The Melody Kings were formed in Montreal, Canada during World War I by American banjo player Andy Tipaldi. The band played at Jardin de danse, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Palace Theatre in Montreal and were quite active throughout the 1920s. Tipaldi returned to America in 1929 but returned to Montreal briefly in 1930 for an engagement at the Beaux Arts Cabaret. The band also recorded under the name of Andy Tipaldi and his Orchestra.

Thanks to Jim Tennyson for his help with this page.

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company
Always Looking For A Little Sunshine
(Anderson / Hearst)		 9-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216435-B
Bahama 1-1924 Montreal, Canada HMV
216448
Ballet Egyptian 8-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216417
Barney Google
(Billy Rose / Con Conrad)		 6-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216407
Bonnie
(Hirsch / Frey)		 8-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216429
Burning Sands 4-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216397
Carolina Mammy
(James)		 5-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216401
Cat's Whiskers
(Tibbot / Rex)		 4-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216404
Come Back Old Pal 7-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216411
Covered Wagon Days 1-1924 Montreal, Canada HMV
216448
Cut Yourself A Piece Of Cake   Montreal, Canada HMV
216420
Dimples 12-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216443
First Last And Always 12-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216443
Hey! You Want Any Codfish?
(We Only Have Mackerel To-Day)
(Ima Fish / Ura Herring)		 8-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216428
Hi Lee, Hi Lo
(Ira Schuster)		 9-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216435-A
I'll Be Here When You Come Back
(But I'll Be With Somebody Else)
(Munro / Davis / Howard)		 4-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216407
I Love Me 8-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216417
Jennie   Montreal, Canada HMV
216420
Limehouse Blues
(Douglas Furber / Philip Braham)		 1924 Montreal, Canada HMV
216450
Little Red School House
(Brennan)		 5-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216401
Love Will Come Back Waltz
(From May Madness)		 7-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216409
Maggie! Yes M'am
(Come Right Upsatairs)		 8-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216413
Me No Speak-a Good English
(Pease / Nelson / Gehenck)		 4-1924 Montreal, Canada HMV
216458
Music
(Makes The World Go Round)
(Billy Munro / Willie Eckstein / Sam Howard)		 1922 Montreal, Canada Apex 586
Starr Gennett 587
Music
(Makes The World Go Round)
(Billy Munro / Willie Eckstein / Sam Howard)		 2-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216397
My Electric Girl 9-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216423
Once In A Blue Moon
(Kern)		 4-1924 Montreal, Canada HMV
216458
Seven Or Eleven
(Walter Donaldson)		 7-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216413
Shufflin Along 7-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216411
Spanish Love - Tango
(Introducing "La Paloma")
(from "May Madness")
(H. Ross Cleveland)		 7-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216409
Shufflin Along 7-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216411
Sunkist Rose 7-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216412
What Do I Care? 9-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216423
When It's Night-time In Italy
(It's Wednesday Over Here)
(Kendis / Brown)		 1924 Montreal, Canada HMV
216450
Will I Know? 7-1923 Montreal, Canada HMV
216412
Artist Instrument
Johnny Dixon ? Trumpet
Willie Eckstein Piano
Alex Lajoie ? Alto Saxophone
Billy Munro ? Piano
Rob Roy ? Drums
Andy Tipaldi Banjo, Leader
John Tipaldi Violin
unknown Trombone, Saxophones, Piano, Tuba, Vocals
Such Melodious Racket; The Lost History Of Jazz In Canada 1914 - 1949 by Mark Miller, Mercury Press, 1997