Memphis Jug Band

The Memphis Jug Band was an American musical group active from the mid-1920s to the late-1950s. The band featured harmonica, kazoo, fiddle and mandolin or banjolin, backed by guitar, piano, washboard, washtub bass and jug. They played slow blues, pop songs, humorous songs and upbeat dance numbers with jazz and string band flavors. The band made the first commercial recordings in Memphis, Tennessee, and recorded more sides than any other prewar jug band.

Beginning in 1926, African-American musicians in the Memphis area grouped around the singer, songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player Will Shade (also known as Son Brimmer or Sun Brimmer). The personnel of the band varied from day to day, with Shade booking gigs and arranging recording sessions. The band was as a training ground for musicians who would go on to make careers of their own.

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1927, Died Ceased 1934

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 57 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-47037 10-in. 9/15/1928 Stealin', stealin' Memphis Jug Band Vocal and instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-47038 10-in. 9/15/1928 Jug band waltz Memphis Jug Band Instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-47039 10-in. 9/15/1928 Mississippi river waltz Memphis Jug Band Instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-55529 10-in. 9/17/1929 I can't stand it Memphis Jug Band Vocal and instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-55530 10-in. 9/17/1929 What's the matter? Memphis Jug Band Vocal and instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-55598 10-in. 9/27/1929 Feed your friend with a long handled spoon Memphis Jug Band Vocal and instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-55599 10-in. 9/27/1929 I can beat you plenty (That hand you tried to deal me) Memphis Jug Band Vocal and instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-56343 10-in. 10/3/1929 Taking your place Memphis Jug Band Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-56344 10-in. 10/3/1929 Tired of you driving me Memphis Jug Band Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-56345 10-in. 10/3/1929 Memphis yo yo blues Memphis Jug Band Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-56346 10-in. 10/3/1929 K. C. moan Memphis Jug Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Victor BVE-56347 10-in. 10/3/1929 I whipped my woman with a single-tree Memphis Jug Band Male vocal trio, with instrumental ensemble and male vocal chorus Musical group  
Victor BVE-59917 10-in. 5/13/1930 Everybody's talking about Sadie Green Memphis Jug Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-59932 10-in. 5/17/1930 Oh ambulance man Hattie Hart ; Memphis Jug Band ; Will Shade Instrumental ensemble, with female-male vocal duet Musical group  
Victor BVE-59933 10-in. 5/17/1930 Cocaine habit blues Hattie Hart ; Memphis Jug Band ; Ben Ramey ; Vol Stevens Instrumental ensemble, with mixed vocal trio Musical group  
Victor BVE-59961 10-in. 5/21/1930 Jim Strainer blues Memphis Jug Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-59962 10-in. 5/21/1930 Cave man blues Memphis Jug Band ; Charlie Bozo Nickerson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-59963 10-in. 5/21/1930 4th Street mess around Memphis Jug Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-59964 10-in. 5/21/1930 It won't act right Memphis Jug Band Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet Musical group  
Victor BVE-59993 10-in. 5/26/1930 Bumble bee blues Memphis Jug Band ; Memphis Minnie Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-59994 10-in. 5/26/1930 Meningitis blues Memphis Jug Band ; Memphis Minnie Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BVE-62541 10-in. 5/29/1930 Aunt Caroline Dyer blues Memphis Jug Band Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-62542 10-in. 5/29/1930 Stonewall blues Memphis Jug Band Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-62581 10-in. 6/5/1930 Spider's nest blues Carolina Peanut Boys Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BVE-62582 10-in. 6/5/1930 Papa's got your bath water on Memphis Jug Band Instrumental ensemble, with female-male vocal duet Musical group  
(Results 26-50 of 57 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Memphis Jug Band," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105590.

Memphis Jug Band. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105590.

"Memphis Jug Band." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105590

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