Cow Cow Davenport

Charles Edward "Cow Cow" Davenport (April 23, 1894 – December 3, 1955) was an American boogie-woogie and piano blues player as well as a vaudeville entertainer. He also played the organ and sang.

Davenport, who also made recordings under the pseudonyms of Bat The Humming Bird, George Hamilton and The Georgia Grinder, is a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 23, 1894 (Anniston), Died December 2, 1955 (Cleveland)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, composer, baritone vocal, lyricist, songwriter, speaker, author, vocalist

Notes: Listed in Victor ledgers as Charles "Cow Cow" Davenport. Listed on some disc labels as Chas. Davenport.

= 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-98654 10-in. 1/17/1936 Mama don't allow it Swing Kings ; Ted Wallace Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-050535 10-in. 5/8/1940 Cow Cow blues Delta Rhythm Band ; Bob Zurke Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh 9586 10-in. 3/11/1926 [Unknown title(s)] Davenport and Carr ; Eddie Heywood Sr. Female-male vocal duet, with trumpet and piano vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh 9587 10-in. 3/11/1926 [Unknown title(s)] Davenport and Carr ; Cow Cow Davenport ; Shelton T. Reamey Female-male vocal duet, with trumpet and piano vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh 9588 10-in. 3/11/1926 If you think you're gonna get what I got, you got another thought coming to you Davenport and Carr ; Eddie Heywood Sr. ; Shelton T. Reamey Female-male vocal duet, with trumpet and piano vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh 9589 10-in. 3/11/1926 Alabama mistreater Davenport and Carr ; Eddie Heywood Sr. ; Shelton T. Reamey Female-male vocal duet, with trumpet and piano vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist  
OKeh S-72299 10-in. Jan. 1924 Bring it on home blues Dora Carr ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
OKeh S-72300 10-in. Jan. 1924 You might pizen me Dora Carr ; Cow Cow Davenport ; Clarence Williams Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, songwriter  
OKeh 73660 10-in. 10/1/1925 Good woman's blues Dora Carr ; Cow Cow Davenport ; Clarence Williams Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist  
OKeh 73661 10-in. 10/1/1925 He don't mean no harm Dora Carr ; Cow Cow Davenport ; Clarence Williams Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist  
OKeh 73662 10-in. 10/1/1925 Black girl gets there just the same Davenport and Carr ; Clarence Williams Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
OKeh 73665 10-in. 10/1/1925 Gonna steal somebody's man Dora Carr ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist, composer  
OKeh 73666 10-in. 10/1/1925 Fifth Street blues Davenport and Carr ; Clarence Williams Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
OKeh 73667 10-in. 10/1/1925 Cow Cow blues Dora Carr ; Cow Cow Davenport Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick C2048 10-in. 7/12/1928 Shadow blues Cow Cow Davenport ; Iva Smith Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal  
Brunswick C2049 10-in. 7/12/1928 He don’t mean me no harm Cow Cow Davenport ; Iva Smith Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist  
Brunswick C2063 10-in. 7/16/1928 Cow Cow blues Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Brunswick C2064 10-in. 7/16/1928 State Street jive Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo, with talk instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Brunswick C2190 10-in. 8/9/1928 Rooster crowing blues Hound Head Henry Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist, composer  
Brunswick C2274 10-in. 8/29/1928 Cryin’ blues Hound Head Henry Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick C2275 10-in. 8/29/1928 Laughin’ blues Hound Head Henry Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick C2327 10-in. 9/19/1928 Rooster crowin’ blues Hound Head Henry Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano songwriter  
Brunswick C2378 10-in. 10/2/1928 Chimin’ the blues Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Brunswick C2379 10-in. 10/2/1928 Alabama strut Cow Cow Davenport Piano, with dance calls composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick C2433 10-in. 10/10/1928 Some cold rainy day Bertha Chippie Hill ; Tampa Red Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
Brunswick C2451 10-in. 10/17/1928 Low down hound blues Hound Head Henry Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick C2455 10-in. 10/18/1928 Rooster crowing blues Hound Head Henry Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Brunswick C2477 10-in. 10/25/1928 Alabama mistreater Cow Cow Davenport Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist, vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
Brunswick C2478 10-in. 10/25/1928 Dirty ground hog blues Cow Cow Davenport Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, lyricist, composer  
Brunswick C2494 10-in. 10/26/1928 Buckwheat cakes Jim Towel Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Brunswick C2546 10-in. 11/9/1928 Plenty gals blues Memphis Joe Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick C3276 10-in. 4/10/1929 That’ll get it Cow Cow Davenport ; Sam Theard Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter  
Brunswick C3277 10-in. 4/10/1929 I’m gonna tell you in front so you won’t feel hurt behind Cow Cow Davenport ; Sam Theard Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter  
Brunswick C3288 10-in. 4/13/1929 She’s givin’ it away Lovin’ Sam from Down in ‘Bam Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
Brunswick C3293 10-in. 4/13/1929 State Street blues Lovin’ Sam from Down in ‘Bam Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick C3360 10-in. 4/24/1929 Low down man blues Frances Wallace Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick C3361 10-in. 4/24/1929 Too late, too late blues Frances Wallace Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick C3418 10-in. 5/1/1929 Back in the alley Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick C3419 10-in. 5/1/1929 Mootch piddle Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo, with talk instrumentalist, piano, speaker, composer  
Brunswick C3420 10-in. 5/1/1929 She’s givin’ it away Lovin’ Sam from Down in ‘Bam Male vocal solo, with piano and guitar composer  
Brunswick C3422 10-in. 5/2/1929 Givin’ it away Georgia Tom ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
Brunswick TC3486 10-in. 5/13/1929 Get your mind on it Lovin’ Sam Male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick C3510 10-in. 5/18/1929 Get your mind on it Lovin’ Sam from Down in ‘Bam Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano songwriter  
Brunswick C3511 10-in. 5/18/1929 Doodle it back Lovin’ Sam from Down in ‘Bam Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
Brunswick C3530 10-in. 5/22/1929 We gonna rub it Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo, with talk instrumentalist, piano, speaker, composer  
Brunswick C3531 10-in. 5/22/1929 Texas shout Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Brunswick C3695 10-in. 6/22/1929 Mama don’t allow no easy riders here Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick C3696 10-in. 6/22/1929 Slum gullion stomp Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Brunswick C3732 10-in. 6/26/1929 Mama don’t allow no easy riders here John Oscar Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick C3754 10-in. 6/29/1929 I ain’t no ice man Lovin’ Sam from Down in ‘Bam Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
Brunswick TC3922 10-in. 7/22/1929 Back biten [sic] Cow Cow Davenport ; Sam Theard Comic dialogue speaker, author  
Brunswick TC3928 10-in. 7/22/1929 Back bitin’ Cow Cow Davenport ; Sam Theard Comic dialogue speaker, author  
Brunswick C3939 10-in. 7/23/1929 Mama don’t allow no easy riders here Hokum Jug Band ; Frankie Half Pint Jaxon ; Tampa Red Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick C3940 10-in. 7/23/1929 Saturday night scrontch Hokum Jug Band ; Frankie Half Pint Jaxon ; Tampa Red Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick C4078 10-in. 8/14/1929 Mama don’t allow no easy riders here Happy Bud Harrison Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick C4184 10-in. 9/4/1929 Mama don’t allow no easy riders here Georgia Tom ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
Brunswick M198 10-in. Sept. 1929 Cow Cow blues Jed Davenport Harmonica solo, with guitar composer  
Gennett 14977 10-in. 4/1/1929 Light house blues Southern Blues Singers Vocal trio, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14978 10-in. 4/1/1929 Chimes blues Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14979 10-in. 4/1/1929 Struttin' the blues Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14981 10-in. 4/1/1929 Runnin' wild Southern Blues Singers Vocal trio, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14982 10-in. 4/1/1929 Shadow blues Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14983 10-in. 4/1/1929 Givin' it away Cow Cow Davenport Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14984 10-in. 4/1/1929 No good man blues Cow Cow Davenport ; Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14985 10-in. 4/1/1929 Slow drag Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14986 10-in. 4/1/1929 Atlanta rag Cow Cow Davenport Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14987 10-in. 4/1/1929 Gin house blues Cow Cow Davenport ; Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14988 10-in. 4/1/1929 It's tight like that Southern Blues Singers Vocal trio, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14989 10-in. 4/1/1929 Doodlin' back Southern Blues Singers Vocal trio, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 14990 10-in. 4/1/1929 Mistreated mamma blues Ivy Smith and Cow Cow Davenport Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15495 10-in. 8/27/1929 Doin' that thing Ivy Smith and her Buddies Mixed vocal trio, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15496 10-in. 8/27/1929 Somebody's got to knock a jug Ivy Smith and her Buddies Mixed vocal trio, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15497 10-in. 8/27/1929 It's just all right Sam Tarpley and Cow Cow Davenport Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15498 10-in. 8/27/1929 Everybody likes that thing Cow Cow Davenport ; Ivy Smith ; Sam Tarpley Female-male vocal duet, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15499 10-in. 8/27/1929 Southern high waters blues Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15500 10-in. 8/27/1929 Cheating only blues Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15501 10-in. 8/27/1929 Wringing and twistin' papa Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15502 10-in. 8/27/1929 Got jelly on my mind Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15503 10-in. 8/27/1929 I'm goin' back to get some more Two Boys from Savannah Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15504 10-in. 8/27/1929 Messed up blues Two Boys from Savannah Male vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15505 10-in. 8/27/1929 He don't mean no harm Charlie Davenport ; Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 15506 10-in. 8/27/1929 You got another thought coming to you Charlie Davenport ; Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16725 10-in. 6/6/1930 Gypsy woman blues Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16726 10-in. 6/6/1930 Milkman blues Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with guitar instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16728 10-in. 6/6/1930 Now she gives it away Cow Cow Davenport ; Ivy Smith Female-male vocal duet, with piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Gennett 16729 10-in. 6/6/1930 Kokomo blues Walter Fennell Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16730 10-in. 6/6/1930 Evening when the sun comes down Walter Fennell Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16731 10-in. 6/7/1930 Railroad blues Cow Cow Davenport Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Gennett 16734 10-in. 6/7/1930 Casey Jones blues Cow Cow Davenport Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16736 10-in. 6/7/1930 She knows how to sell that stuff Ivy Smith Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16738 10-in. 6/7/1930 Alabammy mistreated Cow Cow Davenport ; Ivy Smith Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Gennett 16740 10-in. 6/7/1930 Hard rock blues Walter Fennell Male vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16741 10-in. 6/7/1930 Avenue C blues Cow Cow Davenport ; Walter Fennell Guitar and piano duet instrumentalist, piano  
Gennett 16742 10-in. 6/7/1930 That's the kind of girl I'm looking for Iva Smith and her Buddies Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63763 10-in. 5/12/1938 Don't you loud mouth me Cow Cow Davenport vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63764 10-in. 5/12/1938 I ain't no ice man Cow Cow Davenport vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63765 10-in. 5/12/1938 The mess is here Cow Cow Davenport vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63766 10-in. 5/12/1938 Railroad blues Cow Cow Davenport vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63767 10-in. 5/12/1938 That'll get it Cow Cow Davenport vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Davenport, Cow Cow," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105569.

Davenport, Cow Cow. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105569.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105569

External Sources

Wikipedia: Cow Cow Davenport

Discogs: Cow Cow Davenport

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Davenport, Cow Cow, 1894-1955 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n87134726

Wikidata: Cow Cow Davenport - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q358619

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/5122116

MusicBrainz: Cow Cow Davenport - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/37279cee-02fb-43e0-8cb6-1200541f5296

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

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.