Memphis Jug Band
The Memphis Jug Band was an American musical group active from the mid-1920s to the late-1950s. The band featured harmonica, kazoo, fiddle and mandolin or banjolin, backed by guitar, piano, washboard, washtub bass and jug. They played slow blues, pop songs, humorous songs and upbeat dance numbers with jazz and string band flavors. The band made the first commercial recordings in Memphis, Tennessee, and recorded more sides than any other prewar jug band. Beginning in 1926, African-American musicians in the Memphis area grouped around the singer, songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player Will Shade (also known as Son Brimmer or Sun Brimmer). The personnel of the band varied from day to day, with Shade booking gigs and arranging recording sessions. The band was as a training ground for musicians who would go on to make careers of their own. |
Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1927, Died Ceased 1934
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1930
Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BVE-37941 | 10-in. | 2/24/1927 | Sun brimmers | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-37942 | 10-in. | 2/24/1927 | Stingy woman | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-37943 | 10-in. | 2/24/1927 | Memphis jug | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-37944 | 10-in. | 2/24/1927 | Newport News blues | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-38657 | 10-in. | 6/9/1927 | Sometimes I think I love you | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-38658 | 10-in. | 6/9/1927 | Sunshine blues | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-38659 | 10-in. | 6/9/1927 | Memphis boy | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-38660 | 10-in. | 6/9/1927 | I'm looking for the bully of the town | Memphis Jug Band | Instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-40312 | 10-in. | 10/19/1927 | I packed my suitcase, started to the train | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-40313 | 10-in. | 10/19/1927 | State of Tennessee blues | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-40314 | 10-in. | 10/19/1927 | Bob Lee Junior blues | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-40315 | 10-in. | 10/19/1927 | Kansas City blues | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-40320 | 10-in. | 10/20/1927 | Beale Street mess around | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-40321 | 10-in. | 10/20/1927 | I'll see you in the spring, when the birds begin to sing | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-41817 | 10-in. | 2/1/1928 | Snitchin' gambler blues | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-41818 | 10-in. | 2/1/1928 | Evergreen money blues | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-41888 | 10-in. | 2/13/1928 | Coal oil blues | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-41889 | 10-in. | 2/13/1928 | Papa Long blues | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-41890 | 10-in. | 2/13/1928 | Peaches in the springtime | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-41891 | 10-in. | 2/13/1928 | She stays out all night long | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-47008 | 10-in. | 9/13/1928 | Lindberg hop | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-47009 | 10-in. | 9/13/1928 | Sugar pudding | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-47010 | 10-in. | 9/13/1928 | A black woman is like a black snake | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-47011 | 10-in. | 9/13/1928 | On the road again | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-47036 | 10-in. | 9/15/1928 | Whitewash station blues | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-47037 | 10-in. | 9/15/1928 | Stealin', stealin' | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-47038 | 10-in. | 9/15/1928 | Jug band waltz | Memphis Jug Band | Instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-47039 | 10-in. | 9/15/1928 | Mississippi river waltz | Memphis Jug Band | Instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-55529 | 10-in. | 9/17/1929 | I can't stand it | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-55530 | 10-in. | 9/17/1929 | What's the matter? | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-55598 | 10-in. | 9/27/1929 | Feed your friend with a long handled spoon | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-55599 | 10-in. | 9/27/1929 | I can beat you plenty (That hand you tried to deal me) | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-56343 | 10-in. | 10/3/1929 | Taking your place | Memphis Jug Band | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-56344 | 10-in. | 10/3/1929 | Tired of you driving me | Memphis Jug Band | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-56345 | 10-in. | 10/3/1929 | Memphis yo yo blues | Memphis Jug Band | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-56346 | 10-in. | 10/3/1929 | K. C. moan | Memphis Jug Band | Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-56347 | 10-in. | 10/3/1929 | I whipped my woman with a single-tree | Memphis Jug Band | Male vocal trio, with instrumental ensemble and male vocal chorus | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59917 | 10-in. | 5/13/1930 | Everybody's talking about Sadie Green | Memphis Jug Band | Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59932 | 10-in. | 5/17/1930 | Oh ambulance man | Hattie Hart ; Memphis Jug Band ; Will Shade | Instrumental ensemble, with female-male vocal duet | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59933 | 10-in. | 5/17/1930 | Cocaine habit blues | Hattie Hart ; Memphis Jug Band ; Ben Ramey ; Vol Stevens | Instrumental ensemble, with mixed vocal trio | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59961 | 10-in. | 5/21/1930 | Jim Strainer blues | Memphis Jug Band | Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59962 | 10-in. | 5/21/1930 | Cave man blues | Memphis Jug Band ; Charlie Bozo Nickerson | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59963 | 10-in. | 5/21/1930 | 4th Street mess around | Memphis Jug Band | Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59964 | 10-in. | 5/21/1930 | It won't act right | Memphis Jug Band | Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59993 | 10-in. | 5/26/1930 | Bumble bee blues | Memphis Jug Band ; Memphis Minnie | Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59994 | 10-in. | 5/26/1930 | Meningitis blues | Memphis Jug Band ; Memphis Minnie | Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62541 | 10-in. | 5/29/1930 | Aunt Caroline Dyer blues | Memphis Jug Band | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62542 | 10-in. | 5/29/1930 | Stonewall blues | Memphis Jug Band | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62581 | 10-in. | 6/5/1930 | Spider's nest blues | Carolina Peanut Boys | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62582 | 10-in. | 6/5/1930 | Papa's got your bath water on | Memphis Jug Band | Instrumental ensemble, with female-male vocal duet | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62583 | 10-in. | 6/5/1930 | Going back to Memphis | Memphis Jug Band ; Charlie Bozo Nickerson | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble and male vocal chorus | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62990 | 10-in. | 11/21/1930 | He's in the jail house now | Memphis Sheiks | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-64731 | 10-in. | 11/26/1930 | Got a letter from my darlin' | Carolina Peanut Boys | Vocal and instrumental ensemble, with talk | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-64732 | 10-in. | 11/26/1930 | Round and round | Memphis Sheiks | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-64733 | 10-in. | 11/26/1930 | This will bring you back | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-64740 | 10-in. | 11/28/1930 | Move that thing | Memphis Jug Band | Vocal and instrumental ensemble, with talk | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-64741 | 10-in. | 11/28/1930 | You got me rollin' | Carolina Peanut Boys | Vocal and instrumental ensemble, with talk | Musical group |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Memphis Jug Band," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105590.
Memphis Jug Band. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105590.
"Memphis Jug Band." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Memphis Jug Band - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n87145543
Wikidata: Memphis Jug Band - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1421242
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/158415537
MusicBrainz: Memphis Jug Band - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a147eefb-0e07-432d-bd1f-8edf7679a7da
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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