Memphis Minnie

Memphis Minnie

Lizzie Douglas (June 3, 1897 – August 6, 1973), better known as Memphis Minnie, was a blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose recording career lasted for over three decades. She recorded around 200 songs, some of the best known being "When the Levee Breaks", "Me and My Chauffeur Blues", "Bumble Bee" and "Nothing in Rambling".

Birth and Death Data: Born June 3, 1897 (Louisiana), Died August 6, 1973 (Memphis)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1952

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, guitar, composer, songwriter, leader, lyricist

Notes: Also known as Texas Tessie, Minnie McCoy, Memphis Minnie McCoy, and Minnie Douglas; born Lizzie Douglas. Also sings with Kansas Joe (Joe McCoy).

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BVE-59992	10-in.	5/26/1930	I'm going back home	McCoy and Johnson	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars	instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Victor	BVE-59993	10-in.	5/26/1930	Bumble bee blues	Memphis Jug Band ; Memphis Minnie	Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter, vocalist
Victor	BVE-59994	10-in.	5/26/1930	Meningitis blues	Memphis Jug Band ; Memphis Minnie	Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter, vocalist
Victor	BVE-62506	10-in.	5/26/1930	I am in the heavenly way	Washington White [i.e., Bukka White]	Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars and female vocals	vocalist
Victor	BVE-62508	10-in.	5/26/1930	The promise true and grand	Washington White [i.e., Bukka White]	Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars and female vocal accompaniment	vocalist
Victor	BVE-62537	10-in.	5/29/1930	Midnight special	Bessie McCoy ; Memphis Minnie	Female vocal duet, with 2 guitars	songwriter, instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Victor	BVE-62538	10-in.	5/29/1930	I never told a lie	McCoy and Johnson	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, songwriter, instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BVE-62539	10-in.	5/29/1930	Don't want no woman (T'have t'give my money to)	McCoy and Johnson	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars and dialogue	songwriter, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BVE-62540	10-in.	5/29/1930	Georgia skin	McCoy and Johnson	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, songwriter, instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BS-91419	10-in.	7/27/1935	Good mornin'	Texas Tessie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	composer, vocalist
Victor	BS-91420	10-in.	7/27/1935	You wrecked my happy home	Texas Tessie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	composer, vocalist
Victor	BS-91421	10-in.	7/27/1935	I'm waitin' on you	Texas Tessie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	composer, vocalist
Victor	BS-91422	10-in.	7/27/1935	Keep on goin'	Texas Tessie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	composer, vocalist
Victor	BS-96226	10-in.	10/31/1935	When the sun goes down—Part 2	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	vocalist
Victor	BS-96227	10-in.	10/31/1935	Hustlin' woman blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	composer, vocalist
Victor	BS-96228	10-in.	10/31/1935	Selling my pork chops	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	composer, vocalist
Victor	BS-96229	10-in.	10/31/1935	Doctor doctor blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet	composer, vocalist
Columbia	W148707	10-in.	6/18/1929	I want that	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	W148708	10-in.	6/18/1929	That will be alright	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	W148709	10-in.	6/18/1929	Goin' back to Texas	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet ("blues singers"), with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	W148710	10-in.	6/18/1929	Frisco Town	Memphis Minnie ; Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	W148711	10-in.	6/18/1929	When the levee breaks	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	W148712	10-in.	6/18/1929	Bumble bee	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	W148717	10-in.	6/19/1929	No mo' cherry ball	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	W148718	10-in.	6/19/1929	You can't do it to me	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	W152534	10-in.	11/27/1933	My butcher man	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Columbia	W152535	10-in.	11/27/1933	Too late	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Columbia	W152536	10-in.	11/27/1933	Lake Michigan blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Columbia	W152537	10-in.	11/27/1933	Ain't no use trying to tell on me (I know something on you)	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Columbia	C1482	10-in.	9/29/1936	What's the matter with the mill?	Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys	String band, with male vocal solos	composer, lyricist
Brunswick	VO109	10-in.	1/30/1931	Shake Mattie	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO110	10-in.	1/30/1931	My wash woman's gone	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO111	10-in.	1/30/1931	I don’t want that junk outta you	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Brunswick	VO113	10-in.	2/4/1931	Tricks ain’t walking no more	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	VO116	10-in.	2/9/1931	Somebody’s got to help you	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO117	10-in.	2/9/1931	That’s your yas-yas-yas	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO118	10-in.	2/9/1931	Don’t bother it	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO119	10-in.	2/9/1931	Today today blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO122	10-in.	2/11/1931	Hard down lie	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	VO123	10-in.	2/11/1931	Lay my money down (If you run around)	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO124	10-in.	2/11/1931	Pickin’ the blues	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Guitar duet	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO125	10-in.	2/11/1931	Let’s go to town	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Guitar duet	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO137	10-in.	3/16/1931	Somebody’s got to help you	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO138	10-in.	3/16/1931	Pickin’ the blues	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Guitar duet	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO139	10-in.	3/16/1931	Let’s go to town	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Guitar duet	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO151	10-in.	3/25/1931	Soo cow soo	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	VO152	10-in.	3/25/1931	After while blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	VO112	10-in.	1/30/1931	Crazy cryin’ blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	VO135	10-in.	3/13/1931	Lay my money down (If you run around)	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	VO136	10-in.	3/13/1931	Hard down lie	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	C5817	10-in.	6/5/1930	I don’t want no woman I have to give my money to	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5818	10-in.	6/5/1930	Bumble bee no. 2	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5819	10-in.	6/5/1930	Botherin’ that thing	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5820	10-in.	6/5/1930	I’m wild about my stuff	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5821	10-in.	6/5/1930	Cherry ball blues	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5822	10-in.	6/5/1930	Memphis Minnie-jitis blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5823	10-in.	6/5/1930	Good girl blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5824	10-in.	6/5/1930	Georgia skin blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5829	10-in.	June 1930	I called you this morning	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with guitar	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5830	10-in.	June 1930	My Mary blues	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5831	10-in.	June 1930	Plymouth Rock blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5864	10-in.	6/24/1930	Cherry ball blues	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5865	10-in.	6/24/1930	Botherin’ that thing	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5866	10-in.	6/24/1930	Bumble bee no. 2	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5867	10-in.	6/24/1930	Georgia skin blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C5894	10-in.	7/1/1930	New dirty dozen	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	C5895	10-in.	7/1/1930	New bumble bee	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	C5896	10-in.	7/1/1930	[Unknown title(s)]	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	C6009	10-in.	7/8/1930	Frankie Jean (That trottin’ fool)	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	C6010	10-in.	7/8/1930	I’m talking ‘bout you no. 2	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	C6011	10-in.	7/8/1930	She put me out doors	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	C6013	10-in.	7/8/1930	I called you this morning	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	C6082	10-in.	9/9/1930	Grandma and Grandpa blues	Memphis Minnie Jug Band	Instrumental ensemble	leader
Brunswick	C6083	10-in.	9/9/1930	Garage fire blues	Memphis Minnie Jug Band	Instrumental ensemble	leader
Brunswick	C6433	10-in.	10/9/1930	Dirt dauber blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	C6434	10-in.	10/9/1930	You dirty mistreater	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist
Brunswick	C6440	10-in.	10/11/1930	That’s your yas-yas-yas	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C6441	10-in.	10/11/1930	I’m fixed for you	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C6442	10-in.	10/11/1930	What’s the matter with the mill?	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C6443	10-in.	10/11/1930	North Memphis blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist
Brunswick	C7240	10-in.	1/19/1931	Don’t bother it	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist
Brunswick	C7241	10-in.	1/19/1931	Today today blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist
Brunswick	C7244	10-in.	1/21/1931	Lay my money down (If you run around)	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist
Brunswick	C7245	10-in.	1/21/1931	Hard down lie	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist
Brunswick	C7246	10-in.	1/21/1931	Beat it right	Kansas Joe	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C7247	10-in.	1/21/1931	Preacher’s blues	Kansas Joe	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C7248	10-in.	1/21/1931	Let’s go to town	Joe McCoy ; Memphis Minnie	Guitar duet	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	C7249	10-in.	1/21/1931	Pickin’ the blues	Kansas Joe	Male vocal solo, with guitar	instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	MEM730	10-in.	Feb. 1930	I ’m gonna bake my biscuits	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, composer
Brunswick	MEM731	10-in.	Feb. 1930	Mister Tango blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, composer
Brunswick	MEM732	10-in.	Feb. 1930	She wouldn’t give me none	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars	vocalist, composer
Brunswick	MEM733	10-in.	Feb. 1930	My Mary blues	Kansas Joe	Male vocal solo, with guitar	composer
Brunswick	MEM738	10-in.	Feb. 1930	I called you this morning	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with guitar	vocalist, composer
Brunswick	MEM739	10-in.	Feb. 1930	Plymouth Rock blues	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with guitar	vocalist, composer
Brunswick	MEM765	10-in.	Feb. 1930	What fault you find of me?	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars	vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer
Brunswick	MEM766	10-in.	Feb. 1930	What fault you find of me?	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars	vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	MEM772	10-in.	Feb. 1930	I’m talking about you	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, composer
Brunswick	MEM773	10-in.	Feb. 1930	Bumblee bee	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars	vocalist, composer
Brunswick	MEM790	10-in.	2/21/1930	Can I do it for you?	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars	vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar
Brunswick	MEM791	10-in.	2/21/1930	Can I do it for you?	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie	Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars	vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, guitar
Chess	1024	10-in.	7/11/1952	Broken heart	Little Son Joe ; Memphis Minnie		vocalist, songwriter
Chess	1027	10-in.	7/11/1952	Me and my chauffeur	Little Son Joe ; Memphis Minnie		songwriter, vocalist
Decca	90016	10-in.	5/27/1935	Jockey man blues	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	90017	10-in.	5/27/1935	Weary woman's blues	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	90018	10-in.	5/27/1935	Reachin' Pete	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	90019	10-in.	5/27/1935	Down in New Orleans	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9380	10-in.	8/24/1934	You got to move, part 1	Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9381	10-in.	8/24/1934	Keep it to yourself	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9382	10-in.	8/24/1934	Chickasaw train blues (Low down dirty thing)	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9383	10-in.	8/24/1934	Banana man blues (I don't want that thing)	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9389	10-in.	8/31/1934	You got to move, part 2	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9402	10-in.	9/6/1934	Hole in the wall	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9407	10-in.	9/6/1934	Give it to me in my hand	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9426	10-in.	9/10/1934	Squad it	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9427	10-in.	9/10/1934	Moaning the blues	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9641	10-in.	1/10/1935	Dirty mother for you	Memphis Minnie		vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	C 9642	10-in.	1/10/1935	Sylvester and his mule blues	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9643	10-in.	1/10/1935	When you're asleep	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9644	10-in.	1/10/1935	You can't give it away	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9657	10-in.	1/15/1935	Let me ride	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	C 9658	10-in.	1/15/1935	When the Saints go marching in	Memphis Minnie		instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Memphis Minnie," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106296.

Memphis Minnie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106296.

"Memphis Minnie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.