Jimmy Blythe

James Louis Blythe (May 20, 1901 – June 14, 1931) was an American jazz and boogie-woogie pianist and composer. Blythe is known to have recorded as many as 300 piano rolls, and his song "Chicago Stomp" is considered one of the earliest examples of boogie-woogie music to be recorded.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 20, 1901 (Louisville), Died June 26, 1931 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, composer, vocalist, leader, songwriter, lyricist, 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-96259 10-in. 11/1/1935 Brown skin mama Washboard Rhythm Kings [1935 Bluebird ensemble] Washboard band, with kazoo composer  
Victor BS-053251 10-in. 8/1/1940 Brown skin mama Floyd Campbell ; Gang Busters Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W151740 10-in. 8/19/1931 Can't be bothered with no sheik Rosa Henderson Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist  
OKeh W82000 10-in. 12/2/1927 Ballin' the jack Chicago Footwarmers Jazz/dance quartet instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W82001 10-in. 12/2/1927 Grandma's ball Chicago Footwarmers Jazz/dance quartet composer, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W82076 10-in. 12/15/1927 My baby Chicago Footwarmers Jazz/dance quartet composer, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W82077 10-in. 12/15/1927 Oriental man Chicago Footwarmers Jazz/dance quartet instrumentalist, piano, composer  
OKeh W400977 10-in. 7/2/1928 Get 'em again blues Chicago Footwarmers ; Johnny Dodds Jazz/dance sextet instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W400978 10-in. 7/2/1928 Brush stomp Chicago Footwarmers Jazz/dance sextet instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W400979 10-in. 7/2/1928 My girl Chicago Footwarmers ; Johnny Dodds Jazz/dance sextet instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W400986 10-in. 7/3/1928 Sweep 'em clean Chicago Footwarmers Jazz/dance sextet instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W400987 10-in. 7/3/1928 Lady love Chicago Footwarmers Jazz/dance sextet instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W400988 10-in. 7/3/1928 Brown Bottom Bess Chicago Footwarmers Jazz/dance sextet instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W403338 10-in. 11/16/1929 Gin mill blues The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
OKeh W403339 10-in. 11/16/1929 Walkin' the blues away The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
OKeh W403340 10-in. 11/16/1929 The folks downstairs The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
OKeh W403341 10-in. 11/16/1929 That's my business The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, songwriter  
OKeh W403342 10-in. 11/16/1929 Ain't goin' to beg you for that stuff The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, songwriter  
OKeh W403343 10-in. 11/16/1929 I'm going to get something from you The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Brunswick C1828 10-in. 3/31/1928 My baby Jimmy Blythe ; Washboard Wizards Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio songwriter, leader  
Brunswick C1829 10-in. 3/31/1928 Oriental man Jimmy Blythe ; Washboard Wizards Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio composer, leader  
Brunswick C1830 10-in. 3/30/1928 Alley rat Jimmy Blythe Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick C1831 10-in. 3/30/1928 Sweet papa Jimmy Blythe Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick C2254 10-in. 8/21/1928 Bull fiddle rag Midnight Rounders Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick C2255 10-in. 8/21/1928 Barrel house baker Midnight Rounders Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Brunswick C2421 10-in. 10/9/1928 Shake your shimmy Midnight Rounders Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick C2422 10-in. 10/9/1928 Bull fiddle rag Midnight Rounders Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick C3365 10-in. 4/25/1929 I won’t give you none Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick C205-C206 10-in. 4/22/1926 Breakin’ the blues Georgia Taylor Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Brunswick C207-C208 10-in. 4/22/1926 Somebody’s chewing you too Georgia Taylor Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Brunswick C353-C354 10-in. 5/29/1926 Little bits Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards Instrumental trio composer  
Brunswick C355-C356 10-in. 5/29/1926 Struggling Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards Instrumental trio composer  
Brunswick C644-C645 10-in. 9/16/1926 Idle hour special Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards Instrumental quartet composer  
Brunswick C646-C647 10-in. 9/16/1926 47th Street stomp Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards Instrumental quartet composer  
Brunswick C783-C784 10-in. 4/21/1927 Easy come easy go blues Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards Instrumental quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick C785-C786 10-in. 4/21/1927 The blues stampede Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards Instrumental quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick C787-C788 10-in. 4/21/1927 I’m goin’ huntin’ Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards Instrumental quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick C789-C790 10-in. 4/21/1927 If you want to be my sugar papa (You gotta be sweet to me) Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards Instrumental quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick C1186-C1187 10-in. 10/5/1927 Weary way blues Jimmy Blythe’s Owls Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Brunswick C1188-C1189 10-in. 10/5/1927 Poutin’ papa Jimmy Blythe’s Owls Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick C1190-C1191 10-in. 10/5/1927 Hot stuff Jimmy Blythe’s Owls Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Brunswick C1192-C1193 10-in. 10/5/1927 Have mercy! Jimmy Blythe’s Owls Jazz/dance band songwriter, leader  
Gennett 12989 10-in. 8/12/1927 There'll come a day Blythe's Blue Boys Instrumental quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 12990 10-in. 8/12/1927 The weary way blues Blythe's Blue Boys Instrumental quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 12991 10-in. 8/12/1927 Cootie stomp Blythe's Blue Boys Instrumental quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13289 10-in. 12/13/1927 The St. Louis train kept passin' by Lonnie Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13290 10-in. 12/13/1927 When man is treated like a dog Lonnie Johnson Male vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13299 10-in. 12/14/1927 It's hot—let it alone Duke Owens and Bud Wilson Guitar and piano duet instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13300 10-in. 12/14/1927 Bearcat blues George Jefferson and Willie Woods Guitar and piano duet instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13302 10-in. 12/14/1927 Why should I grieve after you're gone Lonnie Johnson Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13529 10-in. 3/8/1928 My baby State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13530 10-in. 3/8/1928 Pleasure mad State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13531 10-in. 3/8/1928 Oriental man State Street Ramblers Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13605 10-in. 3/21/1928 My baby Tillie Johnson Female vocal solo, with piano and kazoo instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13606 10-in. 3/23/1928 Chicago man blues Tillie Johnson Female vocal solo, with piano and kazoo instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13609 10-in. 3/23/1928 My señorita Bud Thurston Male vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13682 10-in. 4/17/1928 Dustin' the keys Blythe and Burton Piano duet instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13683 10-in. 4/18/1928 Block and tackle blues Blythe and Burton Piano duet instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13686 10-in. 4/18/1928 My baby Blythe's Blue Boys Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13687 10-in. 4/18/1928 Oriental man Blythe's Blue Boys Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13688 10-in. 4/18/1928 Pleasure mad Blythe's Blue Boys Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13689 10-in. 4/18/1928 Shanghai honeymoon State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13690 10-in. 4/18/1928 Some do and some don't Blythe's Blue Boys Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 13691 10-in. 4/18/1928 Tack it down Blythe's Blue Boys Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14065 10-in. 7/18/1928 Endurance stomp Blythe's Blue Boys Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14066 10-in. 7/18/1928 Tuxedo stomp State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Jazz/dance ensemble, with incidental singing instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14067 10-in. 7/18/1928 Brown skin mama Blythe's Blue Boys Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14068 10-in. 7/18/1928 Road house blues Marie Grinter ; State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14069 10-in. 7/18/1928 St. Louis man Marie Grinter ; State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14070 10-in. 7/18/1928 West Virginia blues Marie Grinter ; State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14071 10-in. 7/18/1928 Do right blues Marie Grinter ; State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14072 10-in. 7/18/1928 St. Louis nightmare State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14073 10-in. 7/18/1928 Yearning and blue State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14074 10-in. 7/19/1928 Tell me, cutie Blythe's Blue Boys Jazz/dance ensemble, with incidental singing instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14075 10-in. 7/19/1928 Someday you'll know Blythe's Blue Boys Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14076 10-in. 7/19/1928 Five o'clock stomp State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14077 10-in. 7/19/1928 Barrel house baker State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14078 10-in. 7/19/1928 Handful of keys State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14079 10-in. 7/19/1928 Searching for a flat State Street Ramblers [Blythe's Blue Boys] Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14080 10-in. 7/19/1928 How would you like to be me Blythe's Blue Boys Jazz/dance ensemble, with incidental singing instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14789 10-in. 2/12/1929 Mississippi stomp (Blythe's stomp) Frisky Foot Jackson and His Thumpers [King Mutt and his Tennessee Thumpers] Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14793 10-in. 2/12/1929 Good time mamma King Mutt and his Tennessee Thumpers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14794 10-in. 2/12/1929 Maxwell Street stomp King Mutt and his Tennessee Thumpers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14796 10-in. 2/12/1929 Nuthouse stomp King Mutt and his Tennessee Thumpers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14797 10-in. 2/12/1929 I wanna get it King Mutt and his Tennessee Thumpers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15547 10-in. 9/6/1929 Ain't goin' that way The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with clarinet, guitar, and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15548 10-in. 9/6/1929 Went to his head The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with clarinet, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Gennett 15549 10-in. 9/6/1929 Let me pat that thing The Hokum Boys Male vocal duet, with clarinet, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist  
Gennett 16210 10-in. 2/4/1930 Rocky luck blues Teddy Moss Male vocal solo, with clarinet, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16211 10-in. 2/4/1930 Motherless child blues Teddy Moss Male vocal solo, with clarinet, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16212 10-in. 2/4/1930 Mistreating blues Teddy Moss Male vocal solo, with clarinet, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16213 10-in. 2/4/1930 Root-ta-toot man Teddy Moss Male vocal solo, with clarinet, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16214 10-in. 2/4/1930 Ain't it a shame Teddy Moss Male vocal solo, with clarinet, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16215 10-in. 2/4/1930 Ain't that some gal? Teddy Moss ; Bob Robinson Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16216 10-in. 2/4/1930 Rocking and rolling Robinson's Knights of Rest Jazz ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16217 10-in. 2/4/1930 Mean baby blues Robinson's Knights of Rest Jazz ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 17630 10-in. 3/20/1931 Richmond stomp The Chicago Stompers ; State Street Ramblers instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 20240 10-in. December 1927 Oriental man Dixieland Thumpers instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Blythe, Jimmy," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103209.

Blythe, Jimmy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103209.

"Blythe, Jimmy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103209

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