Victoria Spivey

Victoria Regina Spivey (October 15, 1906 – October 3, 1976), sometimes known as Queen Victoria, was an American blues singer and songwriter. During a recording career that spanned 40 years, from 1926 to the mid-1960s, she worked with Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Clarence Williams, Luis Russell, Lonnie Johnson, and Bob Dylan. She also performed in vaudeville and clubs, sometimes with her sister Addie "Sweet Peas" (or "Sweet Pease") Spivey (August 22, 1910 – 1943), also known as the Za Zu Girl. Among her compositions are "Black Snake Blues" (1926), "Dope Head Blues" (1927), and "Organ Grinder Blues" (1928).

Birth and Death Data: Born October 15, 1906 (Houston), Died October 3, 1976 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1916 - 1936

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer, lyricist, songwriter, piano, director

= 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-48103 10-in. 10/30/1928 No papa no Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band (take 1); with female vocal solo (take 2) composer  
Victor BVE-55853 10-in. 9/24/1929 Funny feathers blues Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra ; Victoria Spivey Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-55854 10-in. 9/24/1929 How do they do it that way Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-56732 10-in. 10/1/1929 Blood hound blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-56733 10-in. 10/1/1929 Dirty T. B. blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-56734 10-in. 10/1/1929 Moaning the blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-56735 10-in. 10/1/1929 Telephoning the blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-57555 10-in. 11/25/1929 Heartbreakin' blues Sweet Peas Spivey Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-57556 10-in. 11/25/1929 Leavin' you baby Sweet Peas Spivey Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-57557 10-in. 11/25/1929 Longin' for home Sweet Peas Spivey Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-59142 10-in. 2/4/1930 New York blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-59143 10-in. 2/4/1930 Lonesome with the blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-59144 10-in. 2/4/1930 Showered with blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-59145 10-in. 2/4/1930 Haunted by the blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer  
Victor BVE-62291 10-in. 6/26/1930 Gotta have what it takes Harold Grey [i.e., Porter Grainger] ; Victoria Spivey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-62292 10-in. 6/26/1930 Gotta have what it takes Harold Grey [i.e., Porter Grainger] ; Victoria Spivey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-62293 10-in. 6/26/1930 Baulin' water blues Harold Grey [i.e., Porter Grainger] ; Victoria Spivey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist, songwriter  
Victor BVE-62294 10-in. 6/26/1930 Baulin' water blues Harold Grey [i.e., Porter Grainger] ; Victoria Spivey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist, songwriter  
Columbia W142608 10-in. 9/14/1926 Black snake blues Martha Copeland Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano songwriter  
Columbia W145561 10-in. 1/21/1928 T. B. blues Willie Jackson Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano composer, lyricist  
OKeh 9651 10-in. 5/11/1926 Black snake blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, songwriter  
OKeh 9652 10-in. 5/11/1926 Dirty woman's blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, songwriter  
OKeh 9678 10-in. 5/13/1926 Long gone blues De Lloyd Barnes ; Pierce Gist ; Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano vocalist, composer  
OKeh 9679 10-in. 5/13/1926 No more jelly bean blues De Lloyd Barnes ; Pierce Gist ; Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano vocalist, composer  
OKeh 9680 Not documented 5/13/1926 [Unknown title(s)] Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano vocalist  
OKeh 9681 Not documented 5/13/1926 [Unknown title(s)] Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano vocalist  
OKeh 74162 10-in. May 1926 It's evil hearted me Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, composer  
OKeh 74163 10-in. May 1926 Santa Fe blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, composer  
OKeh 74260 10-in. 8/12/1926 Hoodoo man blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, songwriter  
OKeh 74261 10-in. 8/12/1926 Spider web blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, songwriter  
OKeh 74262 10-in. 8/12/1926 It's evil hearted me Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, composer  
OKeh 74263 10-in. 8/12/1926 Santa Fe blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, composer  
OKeh 74264 10-in. 8/12/1926 Humored and petted blues Erby's Fidgety Five ; Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet vocalist, songwriter  
OKeh 74265 10-in. 8/13/1926 Big Houston blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, songwriter  
OKeh 74266 10-in. 8/13/1926 Got the blues so bad Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with violin and piano vocalist  
OKeh 74275 10-in. 8/16/1926 Blue Valley blues Erby's Fidgety Five ; Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet vocalist  
OKeh W80728 10-in. 4/14/1927 Black snake blues Clarence Williams’ Blue Five Jazz/dance band songwriter  
OKeh W80766 10-in. 4/27/1927 Steady grind Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W80767 10-in. 4/27/1927 Idle hour blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W80768 10-in. 4/27/1927 Arkansas road blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W80769 10-in. 4/27/1927 The alligator pond went dry Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W80770 10-in. 4/27/1927 No. 12, let me roam Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W80771 10-in. 4/27/1927 T - B blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W80882 10-in. 5/14/1927 Sport model mama Bertha Chippie Hill ; Richard M. Jones’ Jazz Wizards Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer, lyricist  
OKeh W81583 10-in. 10/28/1927 Garter-snake blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W81584 10-in. 10/28/1927 Christmas mornin' blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist  
OKeh W81585 10-in. 10/28/1927 Dope head blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
OKeh W81586 10-in. 10/28/1927 Red lantern blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W81589 10-in. 10/31/1927 Blood thirsty blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
OKeh W81590 10-in. 10/31/1927 Nightmare blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W81596 10-in. 11/1/1927 Murder in the first degree Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W81597 10-in. 11/1/1927 Jelly, look what you done done Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist  
OKeh W81598 10-in. 11/1/1927 Your worries ain't like mine Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist  
OKeh W81599 10-in. 11/1/1927 A good man is hard to find Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist  
OKeh W401114 10-in. 9/12/1928 My handy man Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quintet vocalist  
OKeh W401115 10-in. 9/12/1928 Organ grinder blues Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quintet vocalist  
OKeh W401222 10-in. 10/13/1928 New black snake blues Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano composer, vocalist, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W401223 10-in. 10/13/1928 New black snake blues Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano composer, vocalist, lyricist, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W401242 10-in. 10/17/1928 No, papa, no Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W401243 10-in. 10/17/1928 Toothache blues Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey ; Clarence Williams Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist  
OKeh W401244 10-in. 10/18/1928 Furniture man blues Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey ; Clarence Williams Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, songwriter  
OKeh W401245 10-in. 10/18/1928 Furniture man blues Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey ; Clarence Williams Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, songwriter  
OKeh W401246 10-in. 10/18/1928 Mosquito, fly and flea Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
OKeh W401247 10-in. 10/18/1928 Toothache blues Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey ; Clarence Williams Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist  
OKeh W402153 10-in. 12/4/1928 No Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance sextet composer  
OKeh W402491 10-in. 7/3/1929 You done lost your good thing now!, part 1 Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter  
OKeh W402492 10-in. 7/3/1929 You done lost your good thing now!, part 2 Lonnie Johnson ; Victoria Spivey Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter  
OKeh W402525 10-in. 7/10/1929 Funny feathers Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet vocalist, lyricist, composer  
OKeh W402526 10-in. 7/10/1929 How do you do it that way? Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance sextet vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick VO147 10-in. 3/20/1931 Nebraska blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Brunswick VO148 10-in. 3/20/1931 He wants too much Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Brunswick VO149 10-in. 3/20/1931 Low down man blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Brunswick VO150 10-in. 3/20/1931 Don’t trust nobody blues Victoria Spivey Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Brunswick VO159 10-in. 4/21/1931 Sensational mood Hunter’s Serenaders Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist, director  
Brunswick C7100 10-in. Dec. 1930 Mama’s quittin’ and leavin’ Magnolia Harris ; Howling Smith Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars vocalist, songwriter  
Brunswick C7101 10-in. Dec. 1930 Mama’s quittin’ and leavin’ Magnolia Harris ; Howling Smith Female-male vocal duet, with 2 guitars vocalist, songwriter  
Brunswick C834-C836 10-in. 4/27/1927 Black snake blues Dixie Syncopators ; King Oliver Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Edison 4998 10-in. 9/15/1916 New York blues Pietro Frosini Accordion solo composer  
Decca 90784 10-in. 7/7/1936 Sweet Pease Victoria Spivey vocalist  
Decca 90785 10-in. 7/7/1936 Black snake swing (Black snake blues) Victoria Spivey vocalist  
Decca 90789 10-in. 7/7/1936 I'll never fall in love again Victoria Spivey vocalist  
Decca 90790 10-in. 7/7/1936 T.B.'s got me blues Victoria Spivey vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Spivey, Victoria," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105213.

Spivey, Victoria. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105213.

"Spivey, Victoria." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105213

External Sources

Wikipedia: Victoria Spivey

Discogs: Victoria Spivey

Allmusic: Victoria Spivey

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Spivey, Victoria - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85376797

Wikidata: Victoria Spivey - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q543443

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/94114578

MusicBrainz: Victoria Spivey - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0b9f1797-12ca-4db4-8e0d-d9dc2b90a3da

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/183620

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

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.