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 April 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105590.

Memphis Jug Band. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105590.

"Memphis Jug Band." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105590

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.