Leroy Carr

Leroy Carr

Leroy Carr (March 27, 1904 or 1905 – April 29, 1935) was an American blues singer, songwriter and pianist who developed a laid-back, crooning technique and whose popularity and style influenced such artists as Nat King Cole and Ray Charles. Music historian Elijah Wald has called him "the most influential male blues singer and songwriter of the first half of the 20th century". He first became famous for "How Long, How Long Blues", his debut recording released by Vocalion Records in 1928.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 27, 1905 (Nashville), Died April 29, 1935 (Indianapolis)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, piano, composer, lyricist, songwriter, bells

= 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
Victor	BS-85495	10-in.	2/25/1935	Rocks in my bed	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist
Victor	BS-85496	10-in.	2/25/1935	When the sun goes down	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist
Victor	BS-85497	10-in.	2/25/1935	Bad luck all the time	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist
Victor	BS-85498	10-in.	2/25/1935	Big Four blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist
Victor	BS-85513	10-in.	2/25/1935	Just a rag	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with piano	composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist
Victor	BS-85514	10-in.	2/25/1935	Ain't it a shame	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with piano	lyricist, instrumentalist, piano, composer, vocalist
Victor	BS-85515	10-in.	2/25/1935	Going back home	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with piano	composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist
Victor	BS-85516	10-in.	2/25/1935	Six cold feet in the ground	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with piano	composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist
Victor	BS-96226	10-in.	10/31/1935	When the sun goes down—Part 2	Memphis Minnie	Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	composer, lyricist
Victor	BS-041973	10-in.	9/6/1939	How long blues	Wingy Manone Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble	composer
Victor	E0VB-4574	10-in.	11/8/1950	Anytime is the right time	Arthur Crudup	Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio	composer
Columbia	W147107	10-in.	10/5/1928	How long—how long blues	Sonny Porter	Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano	songwriter
OKeh	W401092	10-in.	8/31/1928	How long-how long blues	Gladys Bentley	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	lyricist, composer
Brunswick	E36877	10-in.	6/24/1931	How long, how long blues	Five Pennies ; Red Nichols	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist, composer
Brunswick	IND622	10-in.	6/19/1928	My own lonesome blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with piano and guitar	vocalist, songwriter, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	IND623	10-in.	6/19/1928	How long (How long blues)	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with piano and guitar	vocalist, songwriter, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C2097	10-in.	7/20/1928	Tennessee blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, composer, lyricist
Brunswick	C2098	10-in.	7/20/1928	Truthful blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, composer, lyricist
Brunswick	C2102	10-in.	7/20/1928	Broken spoke blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, composer, lyricist
Brunswick	C2219	10-in.	8/14/1928	Broken spoke blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C2220	10-in.	8/14/1928	Tennessee blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C2221	10-in.	8/14/1928	Truthful blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C2222	10-in.	8/14/1928	Mean old train blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C2223	10-in.	8/14/1928	You got to reap what you sow	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C2224	10-in.	8/14/1928	Low down dirty blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C2231	10-in.	8/15/1928	Straight alky blues, pt. 1	Scrapper Blackwell	Male vocal solo, with guitar	songwriter
Brunswick	C2232	10-in.	8/15/1928	Straight alky blues, pt. 2	Scrapper Blackwell	Male vocal solo, with guitar	songwriter
Brunswick	C2526	10-in.	11/6/1928	How long, how long blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C2527	10-in.	11/6/1928	How long, how long blues no. 2	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C2528	10-in.	11/6/1928	Prison bound blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C2529	10-in.	11/7/1928	You don’t mean me no good	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C2537	10-in.	11/9/1928	How long, how long blues	Hokum Jug Band ; Frankie Half Pint Jaxon ; Tampa Red	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C2659	10-in.	12/14/1928	How long, how long blues	Walter Barnes ; Royal Creolians	Jazz/dance band	composer
Brunswick	C2688	10-in.	12/19/1928	How long, how long blues no. 2	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C2689	10-in.	12/19/1928	How long, how long blues no. 3	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C2690	10-in.	12/19/1928	Baby, don’t you love me no more	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C2691	10-in.	12/19/1928	Tired of your low down ways	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C2692	10-in.	12/20/1928	Going away and leave my baby	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C2693	10-in.	12/20/1928	I’m through with you	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C2694	10-in.	12/20/1928	Prison bound blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C2695	10-in.	12/20/1928	You don’t mean me no good	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C2807	10-in.	1/16/1929	How long, how long blues	Tampa Red	Guitar solo	composer
Brunswick	C2963	10-in.	2/15/1929	Think of me thinking of you	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
Brunswick	C2964	10-in.	2/15/1929	How about me?	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist
Brunswick	C2965	10-in.	2/15/1929	The deacon’s prayer	Leroy Carr	Vocal	vocalist
Brunswick	C2966	10-in.	2/15/1929	Straight alky blues, pt. 1	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C2967	10-in.	2/15/1929	Straight alky blues, pt. 2	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C2968	10-in.	2/15/1929	There ain’t nobody got it like she’s got it	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist
Brunswick	C2970	10-in.	2/15/1929	Lifeboat blues	Leroy Carr	Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C2971	10-in.	2/15/1929	The truth about the thing	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C2972	10-in.	2/15/1929	Naptown strut	Scrapper Blackwell and the Two Roys	Vocal and instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C2973	10-in.	2/15/1929	Non-skid tread	Scrapper Blackwell and the Two Roys	Vocal and instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C2974	10-in.	2/15/1929	Just worrying blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C2975	10-in.	2/15/1929	Gambler’s blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C3144	10-in.	3/19/1929	Straight alky blues, pt. 1	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C3145	10-in.	3/19/1929	Straight alky blues, pt. 2	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C3146	10-in.	3/19/1929	Lifeboat blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C3147	10-in.	3/19/1929	Gambler’s blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C3150	10-in.	3/19/1929	Just worryin’ blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C3151	10-in.	3/19/1929	There ain’t nobody got it like she’s got it	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist
Brunswick	C3152	10-in.	3/19/1929	The truth about the thing	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C3615	10-in.	6/17/1929	I’m going back to Tennessee if it takes my last dime	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3616	10-in.	6/17/1929	Love hides all faults	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3617	10-in.	6/17/1929	I won’t miss you when you’re gone	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3618	10-in.	6/17/1929	Don’t you get tired of riding the same train all the time?	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3619	10-in.	6/17/1929	That’s all right for you	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3620	10-in.	6/17/1929	Wrong man blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3621	10-in.	6/17/1929	Baby, you done put that thing on me	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3625	10-in.	6/17/1929	Love is dead	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C3626	10-in.	6/17/1929	Blue with the blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C3627	10-in.	6/17/1929	Naptown blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C3628	10-in.	6/17/1929	Rainy day blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C3685	10-in.	6/22/1929	Prison bound blues	Tampa Red	Guitar solo	composer
Brunswick	C3686	10-in.	6/22/1929	You got to reap what you sow	Tampa Red	Guitar solo	composer
Brunswick	C3792	10-in.	7/8/1929	Don’t you get tired of riding the same train all the time?	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3793	10-in.	7/8/1929	Don’t you get tired of riding the same train all the time?	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3794	10-in.	7/8/1929	I won’t miss you when you’re gone	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3795	10-in.	7/8/1929	I won’t miss you when you’re gone	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C3796	10-in.	7/8/1929	Baby, you done put that thing on me	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3797	10-in.	7/8/1929	I’m going back to Tennessee if it takes my last dime	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3798	10-in.	7/8/1929	Love hides all faults	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C3799	10-in.	7/8/1929	Love is dead	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C3800	10-in.	7/8/1929	Rainy day blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C3801	10-in.	7/8/1929	Rainy day blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C3802	10-in.	7/8/1929	Blue with the blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C4031	10-in.	8/12/1929	The new how long, how long blues	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C4032	10-in.	8/12/1929	Love hides all faults	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C4033	10-in.	8/12/1929	I know that I’ll be blue	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C4034	10-in.	8/12/1929	Gettin’ all wet	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C4046	10-in.	8/13/1929	Rainy day blues	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C4047	10-in.	8/13/1929	Blue with the blues	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C4048	10-in.	8/13/1929	Just worryin’ blues	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C4049	10-in.	8/13/1929	Baby, you done put that thing on me	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C4050	10-in.	8/13/1929	I won’t miss you when you’re gone	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C4051	10-in.	8/13/1929	Love is dead	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C4052	10-in.	8/13/1929	Don’t you get tired of riding that same train all the time	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter
Brunswick	C4053	10-in.	8/13/1929	I’m going back to Tennessee	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C4054	10-in.	8/13/1929	Christmas in jail—Ain’t that a pain?	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C4055	10-in.	8/13/1929	Prison cell blues	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C4677	10-in.	10/19/1929	Gambler’s blues	Charles “Speck” Pertum	Male vocal solo, with piano	songwriter
Brunswick	C5069	10-in.	1/2/1930	That’s tellin’ ‘em	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C5070	10-in.	1/2/1930	Papa wants a cookie	Leroy Carr	Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C5071	10-in.	1/2/1930	Memphis Town	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C5072	10-in.	1/2/1930	Don’t say goodbye	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C5073	10-in.	1/2/1930	I ain’t got no gal	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C5074	10-in.	1/2/1930	Goodbye blues	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C5075	10-in.	1/2/1930	The dirty dozen	Scrapper Blackwell ; Leroy Carr	Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C5076	10-in.	1/2/1930	Workhouse blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	C6084	10-in.	9/9/1930	Let’s make up and be friends again	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist
Brunswick	C6085	10-in.	9/9/1930	Let’s disagree	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist
Brunswick	C6086	10-in.	9/9/1930	Sloppy drunk blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist
Brunswick	C6087	10-in.	9/9/1930	Hard times done drove me to drink	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C6088	10-in.	9/9/1930	Long road blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C6089	10-in.	9/9/1930	Jail cell blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist
Brunswick	C6090	10-in.	9/9/1930	Four day rider	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C6091	10-in.	9/9/1930	Alabama women blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C6092	10-in.	9/9/1930	Papa’s on the house top	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C6093	10-in.	9/9/1930	Carried water for the elephant	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, lyricist, composer
Brunswick	C7215	10-in.	1/16/1931	Low down dog blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C7216	10-in.	1/16/1931	Nineteen thirty-one blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C7218	10-in.	1/16/1931	Love crying blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C7219	10-in.	1/16/1931	Papa’s got your water on	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C7220	10-in.	1/16/1931	Big House blues	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist
Brunswick	C7221	10-in.	1/16/1931	New how long, how long blues no. 2	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	C7222	10-in.	1/16/1931	What more can I do?	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist
Brunswick	C7223	10-in.	1/16/1931	Papa wants to knock a jug	Leroy Carr	Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Brunswick	M197	10-in.	Sept. 1929	How long, how long blues	Jed Davenport	Harmonica solo, with guitar	composer
Brunswick	TC2969	10-in.	2/15/1929	Think of me thinking of you	Leroy Carr	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Carr, Leroy," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106339.

Carr, Leroy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106339.

"Carr, Leroy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.