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 (Results 1-25 of 121 records)

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

(Results 1-25 of 121 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Memphis Minnie," accessed November 5, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106296.

Memphis Minnie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106296.

"Memphis Minnie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 November 2024.