jimmy) Martin's Sharp label in 1951 and purchased by MGM around december 1951.
MONTI XIII:
Recorded Jimmy Martin Studio, Chicago ca. 1952
| Lee Monti Tutones | M-198 | Somebody Loves You (Morris-Tobias-Peter De Rose) |
Sharp 49 |  |
| Lee Monti Tutones | M-??, 48S760* | Roamin' | Sharp ??, MGM 11359* |
|
| Lee Monti Tutones | M-?? | unidentified title | Sharp ?? | |
| Lee Monti Tutones | M-201, 48S814* | Tie a Little String around Your Finger (Whitmark-Simms) | Sharp 49, MGM11359* |
 |
Information about Sharp 49 from a copy of the 45rpm version of this record. Information about MGM 11359 from Ruppli. It is not absolutely clear, if Roamin' from MGM 11359 really stems from this session. According to Ruppli Roamin' features the Jack Halloran Choir. The Jack Halloran Singers also recorded with singer Jean Swan for Mercury in 1956. They were accompanied by the Red Saunders band. For this session Ruppli explicitly gives the Jimmy Martin Studio as the location. It is not known, whether this studio was used at the aforementioned sessions for Sharp. Our guess is, that Roamin' was first released on Sharp as well. If so, it must have had a coupling (probably M-199 or M.200).
MONTI XIV:
Recorded probably 1953
| Lee Monti & His Paisans Vocal: Tommy Nichols |
M230, E3QW-7151 | A Bottle Of Wine And You (Monti-Sabie-Tanner) |
Sharp 57-45, Allied 5018 |
 |
| Lee Monti & His Paisans |
M231, E3QW-7152 | Every Ones Loves Mary Ann (Monti-Sabie-Tanner) |
Sharp 57-45, Allied 5018 |
 |
Information about the Sharp issue from a copy of the record. Both numbers are on the label and in the dead wax. The E3QW numbers point to RCA records and a mastering date somewhere in 1953. Original Information about Allied 5018 from Terry Hounsome's database. A copy is now in the collection of Armin Büttner. According to Bob McGrath's "The R and B Indies" (2nd Edition, 2005), The Allied label started off it's life with a 5xxx-series starting with 5000 in 1953 and ending in 1955 with 5026.
MONTI XV:
Recorded probably mid or late fifties
| Lee Monti Orch. (The Escorts - Vocal) |
1000 | Hot Juke Box (Neal) | Foto N100 |  |
| Lee Monti Orch. (The Escorts - Vocal) |
1000R (label), 1001-R (wax) |
Wagons West (What Will the Wagons Bring?) (Neal) |
Foto N100 |  |
Information from a copy of Foto N100 in the collection of Armin Büttner. The date is admittedly pure guesswork.
MONTI XVI
Recorded around 1959
| Lee Monti's Tu-Tones vocal by Buddy Hughes |
K9OW-5243 | Till We Meet Again (Egan-Whiting) |
Wedgewood 45-1901 |
 |
| Lee Monti's Tu-Tones vocal by Buddy Hughes |
K9OW-5244 | Springtime In The Rockies (Woolsev-Sauer) |
Wedgewood 45-1901 |
 |
The K9OW-matrix numbers point to mastering and pressing at RCA records in 1959. Everything we know about this label is gathered from a copy of Wedgewood 45-1901 in the collection of Armin Büttner.
copyright: jazzdocumentation 2007
