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 - 1936
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).
See Also: McCoy, Memphis Minnie
= 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-59992 | 10-in. | 5/26/1930 | I'm going back home | McCoy and Johnson | Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Victor | BVE-59993 | 10-in. | 5/26/1930 | Bumble bee blues | Memphis Jug Band ; Memphis Minnie | Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo | vocalist, songwriter, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Victor | BVE-59994 | 10-in. | 5/26/1930 | Meningitis blues | Memphis Jug Band ; Memphis Minnie | Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo | vocalist, songwriter, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| 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 | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Victor | BVE-62538 | 10-in. | 5/29/1930 | I never told a lie | McCoy and Johnson | Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| 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 | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, songwriter | |
| Victor | BVE-62540 | 10-in. | 5/29/1930 | Georgia skin | McCoy and Johnson | Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter | |
| Victor | BS-91419 | 10-in. | 7/27/1935 | Good mornin' | Texas Tessie | Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-91420 | 10-in. | 7/27/1935 | You wrecked my happy home | Texas Tessie | Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-91421 | 10-in. | 7/27/1935 | I'm waitin' on you | Texas Tessie | Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars | vocalist, composer | |
| Victor | BS-91422 | 10-in. | 7/27/1935 | Keep on goin' | Texas Tessie | Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars | vocalist, composer | |
| 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 | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | |
| 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 | composer, vocalist | |
| Brunswick | MEM731 | 10-in. | Feb. 1930 | Mister Tango blues | Memphis Minnie | Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars | composer, vocalist | |
| Brunswick | MEM732 | 10-in. | Feb. 1930 | She wouldn’t give me none | Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie | Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars | composer, vocalist | |
| 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 | composer, vocalist | |
| Brunswick | MEM739 | 10-in. | Feb. 1930 | Plymouth Rock blues | Memphis Minnie | Female vocal solo, with guitar | composer, vocalist | |
| 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 | composer, vocalist | |
| Brunswick | MEM773 | 10-in. | Feb. 1930 | Bumblee bee | Memphis Minnie | Female vocal solo, with 2 guitars | composer, vocalist | |
| 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 | |
| Decca | 90016 | 10-in. | 5/27/1935 | Jockey man blues | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90017 | 10-in. | 5/27/1935 | Weary woman's blues | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90018 | 10-in. | 5/27/1935 | Reachin' Pete | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90019 | 10-in. | 5/27/1935 | Down in New Orleans | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9380 | 10-in. | 8/24/1934 | You got to move, part 1 | Kansas Joe ; Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9381 | 10-in. | 8/24/1934 | Keep it to yourself | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9382 | 10-in. | 8/24/1934 | Chickasaw train blues (Low down dirty thing) | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9383 | 10-in. | 8/24/1934 | Banana man blues (I don't want that thing) | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9389 | 10-in. | 8/31/1934 | You got to move, part 2 | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9402 | 10-in. | 9/6/1934 | Hole in the wall | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9407 | 10-in. | 9/6/1934 | Give it to me in my hand | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9426 | 10-in. | 9/10/1934 | Squad it | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9427 | 10-in. | 9/10/1934 | Moaning the blues | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| 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 | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9643 | 10-in. | 1/10/1935 | When you're asleep | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9644 | 10-in. | 1/10/1935 | You can't give it away | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9657 | 10-in. | 1/15/1935 | Let me ride | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9658 | 10-in. | 1/15/1935 | When the Saints go marching in | Memphis Minnie | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Memphis Minnie," accessed May 4, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106296.
Memphis Minnie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 4, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106296.
"Memphis Minnie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Memphis Minnie
Discogs: Memphis Minnie
Allmusic: Memphis Minnie
Grove: Memphis Minnie
Britannica: Memphis Minnie
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Memphis Minnie, 1897-1973 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n90724280
Wikidata: Memphis Minnie - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q464728
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/74038299
MusicBrainz: Memphis Minnie - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ff748426-8873-4725-bdc7-c2b18b510d41
ISNI: 0000 0000 7977 8528 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000079778528
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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