Merline Johnson

Merline Johnson (born c. 1912 or 1918, date of death unknown) was an American blues singer in the 1930s and 1940s, billed as The Yas Yas Girl. "Yas yas" was a euphemism for buttocks in hokum blues songs such as Blind Boy Fuller's "Get Yer Yas Yas Out" and James "Stump" Johnson's "The Duck's Yas-Yas-Yas".

Little is known of her life. It is generally believed that she was born in Mississippi, though the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc suggest she may have been born Merline Baker in Callaway County, Missouri. She was the aunt of singer LaVern Baker.

Johnson first recorded in Chicago in 1937. One early song was "Sold It to the Devil". Over the next four years she recorded over 90 songs, including "Don't You Make Me High", "I'd Rather Be Drunk", and "Love with a Feeling". She recorded a few risqué songs.

Her speciality was a variety of juke joint blues, with songs such as "Drinking My Blues Away" and "I Just Keep on Drinking", delivered in a tough, unlovable voice. She was accompanied by Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Blind John Davis, Buster Bennett, and Punch Miller. Her final recordings, not issued at the time, were cut in 1947.

Birth and Death Data: Born Mississippi (state of the United States of America)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1838 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer

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

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 90 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia WC2678 10-in. 8/31/1939 I'd rather be drunk Jazz Boys ; Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia WC2679 10-in. 8/31/1939 I just keep on drinking Jazz Boys ; Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia WC2832 10-in. 12/7/1939 Front door blues Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC2833 10-in. 12/7/1939 I'll try to forget Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC2834 10-in. 12/7/1939 Rock and rollin' daddy Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC2835 10-in. 12/7/1939 Want to woogie some more Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC2836 10-in. 12/7/1939 You don't know my mind Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC2837 10-in. 12/7/1939 Mama's bad luck child Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC3040 10-in. 5/2/1940 Black gypsy blues Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC3041 10-in. 5/2/1940 Screaming the blues Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC3042 10-in. 5/2/1940 Yellow basket blues Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC3043 10-in. 5/2/1940 I'm not your fool Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC3044 10-in. 5/2/1940 Don't you want to ride Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC3045 10-in. 5/2/1940 I won't sell my love Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC3046 10-in. 5/2/1940 Don't forget it Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia WC3047 10-in. 5/2/1940 Stop and listen Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia C3385 10-in. 10/7/1940 You know it ain't right Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia C3386 10-in. 10/7/1940 Man to man Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia C3387 10-in. 10/7/1940 Evil old nightmare Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia C3388 10-in. 10/7/1940 See saw blues Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia C3389 10-in. 10/7/1940 Black ghost blues Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia C3390 10-in. 10/7/1940 Worried heart blues Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia C3391 10-in. 10/7/1940 Milk man blues Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia C3392 10-in. 10/7/1940 Got the blues for my baby Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and drums  
Columbia C3883 10-in. 6/10/1941 Froggy bottom Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with piano and string bass  
(Results 51-75 of 90 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Merline," accessed January 6, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106737.

Johnson, Merline. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106737.

"Johnson, Merline." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 6 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106737

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

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.