Black Bob

Black Bob (fl. 1930s) was the pseudonym used by an American blues piano player, based in Chicago, who recorded widely in the 1930s accompanying other performers. His real name is unknown, but suggestions have included Bob Hudson, Bob Robinson, Bob Alexander, and Bob Schanault (or Chenault).

Almost nothing is known of his life beyond his recordings. According to Chicago pianist Charlie West, he became known as Black Jack in Cincinnati, Ohio, before moving around 1927 to Chicago where he adopted the name Black Bob. Reportedly, Big Bill Broonzy thought that his real name was Robert Alexander, though Memphis Slim gave his name as Bob Hudson. It was once erroneously suggested that Black Bob was a pseudonym for Bob Call. Reviewing the evidence, researcher Bob Eagle raised the possibility that he may have been the Bob Schanault (possibly misspelled) who recorded with Memphis Minnie in 1936.

Black Bob was the pianist on many Chicago blues recordings of the mid and late 1930s, notably for the Bluebird and Vocalion labels. His recordings included sessions by Broonzy, Amos Easton, Jazz Gillum, Lil Johnson, Red Nelson, Joe McCoy, Memphis Minnie, Merline Johnson, Papa Charlie McCoy, Tampa Red, Casey Bill Weldon, and Washboard Sam. One reviewer described his "muscular runs and rippling fills... clearly... an accomplished professional of his day." Although he seems not to have recorded after 1938 or perhaps 1941, Memphis Minnie reported that she both performed and recorded with him in her backing band as late as 1954.

Nothing is known of his later life.

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1934 - 1937

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, speaker

= 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 BS-80381 10-in. 3/22/1934 I'll kill your soul (And dare your spirit to move) Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with kazoo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80382 10-in. 3/22/1934 If I let you get away with it (You'll do it all the time) Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with kazoo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80383 10-in. 3/22/1934 I'll find my way Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80384 10-in. 3/22/1934 You've got to do better Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with kazoo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80385 10-in. 3/22/1934 Kingfish blues Artists vary Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80386 10-in. 3/22/1934 You don't want me blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80387 10-in. 3/22/1934 Nobody's sweetheart Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with kazoo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80611 10-in. 6/14/1934 Early in the morning B. Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80613 10-in. 6/14/1934 At the break of day Big Bil Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-80614 10-in. 6/14/1934 I want to go home Big Bil Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85517 10-in. 2/26/1935 The Southern blues Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85518 10-in. 2/26/1935 Good jelly Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85523 10-in. 2/26/1935 Worthy of you Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jug band and talk speaker, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85524 10-in. 2/26/1935 If it ain't that gal of mine Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jug band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85525 10-in. 2/26/1935 Mean old tom cat blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with piano and guitar instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85526 10-in. 2/26/1935 Don't dog your woman Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with piano and guitar instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85527 10-in. 2/26/1935 Singing and crying blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with piano and guitar instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-85528 10-in. 2/26/1935 Shake it up a little Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with piano and guitar instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-91423 10-in. 7/27/1935 Mountain blues Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-91424 10-in. 7/27/1935 Bad luck blues Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-91425 10-in. 7/27/1935 I can't make you satisfied Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-91426 10-in. 7/27/1935 I'm just a bum Big Bil Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96230 10-in. 10/31/1935 Keep your hands off her Big Bil Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96231 10-in. 10/31/1935 Sun gonna shine in my door some day Big Bil Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96232 10-in. 10/31/1935 Good liquor gonna carry me down Big Bil Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96233 10-in. 10/31/1935 Down the line blues Big Bil Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96250 10-in. 11/1/1935 When I take my vacation in Harlem Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96251 10-in. 11/1/1935 Drinkin' my blues away Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96252 10-in. 11/1/1935 Dark and stormy night Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96253 10-in. 11/1/1935 Good woman blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96254 10-in. 11/1/1935 You missed a good man Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-96255 10-in. 11/1/1935 Waiting blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100099 10-in. 4/1/1936 When you were a gal of seven Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100300 10-in. 4/1/1936 Let's get drunk and truck Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100301 10-in. 4/1/1936 Maybe it's someone else you love Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100302 10-in. 4/1/1936 I wonder what's the matter Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100303 10-in. 4/1/1936 She don't know my mind Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100304 10-in. 4/1/1936 She don't know my mind Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100317 10-in. 4/3/1936 Too long Papa Charlie's Boys Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100318 10-in. 4/3/1936 Let my peaches be Papa Charlie's Boys Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100319 10-in. 4/3/1936 Gypsy woman blues Papa Charlie Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100320 10-in. 4/3/1936 You can't play me cheap Papa Charlie Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100327 10-in. 4/3/1936 Take it easy, greasy Trixie Butler Female vocal solo, with string bass and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100328 10-in. 4/3/1936 You got the right key Trixie Butler Female vocal solo, with string bass and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100329 10-in. 4/3/1936 Just a good woman with the blues Trixie Butler Female vocal solo, with string bass and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100889 10-in. 8/5/1936 You stole my heart Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100890 10-in. 8/5/1936 You got me worryin' Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100891 10-in. 8/5/1936 Caught my gal truckin' Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100892 10-in. 8/5/1936 All night long Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100893 10-in. 8/5/1936 That's the way I do Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100894 10-in. 8/5/1936 I hate myself Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100940 10-in. 8/5/1936 Give me lovin' Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100941 10-in. 8/5/1936 Crazy about Nancy Jane Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100942 10-in. 8/5/1936 Cherry Hill blues Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100943 10-in. 8/5/1936 Levee blues Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and washboard instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01874 10-in. 12/21/1936 If it wasn't for you Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01875 10-in. 12/21/1936 Right or wrong Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01876 10-in. 12/21/1936 Stop truckin' and Suzi-Q Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01877 10-in. 12/21/1936 Cheatin' on me Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01878 10-in. 12/21/1936 Your one and only Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01879 10-in. 12/21/1936 My za zu girl Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01882 10-in. 12/21/1936 I love all my women Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01883 10-in. 12/21/1936 Out with the wrong woman Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01884 10-in. 12/21/1936 Come on in Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01885 10-in. 12/21/1936 Big woman Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01886 10-in. 12/21/1936 Nashville, Tennessee Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-01887 10-in. 12/21/1936 Razor cuttin' man Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07606 10-in. 5/4/1937 She said it Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07607 10-in. 5/4/1937 It's hard to believe it's true Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07608 10-in. 5/4/1937 When love comes in Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07609 10-in. 5/4/1937 You got to learn to do it Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07610 10-in. 5/4/1937 I give my love to you Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07611 10-in. 5/4/1937 I see you can't take it Chicago Five ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Black Bob," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/304557.

Black Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/304557.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/304557

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