The compilation this tune is from, Kansas City Jazz - 20s, was put out by Audio Book & Music Company, also known as ABM. It's one of those companies that puts together compilations of songs with obscure copyright statuses. George E. Lee died in 1958 in San Diego, where he'd moved after retiring from music in 1940, so I imagine that the copyright on this tune is long-gone.
"Merritt Stomp" was recorded for the Merritt label in 1927. It's interesting, as the band is billed as the "Novelty Singing Orchestra," and you hear not a whit of human voice anywhere on it. Still, the banjo and clarinet on this hot jazz tune give it a bit more of an edge than the rest of the songs on the compilation on which it's found.
All information and images regarding George Lee come courtesy of Club Kaycee.
MP3: George E. Lee & His Novelty Singing Orchestra, "Merritt Stomp"
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