Johnny Watson

Johnny Watson (April 12, 1867 – November 1, 1963) was an American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, best known for his recordings under the name Daddy Stovepipe. Watson also recorded as Jimmy Watson, Sunny Jim and Rev. Alfred Pitts. He may have been the earliest-born blues performer to record. Many of his recordings were jug band duets with his wife, Sarah Watson, who was usually credited as Mississippi Sarah.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 12, 1867 (Mobile), Died November 1, 1963 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1931 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: harmonica, guitar, vocalist, composer, lyricist

Notes: Sometimes listed as John Watson on disc labels. Not the same performer as Stovepipe No. 1 (Sam Jones) or Sweet Papa Stovepipe (McKinely Peebles). Husband of Mississippi Sarah.

= 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-85519	10-in.	2/26/1935	Strewin' it out	Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah	Female vocal solo, with guitar, harmonica, and jug	instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, composer, lyricist
Victor	BS-85520	10-in.	2/26/1935	The spasm	Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah	Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harmonica, and jug	instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist
Victor	BS-85521	10-in.	2/26/1935	35 depression	Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah	Female vocal solo, with jug band	instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, composer, lyricist
Victor	BS-85522	10-in.	2/26/1935	If you want me baby	Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah	Male vocal solo, with jug band	instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, composer, lyricist
Victor	BS-071430	10-in.	9/30/1941	Doodle la do da	Marilyn Duke ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal ensemble	composer, lyricist
Brunswick	VO171	10-in.	10/21/1931	Jake leg blues	Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah	Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harp, and jug	instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar, vocalist
Brunswick	VO172	10-in.	10/21/1931	Home brew blues	Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah	Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harp, and jug	vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar
Brunswick	VO173	10-in.	10/21/1931	Jail cell blues	Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah	Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harp, and jug	vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar
Brunswick	VO174	10-in.	10/21/1931	I don’t want you no more	Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah	Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harp, and jug	vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar
Brunswick	VO175	10-in.	10/22/1931	Burleskin’ blues	Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah	Female-male vocal duet, with guitar, harp, and jug	vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar
Brunswick	VO176	10-in.	10/22/1931	Greenville strut	Daddy Stovepipe ; Mississippi Sarah	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo (scat)	vocalist, instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar
Brunswick	VO177	10-in.	10/22/1931	Read your ABC’s	Mississippi Sarah	Female vocal solo, with guitar, harmonica, and kazoo	instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar
Brunswick	VO178	10-in.	10/22/1931	Do you love him?	Mississippi Sarah	Female vocal solo, with guitar, harmonica, and kazoo	instrumentalist, harmonica, guitar

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Watson, Johnny," accessed April 17, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111653.

Watson, Johnny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 17, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111653.

"Watson, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 17 April 2024.

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Johnny Watson

Recordings

Citation

DAHR Persistent Identifier

External Sources

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